Politics

[Ed Lally]

Regarding costs of medical and dental services in the US - I smashed a lot of teeth in a diving accident in a pool at age 27. Bridges and crowns lasted 25+- years and were replaced. They lasted another 25 years and I was looking at $22,000 to $25,000 in dental implants and crowns according to several specialists I consulted with in the US. On advise of PH, I had the work done in South Africa by the most competent dentist I have ever met who utilized the most advanced German and Swiss equipment and facilities I have ever seen. Total cost, excluding money spent on safari, cape buffalo and transportation - $6,000.00!!

 

[Tanks]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/10/politics/trump-picks-kimberly-guilfoyle-greece-ambassador/index.html

I guess that is one way to throw her a bone, and get her away from Don Jr. who became Instagram official with a 38 y/o heiress that lives a few blocks from Mar-a-Lago.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Ah but then you won’t learn about the great Indian chief SohCahToa!

Sine: opposite/hypotenuse
Cos: adjacent/hypotenuse
Tan: opposite/adjacent

Amazing how a good teacher can make stuff stick in your brain!

And to this day I still haven't had to use trigonometry in any of my careers: military; construction; businesses.

 

[WAB]

[emoji6][emoji6]" data-quote="Ridge Runner" data-source="post: 0" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">

And to this day I still haven't had to use trigonometry in any of my careers: military; construction; businesses.

You did, you just had a computer doing it for you!

 

[Red Leg]

I just looked at a couple of quarterlies of United Health. Yes, they have a quarterly revenue of around 100 billion USD. But, the company's net margin for the quarter was only 6% and operating margin was 5.6%. Yes, on a 100 billion USD, 6% is a large number - but try running your average small business on that rate. I should also add, the United Health Group employs 440,000 people. All the damning articles I read simply pointed to growth in gross revenue - not a word about actual profits.

 

[CJW]

I'm no fan of big Pharma or the U.S healthcare system. It's greed driven.
I support capitalism and a fair profit, but the healthcare & pharmaceuticals cost has gotten ridiculous.
I forgot what company it was, but that new CEO that took over one of the big Pharma's immediately quadrupled the price on EpiPen's, causing a big outcry.
I can go to Thailand and get world class healthcare for a small fraction of the cost here. I know a few guys that have done it.

But if you made a Thai, or South African or insert country here income you would be in the same boat as you are here. Maybe worse.

 

[Brent in Az]

Secret Service has been stonewalling congress over the assassination attempts
And now nobody will explain the large flock of drones following a coast guard ship off of New Jersey.
This administration can't be gone soon enough

 

[Altitude sickness]

Those are not enemy drones or aliens from outer space. Most likely a program local yocals can not be briefed on.

 

[Brent in Az]

But if you made a Thai, or South African or insert country here income you would be in the same boat as you are here. Maybe worse.

But I dont, and I can still go to Thailand and not get gouged as a foreigner.
They don't pay Hospital administrators and CEO's ridiculously bloated salaries, bonuses & comps.

 

[WAB]

I just looked at a couple of quarterlies of United Health. Yes, they have a quarterly revenue of around 100 billion USD. But, the company's net margin for the quarter was only 6% and operating margin was 5.6%. Yes, on a 100 billion USD, 6% is a large number - but try running your average small business on that rate. I should also add, the United Health Group employs 440,000 people. All the damning articles I read simply pointed to growth in gross revenue - not a word about actual profits.

Exactly, this is the same crap that the oil industry takes. Average returns are well below what most folks expect out of their 401-k. They hold these stocks for diversification while they hunt growth in AI, and then scream about obscene profits. Try building a $2B oil refinery or developing and registering a drug at a cost of $1B while running a corporation at a 6 to 8% return. The ignorance of the folks making these asinine accusations is almost beyond comprehension.

 

[Brent in Az]

Trump invites Xi Jinping to his inauguration. WTF Donald????

 

[mdwest]

That’s classic Trump…

He’s just playing the no greater friend, no worse enemy card…

He’s extending the olive branch, while also the same time threatening to slap Xi in the face with it if he doesn’t accept it in peace…

It’s a power play… to multiple parties… he’s letting the China Hawks, the D’s, and the Chinese all know he is in charge… and that he’s not going to allow the tail to wag the dog…

I actually think it’s a smart move on The Donald’s part…

Xi can play nice and concede to not continuing to play fuck fuck games with the US Economy, engage in state sponsored cyber attacks on US industry, etc… and come to Trumps party…

Or when Xi crosses yet another line, as everyone expects, Trump can point to this and say “I tried to be reasonable… Xi continues to be a prick… so now he pays”… and everyone buys in…

 

[wesheltonj]

Healthcare in the USA is the finest in the world. The problem is Healthcare finance is not. Lots of problems. Some of which are the health insurance carriers fault some not. For years, they have been fighting "community rating.' Well they won that battle and lost the war and end up with Obamacare instead.

Another problem, is physician groups. Those have been purchased by Carriers and private equity firms. The ones that are private equity, the carriers have voided their contracts and and balance bill. The patient does not see the balance bill, as those go to arbitration. And an Arbitrator decides the payment. The Physician groups load up on Nurses (NP's) and Physician Assistants move patients to the lower paid employee and bill at the physicians rate.

Medical bill is another problem. The hospitals "Charge Master" which has about 20 different rates for the same service depending on who paying.

Single payor is not the answer. My solution, get rid of Group Insurance and move everyone to an individual policy. Have several policies for individuals to pick from (basic to deluxe), using community rates. The employers can provide a stipend for their employee to purchase their individual policy and make sure all policies are regulated by state Department of Insurance and not ERISA. That will subject the carriers to that states "bad faith" laws. That's a start.

 

[barryk]

So says the man who called for Trump to be indicted and impeached since 2016.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1866589949618950395

Adam Schiff......what a Dick.

 

[sgt_zim]

I just looked at a couple of quarterlies of United Health. Yes, they have a quarterly revenue of around 100 billion USD. But, the company's net margin for the quarter was only 6% and operating margin was 5.6%. Yes, on a 100 billion USD, 6% is a large number - but try running your average small business on that rate. I should also add, the United Health Group employs 440,000 people. All the damning articles I read simply pointed to growth in gross revenue - not a word about actual profits.

Aren't most of the major oil companies somewhere around 1:9 or 1:10 on their PE ratios? Yeah, big profit, but you've gotta spend a crap ton to get it.

The most infuriating thing to me about the assclowns bleating about "record profits" is an economic maxim as old as the study of economics: it isn't about what you earn, it's about what you can buy with what you earn.

We earn about 7% CoC annually on our multifamily properties, and 10 - 15% on our singles.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]