Bert Sledge 's Comments
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Oct 27, 2009 | rating: 9 | comments: 6
in reply to a comment by Steph D.
Bert Sledge Oct 29, 2009, 10:30am EDT
I completely agree. This as well as a few other things would help. My article was too long as it was. I believe the three I listed would bring the largest amount of relief.

Though prying the Trail lawyers Assn from the Democrats is going to be tough. They are one of the two largest contributors to the party. The Teachers unions are the other.
Oct 27, 2009 | rating: 9 | comments: 6
in reply to a comment by libramoon C.
Bert Sledge Oct 28, 2009, 2:30am EDT

I don't believe I said anything of the kind. There are no "free" service models. Someone pays for them and usually not by choice. Increasing grants and ways to help student my not be effective, because the jobs are becoming untenable and undesirable, decreasing the supply.

But you bring up a couple more points that are very valid. An informed consumer is a better consumer. The new proposals are throwing the bath water and the patients out in the streets; these proposals though limited actually grant the consumer a degree of power and control they never have had before. But I Believe in them (the people, the patients, and the doctors) and know they can handle the situation if given the chance. There are plenty of us out here to teach them. The government as always has to get out of the way.

I would not have set up Medicaid the way it is, as it is unsustainable, but it can be modified to do less damage.

There are simply and not so simple ways to get medical back to a supply/demand function and a real doctor/patient relationship which is now pretty much missing from the picture.
Oct 25, 2009 | rating: 8.5 | comments: 25
in reply to a comment by Ali Hussein Lopez
Bert Sledge Oct 26, 2009, 12:59pm EDT
I've looked around for my daughter and what you say in Baltimore couldn't be farther from the truth, and from what I have read, this is the case nationwide.

I'm sure you did get a blue book of $7000 for $6000, but that is no big deal. How about a decent car for $4000? $3000? Have you seen pictures and films of these cars? There were a lot of nice ones and many were not that old.

Why destroy them? Why not use them for parts? Isn't this wasteful and counterproductive for recycling?
Oct 25, 2009 | rating: 7.4 | comments: 25
in reply to a comment by Sam C.
Bert Sledge Oct 25, 2009, 7:05pm EDT
Oh I see, I'm an idiot. same old stuff Sam. If you can't win an argument just name-call. Typical.
Oct 25, 2009 | rating: 7.4 | comments: 25
in reply to a comment by Leo Lemmer
Bert Sledge Oct 25, 2009, 7:03pm EDT
I have very good insurance which I pay for. I'll write about that in my next article. I just work a little harder. Isn't that the American way? Oh, that's right hard work isn't fashionable any more, though most of us have to. This government wants to take it from us and give it to others.
Oct 25, 2009 | rating: 7.4 | comments: 25
in reply to a comment by Sam C.
Bert Sledge Oct 25, 2009, 4:35pm EDT
Sam,

You do know that the Mass Health (and a similar program in Tennessee) is in big trouble, fact not conjecture. This is mostly because a large number of people quit their regular insurance coverage and signed to this program. The costs have become catastrophic. I doubt your "indigent" would receive the same quantity of care today. Should that coverage be limited to state sanctioned enrollees?

When care is rationed as it is presently in Mass Health and Tennessee, and will inevitably be if there is a Federal takeover, who will make the life and death decisions. Do you want to do it?

Presently, I doubt if anyone in the country would be abandoned in that situation, regardless of how the current Washington, DC elites try to convince everyone and make them feel guilty, that we are an uncivilized people. Americans always have been the most caring and giving public in the world. If government takes over everything as they are trying to do, this may not always be the case. Government is the enemy not the American public.

I do agree that people do fall through the cracks, but that is almost always because of government; reference the child welfare scandals in Florida.

Again, I believe I would not have received the care I did if any of the five current proposals had been previously enacted.

Also, where is any of this in the Constitution? Should we throw that (the Constitution) out with our health care?
Apr 13, 2009 | rating: 8.2 | comments: 18
Bert Sledge Apr 14, 2009, 12:46pm EDT
Scott,

I think we could get a pretty penny for the building and land those guys (U.N.) occupy in NYC. They complain we don't pay our share which is about a fourth of their total take, and now want us to abide by their every whim. I say tell them to pound sand, literally, and kick them out of the country and see how far they get. Without us, do you think Europe will pick up the slack. Not!
Apr 13, 2009 | rating: 8.2 | comments: 18
Bert Sledge Apr 13, 2009, 10:40pm EDT
Jared,

Crap happens and you can only do the right thing even if you get the wrong result.

I know that feeling personally, and I don't know about anyone else on here, but I can honestly say I would have said the same that I did win, lose, or draw. The president did what was right.

We can simply can not give in to terrorists no matter what form and that is what these guys are. Sure they are businessmen, but with guns.
Apr 13, 2009 | rating: 8.2 | comments: 18
Bert Sledge Apr 13, 2009, 4:26pm EDT
Seems to me these guys are extremely well armed and equipped for poor fishermen and farmers.

Also, non one has mentioned the Malaysian Pirates in the Strait of Malacca. I guess they haven't hit a U.S. or French ship yet, at least none we know of.
Apr 13, 2009 | rating: 8.2 | comments: 18
Bert Sledge Apr 13, 2009, 3:40pm EDT
Hi Prima,

Believe me I have my axes to grind, and I will. But in this case, he was right and I support him.

Actually there are places they congregate and taking out a bunch of them would not be that difficult. We have to take a stand otherwise this will repeat itself again and again.

One thing amazes me. There are Russians held hostage. It is not like them to sit on something like this. I'm surprised that a few of the pirates haven't been sent back to camp in little pieces. That is the Kremlin's usual M.O.

These guys go beyond just mercenary businessmen. Most of this money as I've read is going back to terrorist organizations to use, most likely on Europe and us. So putting and end to this is a win-win situation.
Apr 13, 2009 | rating: 8.2 | comments: 18
Bert Sledge Apr 13, 2009, 2:21pm EDT
Rory,

Thank you. There is a time and place for everything.
Apr 2, 2009 | rating: 8.7 | comments: 36
Bert Sledge Apr 8, 2009, 11:58am EDT
Ditto on the politics.
Apr 2, 2009 | rating: 8.7 | comments: 36
Bert Sledge Apr 8, 2009, 12:52am EDT
Ron,

Just curious, What about Jimmy Carter, in his capacity as ex-pres, he is treasonously cavorting with any dictator and slug he can find and knocking us every chance he gets. should he be tried for treason or simply remitted to a mental hospital. I would be happy with either. How about you? should we get a special prosecutor, or forget it to save the oval office, the role of president..
Apr 2, 2009 | rating: 8.7 | comments: 36
Bert Sledge Apr 8, 2009, 12:09am EDT
Ron,

Please watch you mouth. That type of language is never needed, and in case you didn't notice Bush isn't President anymore. we have a whole new set of problems, even worse.
Apr 2, 2009 | rating: 8.7 | comments: 36
Bert Sledge Apr 7, 2009, 11:31pm EDT
Noname,

I didn't write about you because you made sense. Take that as a compliment.

For Bruce K., etc. None of us are right all of the time. All we can do is try our best.
Apr 2, 2009 | rating: 8.7 | comments: 36
Bert Sledge Apr 7, 2009, 2:34pm EDT
It is obvious that you haven't read much of what I write, and it is just as obvious you can't write without calling me a liar, which shows you are coming from a weak corner.

When I don't reference my articles (which I often do) just because you don't agree with me, you call me a liar. What does that make you?

Most of what you wrote above is utter nonsense, but it is your opinion and you are entitled to it.
Apr 2, 2009 | rating: 8.7 | comments: 36
Bert Sledge Apr 7, 2009, 9:03am EDT
Bruce,

The Nastsha Richardson comment was reported by the main stream media (your socialist friends). I did not make it up.

If the Canadian Health Care system is so great why do they come to the US to get treatments that would take them months or years up there. Surely you've read of the people who died waiting for care there and in Europe.

Those are not opinions.

Do we need improvements here? You're damn right we do, but exchanging it for less doesn't make sense.

My wife is from Europe and she wouldn't go back if you paid her.
Apr 2, 2009 | rating: 8.7 | comments: 36
Bert Sledge Apr 4, 2009, 8:08am EDT
Tim,

The European countries define their economies as National Socialism as does our media, as do their actions. That is not my doing.

I never said Canada was socialist, just their health Care and extremely high tax system and, etc. They are no where near as bad as Europe.

Actually, none of them have a "Constitution" such as we do, that defines their government and actions, so that point is moot.

I think you will find I'm not off base on any of this; but whatever it is, I don't want it here.
Apr 2, 2009 | rating: 8.7 | comments: 36
Bert Sledge Apr 3, 2009, 4:14pm EDT
Bruce,

I couldn't disagree more, so I guess we're not on the same page, though for a moment it sounded like it.

Time will tell.

Just 2 points:

1. If European Socialism is so great why aren't Americans running over there in droves, or any other intelligent people for that matter. As you said just the riff-raff head there.

2. Maybe Natasha Richardson would still be alive if she had her accident in the U.S. and not Canada with the great socialized medicine there that takes a year to get a needed test.
Apr 2, 2009 | rating: 8.7 | comments: 36
Bert Sledge Apr 3, 2009, 12:36pm EDT
Bruce,

I think we are on the same side here, though...

The Europeans have had uncontrolled immigration for the past 30 years, just as our "leaders" want and they will pay for it.

They have had Socialism for decades and it does not work. I don't think that the word Capitalism is in their vocabulary, and they absolutely do not believe in a free market. Profit is the great motivator and they think it is evil, as do the power hungry Libs in the US.

If the US is schizo it is because the public has been lied to for 79 years, and the current group in DC are blatantly the worst.

Right now our government and media are trying their best to institute Fascism here in the guise of European Socialism. Americans simply are not going to take it forever.

At this point the current congress and administration have no intention of protecting our SW borders and indeed make every excuse to allow the illegals that are here to stay. They don't even want to call them illegals. They are trying to divide us to subdue us.

We can't let them do that... and citizen power is the only answer... through a free market system, not government control. There is no real problem with a little regulation, but overwhelming regulation is totally destructive.
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Bert Sledge
Baltimore, MD
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