Nothing lasts, nothing is permanent. That includes D.J. Trump, et. al.
Here is a little uplifting from Amanda Gorman:
“We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it. Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. The effort nearly succeeded. But while democracy cane be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated. In this truth, in this faith, we trust. For while we have our eyes on the future, history has it’s eye on us.”
“Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed, a nation that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished. There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” – Amanda Gorman.
“We will rise from the gold-lined hills of the west; we will rise from the windswept northeast. Where our forefather first realized revolution. We will rise from the lake rimmed cities of the Midwest. We will rise from the sunbaked south. We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover. In every known nook of our nations and every corner called our country, out people diverse and beautiful will emerge, battered and beautiful. When day comes we step out of the shade, aflame an unafraid. The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.
(I find she helps when I feel myself getting pulled to far in the negative. We really need the poets and the artists and musicians. They can speak to people beyond the disinformation and noise and lies.)
Regarding current headlines:
I am glad he pardoned his son. With the incoming cabinet, for his recovery, prison would not be beneficial in any way.
I'm glad too. t has promised revenge on his so-called "enemies"-- the pardon leaves Hunter Biden less vulnerable to any vengeful schemes. I imagine that is why Joe did it. He couldn't leave his son exposed to the wolves.
AP news is reporting the Biden is considering blanket , preemptive pardons for his allies and administration officials--- for the same reason some of us believe he pardoned his son. Here's an excerpt from the article:
Pardons are historically afforded to those accused of specific crimes – and usually those who have already been convicted of an offense — but Biden’s team is considering issuing them for those who have not even been investigated, let alone charged. They fear that Trump and his allies, who have boasted of enemies lists and exacting “retribution,” could launch investigations that would be reputationally and financially costly for their targets even if they don’t result in prosecutions.
https://apnews.com/article/biden-pardons-trump-f36ead0eb92ea30e47cbfddfaf326f20
If t were a "normal" president with some semblance of a moral compass, I would be against the pardons. But he's not. He's a crazy, vengeful maniac and people need to be protected from him.
I was so looking forward to hearing Amanda Gorman at this inauguration, but it is not to be 😯 . Her words at the 2020 inauguration were inspirational.
We could contact our individual states and demand that Medicaid, Medicare, and Obamacare be provided by our individual states.
@anya, Medicaid is 50% funded by the federal government, and Medicare is 100 percent funded by the Feds, not the states. So it is unrealistic to think that states could fully fund these programs, but I am out of my depth when it comes to the complexities of the federal-state partnerships.
Well, it might be unrealistic right now to think that the states could fund the programs, but how would you suggest any of us do any damage control if it is cut further?
New York and California house some of the wealthiest people in the nation. Couldn't a sharp tax on the top one percent of earners fund it for the next four years? It's unsustainable that burger flippers make more than museum docents and have to somehow pay out of pocket for covered california, or Medicaid, or anything similar.
The federal government is funding these programs through our collective taxes.
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/what-is-medicare
Hi
As you are talking about healthcare at the moment after that murder. I thought you might be interested in how ours works and how it is funded.
It’s not necessarily the best way but it’s how we do it.
What is Medicare?
Medicare is the insurance scheme that gives Australian citizens, permanent residents and other eligible people access to healthcare. This includes a wide range of health and hospital services at no cost or low cost.
Medicare is funded by Australian taxpayers, who pay 2% of their taxable income to help cover healthcare costs. This 'Medicare levy' is automatically calculated when you submit your tax return.
Depending on your financial circumstances, you may be eligible for a reduction or exemption from the Medicare levy.
So I guess if you earned $75,000 at 2% your Medicare insurance payment for the year would be $1500 or $125 a month.
Advantages of Medicare
- Receive treatment with no up-front bills or at a reduced cost.
- You could save money if you’re prepared to wait for elective surgery.
- Most common health conditions are listed on the MBS and will be covered up to 75% by Medicare when treated in a private hospital or 100% when treated as a public patient in a public hospital.
- In most instances, you’ll be seen quickly for emergencies.
- There are no yearly premiums or excess to pay for insurance.
Disadvantages of Medicare
- The treatment you require may not be covered, such as dental treatment or physiotherapy.
- You could be subject to longer wait times for treatment in a public hospital.
- No choice of when and where you’re operated on and who performs the surgery.
- Depending on your income and circumstances, you may need to pay the MLS.
(MLS is the Medicare Levy Surcharge)
What is the Medicare Levy Surcharge?
The Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) is a surcharge imposed on Australian taxpayers who earn over $97,000 as a single or $194,000 as a couple/family each financial year but don’t hold an eligible private hospital insurance policy throughout the financial year. The surcharge is intended to ease pressure on the public health system by encouraging high-income earners to take out private hospital cover.
You may incur a surcharge of 1%, 1.25% or 1.5% depending on your annual taxable income for MLS purposes. You’ll be subject to the MLS for any period during a financial year that you don’t hold suitable private health cover that includes hospital admissions.
Your MLS is calculated based on the following criteria:
- Your family status
- Number of dependent children (if applicable)
- Individual or combined annual income
- Whether you hold an eligible private hospital cover
In my case when. I go to see my GP doctor at the moment sometimes he bulk bills, depending on the service, which means I pay nothing. Other times he will charge his normal fee of $75.00 which I pay electronically, the information goes direct to Medicare than my refund goes straight back into my account of $42.85 which means my actual cost for the doctors visit is $32.15.
If I need a prescription filled because I have a concession card it costs me $7.70 (normally $31.60 for anyone). My husband and I between us hit the safety net amount for the calendar year so the last nearly 3 months of the year our prescriptions have been free. We will go back to being charged from 1st Jan.
We have also taken out private health insurance a couple of years ago. We are covered for free public hospital care under Medicare but depending on waiting lists time can blow out before you have that op. So we decided to have hospital cover so if knees and hips etc need doing we can get it done much much sooner and with the doctor we want rather than who is available. As we are over 70 we get a 32.812% government rebate on the premium cost, it’s 24.608% for under 65, this is to help the public system by having people go to private hospitals instead of public.
People on a government pension or part pension don’t pay a Medicare levy it’s only people who have a taxable income. Our part pension and pension from our superannuation fund is tax free.
https://www.health.gov.au/stronger-medicare
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicare-claims?context=60092
I suppose thats all as clear as mud.
Regards to all
Matildagirl
@matildagirl Thank you for the information. It sounds similar to the system in Canada.
I'll post something written by a musician who I will not cite, in order not to stir up potential trouble, but these stories make many americans wish they were french.
Here’s a creative “path forward” - if you’re finalizing some Christmas shopping consider buying the cook in your life some spices from www.penzeys.com. A forum member gifted me some along with some gift boxes to give to my new teacher mentees back when I was just starting to wear that hat and only and 5 (I now have more than 20 😂) Not only was it the best Paprika I’ve ever cooked with but you should check out the tab in the menu bar next to “About Us”.