Yes, there is a difference. Now you can stop using them interchangeably. 
Sep 24
Aug 24
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Jul 28
While on Facebook, I recently came in contact with a friend of a friend (yes, I don’t know this person), who has political views somewhat different from my own.
We began talking about Public healthcare in America via private message, and decided that we could gain some new perspective from one another by learning about ‘the opposition’ from the opposition. We’ve had a friendly conversation thus far over facebook, and I thought I’d provide our commentary here. I don’t provide any of this information for ridicule. It’s informational, as it provides insight into both sides of the debate.
What is provided below is unedited. I can’t speak for the other party, but as for me, mine was written quickly. It may not be as articulate as it could be, but I feel it gets the point across.
Updates will occur on this thread as our Facebook conversation progresses:
For public healthcare:
I want an affordable, accessible healthcare system for all citizens of the United States. It is not affordable for uninsured people to go to the emergency room if they have a medical problem. they usually default on their bill which drives up medical costs.I don’t think private insurance should go by the wayside but, I agree with Obama that there needs to be competition to keep them from overcharging consumers and doctors. Even in this recession, the “earnings” for insurance companies are still rising. Not Acceptable.
Here in Washington, we have a state insurance plan that people can use that is inexpensive but not always accessible because there are only so many spots available and when they’re gone , they’re gone. This year due to budget cuts, many people lost coverage. If we had the ability to get into the system for government employees that Obama talked about in his campaign speeches, medical costs would go down just because people would not be using the emergency room as a clinic.
Why are you against a public healthcare system?
Against public healthcare:
I’m against a public healthcare system that is pieced together using money we don’t have on bill’s we haven’t read with provisions that are unconstitutional.The government shouldn’t be allowed to create competition in a marketplace. Since the government has free-range access to an unlimited amount of money, they can borrow, borrow and borrow, offering services at a fraction of the cost a real company can. this creates an unfair marketplace in which the government will undoubtedly quickly drive private carriers out of business.
It’s nice that Obama uses talking points and phrases like “There will still be private insurance available for those who want it…” and “we don’t want to remove or replace the existing private insurance”. Unfortunately, the bill’s he’s attempting to have passed (which, by the way, he hasn’t read. I can back this up.) don’t reflect his spoken position.
However, what if the plan were implimented AS the Obama administration says it is (not as the bill is drafted, which is much, much worse). How is one more option (A goverment health plan) going to increase competition enough to lower costs? There are hundreds if not thousands of independent healthcare providers in the United States. If it’s not going to create unfair, unmatchable competition, then it’ll just be one more competitor with no power to drive down costs.
You mentioned that in Washington (If you’re talking about State, I used to live near *****) people are being dropped from the state sponsored plan due to budget cuts. As the legislation is written, it is financially unsustainable. Especially as time goes on, the plan grows, and so do it’s participants. Budget cuts will either toss people from the plan, or they’ll simply have to dump the plan completely. Are we not in the same position when it comes to Social Security?
I also agree that medical costs are ridiculous. I just don’t feel that creating a government bureaucracy is the most adequate solution to that problem.
The United States actually already offers a government run healthcare system to Veterans. And as you may or may not be aware (It depends on whether you have family in the military, I’d imagine), the VA is a complete and total mess.
The US has demonstrated that it is currently unable to administrate a successful public healthcare system for a small group of citizens who, in my opinion, DESERVE that care.
Do we make an effort to correct that broken system? No. Do we mention how we will integrate that existing system into this new, proposed healthcare system? No.
So, I become confused when people tell me they support the President in his current Agenda.
I can appreciate a person finding a public healthcare system to be a desirable thing. But a reasonable person should be able to say: “You know, I want this. Unfortunately, the way they’re going about it is wrong. It’s going to hurt people. They’re rushing it, it’s expensive, they have no way to pay for it, it exploits my freedoms and honestly, it’s just not the way it should be. even though I support the concept, I can’t support the president in taking yet more shortcuts that will only hurt us in the long run”.
Unfortunately, supporters of Public Health can’t do that. They want their fix, and they want it now, even if it’s broken, because “it’s a start”. But any genuinely politically aware person should know that things put into law in the United States don’t get fixed. They only get worse over time, not better.
In my opinion, supporters of public healthcare should take a step back and determine whether or not the costs (figurative and literal) of this program is worth the benefit, despite it’s excessive and even dangerous flaws.
Comments Welcome
Last updated 9:34 MST 7/28/2009
Jul 17
First of all, let me say I thoroughly enjoy playing WebRisk over at Iohelix.net. WebRisk is an aptly named online version of the board game, Risky.
Games are played as slowly, or as quickly as you like, notifying you via e-mail when it’s your turn to move.
I’ve really enjoyed playing risk, although it’s really highlighted to me how poor my math skills are. I have a difficult time quickly counting how many troops a person has, and how many troops they’ll be getting on their next turn.
To remedy that, I present RiskAnalysis 1.0.
RiskAnalysis is a javascript based tool that will quickly calculate the number of troops and territories each player has. It will also calculate continents owned, and how many troops a person will get on their next turn, assuming the game continues in it’s direction.
The tool is not an exploit or hack in any way – A pen and paper, or calculator, can easily be used to derive all the same information that RiskAnalysis provides.. but for those of us with math problems, it’s a much faster solution.
Installation:
RiskAnalysis 1.0 is compatible with Chrome and FireFox 2.x+. Internet Explorer is not supported.
- Open the following link in a new window and copy it’s text to your clipboard:
- Using any site, create a bookmark in Chrome or Firefox titled “RiskAnalysis”
- Right-click on that bookmark, select “Edit” and remove the address of the existing bookmark
- Paste the copied RiskAnalysis code into the address field of the bookmark
- With an iohelix.net WebRisk game board open, click on the RiskAnalysis bookmark
- Leave any comments, suggestions or concerns you may have here, and check back periodically for updates
Apr 17
UPDATE:
Alex V., A newegg Customer Service Professional, discovered this blog post and has contacted Michael W. in an effort to resolve this issue. Michael is incredibly satisifed with this resolution, and his faith in Newegg.com has been restored.
We commend Newegg and Alex V. for their amazing customer service, and happily reinstate our endorsement that Newegg.com is the web’s best computer hardware vendor.
Michael’s response to newegg can be found here.
Original Post Below:
A friend of mine frequently makes all of his computer-related purchases from online vendor Newegg.com. He’s sworn by it for years, so much so in fact that I have made several purchases based solely on his recommendation.
This morning, Michael had an incredible time making a purchase when Newegg wanted 30$ to ship 20 6″ cables.
Ordinarily, Newegg ships multiple order items together. For example, if I purchase two hard drives and a motherboard, shipping is calculated to ship all of those items together. However, as you’ll see from Newegg Customer Service Member “Tiana”, apparently shipping 20 cables, Newegg says there is a possibility they’ll ship all 20 cables seperately, and therefore need to charge for shipping accordingly. Essentially this prices the order at $39.80 for 20 cables, and $29.48 to ship them on the cheapest method available.
That’s a total cost of $69.28 to purchase 20 6″ cables cables that weight next to nothing.
Even better, during a chat with Newegg customer service, Tiana chats the wrong message to Michael, apparently because she’s helping too many customers at once. She then ends the chat with a classic “Thanks for calling. Later loser”.
You’re welcome to try the linked Newegg.com URL and see for yourself.
Chat and Screenshot enclosed:
8:26:35 AM Michael W.
Initial Question/Comment: Shipping
8:26:40 AM System
Tiana has joined this session!
8:26:40 AM System
Connected with Tiana
8:26:40 AM System
Hello my name is Tiana. How may I help you today?
8:27:12 AM Michael W.
Hi I have a question about combining products on an order. I think there might be a problem with the auto update shipping amount
8:27:19 AM Michael W.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119238
8:27:21 AM Michael W.
is the item
8:27:29 AM Michael W.
and its a cable that weighs virtually nothing
8:27:40 AM Michael W.
when I try and add say 10 to the order, my shipping is like $20
8:28:01 AM Michael W.
the shipping should be around $5-$8 or so, as I’ve ordered a bunch of cables through Newegg before
8:28:14 AM Tiana
I do apologize about that Sir, please give me a moment and see what I can do for you in this matter. For reference Sir, each item that is added to your cart has it’s own shipping prices and once it adds 5 items or more the shipping charges are discounted. If possible can you please provide me with your account information? This way I can review your account and see what we can do for you.
8:28:16 AM Michael W.
and the only time shipping has been remotely close to $20 was with a case
8:28:59 AM Michael W.
I have not pruchased these yet, as I think the shipping is wrong
8:29:06 AM Michael W.
my account is under my*****@hotmail.com
8:29:20 AM Tiana
The shipping is correct and as a courtesy I can offer you 10.00 off shipping.
8:30:29 AM Michael W.
I guess I dont understand why the shipping is so much, they are cables, they weigh virtually nothing
8:30:44 AM Michael W.
I should be able to add 50 cables and the the shipping shouldnt be $10
8:30:50 AM Tiana
That is how much we list them for shipping sir.
8:30:56 AM Tiana
Shipping for that cable is 2.99.
8:32:27 AM Michael W.
If I order 20 cables, what are the shipping costs at that qty level?
8:32:50 AM Tiana
What is your zip code?
8:32:53 AM Michael W.
84043
8:33:35 AM Tiana
It is 29.48.
8:34:18 AM Michael W.
ok, that’s just ridiculous. I order everything from newegg, as you can see from my account, and the prices on shipping for these cables is just wrong
8:34:31 AM Michael W.
I will just buy them locally at those prices
8:34:37 AM Michael W.
or from another online vendor
8:34:46 AM Michael W.
that is just not correct for shipping
8:35:02 AM Michael W.
they can be combined into a flat rate box, they are tiny cables
8:35:07 AM Michael W.
I just dont understand
8:35:50 AM Tiana
They cannot be combined as a flate rate because again we charge shipping per item. Once it adds 5 items or more the shipping charges are discounted.
8:36:08 AM Michael W.
so, if I order 20 cables, I will get 20 packages?
8:36:25 AM Michael W.
they wouldnt be combined like EVERY thing else Ive ordered?
8:36:30 AM Tiana
You may or you may receive them all in one box. We may not have all the cables in one warehouse.
8:37:00 AM Tiana
*You may or you may not.
8:39:35 AM Tiana
Thank you very much for holding. Unfortunately your credit card declined again. Since we have verified the credit card information in our system is correct and your card-issuing bank has not authorized the payment, we may need to conduct a manual authorization. A manual authorization consist of us contacting your card-issuing banks merchant line to request an authorization number. There is a slight risk of being double charged. If this were to happen, we will fix it immediately and refund you the 2nd charge… Would you like us to conduct a manual authorization?
8:39:40 AM Tiana
I’ve noticed that you have been idle for 3 minutes; would you still like to continue this chat?
8:39:43 AM Michael W.
uhm
8:39:49 AM Michael W.
I didnt ask you to verify my credit card
8:40:00 AM Tiana
Disregard the last paragraph.
8:40:05 AM Tiana
It was not meant for you, I apologize.
8:40:18 AM Tiana
Do you have any other questions, or is there anything else I can assist you with today?
8:40:37 AM Michael W.
no, I am just appalled with the shipping
8:40:40 AM Michael W.
I dont know what to say
8:41:05 AM Tiana
Thank you for visiting Newegg.com. Please feel free to contact us anytime.
8:41:05 AM System
Tiana Disconnected
