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1. I'm agree with you Andy-unfortunately. Not sure if anything is going to be done about-but we need to fight for it. I know people who have 'company sponsored healthcare' that get nothing when they go to the doctor because of out of control co-pays. Myself, as self-employed have to pay over a thousand dollars a month-with no presciption coverage. SOMETHING has got to be done about this. My Mother is 65 now-what the hell is she/we going to be put through if she has an extended illness (God forbid)? I'm sick and fucking tired of allocations going to shit, and not where it should be placed. My apologies-venting here.

   Posted by: Andrew | Aug 8, 2007 12:26:22 PM

   
   

2. I feel sorry for this guy, but people need to realize that they need to prepare for the worst themselves and not rely on or wait for the government to bail them out. I am thankful that my parents were smart enough to teach me how to invest my money and how to prepare and not rely on the government or my company. This paid off for me when I was laid off from a company and it went bell up. Yes, I lost my company match on my 401(k) and I lost my health insurance but I was prepared and able to seek out a private insurance policy. Unfortunately in this gentleman's case he was a steel mill worker/miner and was probably not educated and came from the era of "let me show loyalty to the company and they will show loyalty to me". Either way you feel on this issue, this man will be long dead before the government intervenes.

   Posted by: Matt | Aug 8, 2007 12:33:31 PM

   
   

3. Matt: You have yet to face a serious health issue, just wait. Nice backhand at the working class btw, you do your parents proud. I'm sure your wife and kids (like this guy has) appreciate your ability to be prepared. Oh wait.....

   Posted by: Mike | Aug 8, 2007 12:44:48 PM

   
   

4. The corporate "oligarchs" (and that's what they are), have plotted and to take as much money out of companies as they can and line their own pockets. CEO's are getting bonuses in the range of 100 mil plus, while the workers get minimal or no raises.

   And these oligarchs of course, have politicians in their pockets which is why their is no call for change from Washington.

   The average American has bought into the LIE that regulating corporate pay outs is an an affront to capitalism, when in fact what we really have is capitalist feudalism.

   If Congress won't act to outlaw company sponsored health care and pensions, then we have to keep bringing up the MORAL issue--

   is it right to pay executives ridiculous bonuses that eventually bankrupt a company?

   Is it right for taxpayers to pick up the expense, through social welfare programs, because greedy execs have put so many people out of work?

   Posted by: Qjersey | Aug 8, 2007 12:51:11 PM

   
   

5. Mike,

   Just so you know during that time of unemployment I had just finished a bought with a lymphoma that I will not mention here. When I got my private policy this was excluded as a pre-existing condition.

   It is not a back-hand at the working class. Both of my parents are working-class people. My father has worked for 30 years + in a factory and my mother works in a local school system. The difference here is unlike many in our society they planned, did not live beyond their means with car payments, credit card debt, and other things that they could not afford. My grandparents were also working class and worked in factories. All of my grandparents have had cancers and did not have company based insurance to cover it. So please don't give me a lecture on slapping the working class.

   Posted by: Matt | Aug 8, 2007 1:00:38 PM

   
   

6. matt-you are an idiot. What I want to know is how the hell did you pay for your problem with no job, no insurance, o 401k? Where hedge fund? some people save their entire lives responsibly-and have invested paycheck to paycheck into their pensions only to see it wiped out. also, people save their entire lives and get ill-and lose it all with $10,000 a week home care. so thank you for your opinion on this matter Mr. Cheney.

   Posted by: Andrew | Aug 8, 2007 1:14:40 PM

   
   

7. I was there at the debate. Everyone got out of their chairs and clapped for the poor gentleman.

   Posted by: Sean | Aug 8, 2007 1:23:12 PM

   
   

8. Qjersey nailed it.
   It is completely out of touch with the working class, i.e., to rig the system - and that's what's being done here with corporate execs, CEO, CFOs, etc. being in bed with Congress, et al. A CEO's annual pay with bonuses, incentives stock options, toss in a Lexus and country club memberships is tantamount to rape when you consider how much, how hard the middle class have to work to stay ahead of what it costs to make a nominal living today.
   A $3 million dollar annual salary for these bozos is typical and it's a knee to the nuts to the working class.
   I wish I knew what I could do to spur change, but it's like trying to roll a ball uphill against the steepest slope - oh, and the slope happens to also be coated with WD-40!
   Outrageous.

   Posted by: Stephen | Aug 8, 2007 1:28:14 PM

   
   

9. Insurance paid for my health care. I was a patient before I lost my job. I admit I was nervous about coming out of remission while I was considered a preexisting condition.

   But let me get this right? I'm a idiot because I advocate preparing yourself and not relying on the government to fix your problems. In no way am I saying that what happened to this man isn't sad or horrible. All I'm advocating here is being prepared the best you can and not expecting our lackluster governement to step in any time soon to fix things.

   Posted by: Matt | Aug 8, 2007 1:30:31 PM

   
   

10. I hate on this blog how everyone baggers the rich for being rich. The majority of millionaires in America are first time millionaires. Look at Bob Nardelli of now Chrysler, he came from a working class and moved up the company in GM. Steve Jobs, Bill Gates all came from less than humble beginnings. Should they be penalized for attaining the American Dream of being rich and prosperous? It just blows my mind that people say, "oh they make more money than me and are rich so let's tax them to even the playing field"

    Posted by: Matt | Aug 8, 2007 1:36:33 PM

    
    

11. Matt-who said I wasn't rich? That is not the point. I happen to be very well off. Cannot millionaires care about others who are less fortunate? pull your head out of your hedge fund and see the light. BTW-yes look at Bob Nardelli-he almost wipes out my portfolio. Pathetic at Home Depot. Almost took it under, yet left with a $127 million dollar umbrella. I wonder if he has insurance. douchebag.

    Posted by: Andrew | Aug 8, 2007 1:48:17 PM

    
    

12. Matt,

    I have to take issue with your comments as well but it doesn't reflect the realities of what many people live with today. Like the gentleman in the video I have a personal story as well.

    My brother has epilepsy and the doctor determined that he needed brain surgery to provide the cure. He had to undergo two weeks of in-hospital testing. He had good health insurance and this was covered -- until his company filed bankruptcy. Unfortunately, the company were behind in paying their insurance premiums. So once the company filed bankruptcy, the insurer said the policy was terminated effective of the last paid premium -- months before was brother was admitted.

    Since every healthcare provder makes you consent that you are responsible for the bill in the event the insurance company won't, my brother suddently became the proud owner of $120,000 in medical bills. Maybe to you this is a small sum but to my parents, this was a huge amount of money. My father was a printer and my mother a homemaker. My brother was only 25 and had graduated college and began his career. So he hadn't had time to save much and certainly not $120,000

    Many employees were stuck in the same boat and contacted the state attorney general and private attorneys. Both agreed that while reprehensible, the company's and insurer's actions were legal.

    My brother applied for charity care and was denied. Because his condition was "manageable" without surgery (and expensive), it was not necessary and not eligible.

    The hospital hired an attorney to collect from my brother. When I investigated and spoke to some medicare advocates, they explained that the hospital has little choice. If they don't take all reasonable means to collect a debt, medicare challenges the reimbursements because they feel that hospital is unfairly marking up medicare's services to make up for bad debt.

    My brother filed bankruptcy. The hospital went after my parent's house. Finally with the help of a bankruptcy attorney and a good judge, they were able to work out a repayment plan to allowed my parent's to keep their house.

    So while you've been able to make it, I live on the other side of the street and have felt exactly what that man has felt. It's great to talk about your grandparents but they lived in a different time.

    Hospitals were run by religious groups for service of "God and his people" so making money was not critical. Doctors would see their profession as a public good and they had a duty to treat anyone who came to them regardless of whether they could pay. This is a different world today and it is a "cash only" world. So if you can't pay, you're on your own.

    I'm sorry if this is long or heated but I dealt with this for five years and watched my family struggle all because of an unscrupulous company.

    Posted by: Ed | Aug 8, 2007 1:53:17 PM

    
    

13. You know Andrew your comments might sway me if you didn't do so much name calling. I never said that rich people shouldn't care about the less fortunate. Bill and Melinda Gates give away millions a year. Warren Buffett plans to give his whole fortue away. Oh by the way, if Bob Nardelli nearly wiped out your portfolio you are not diversified appropriately and/or you need to fire your financial planner. I don't recall Home Depot in finacial trouble because of Bob Nardelli. I don't even recall hearing reports of store closures. He sucked as a CEO but I hardly believe that he caused the company to go "under"-douchebag.

    Posted by: Matt | Aug 8, 2007 1:53:22 PM

    
    

14. ...and to your earlier statement about 'the government' stepping in-most people have paid into this so-called fund their entire lives. are they now not (retired) entitled to receive it back? or does it just go to the general fund? all of a sudden-poof-it's gone? sorry-long working folk-you're broke. good luck with the rice and beans. BTW-not a good idea to get sick.

    Posted by: Andrew | Aug 8, 2007 1:58:05 PM

    
    

15. Ed,

    Thanks for your story and I hope your brother is doing well. I'm confused on how your brothers bankruptcy caused your parents to almost lose their house? If it was your brother's hospital bill why would they go after your parent's house? I'm in the loan industry and the only way your parents would have lost their house is if they couldn't make their mortgage payments or they had co-signed on to your brother's debts. Also while I feel for your story, your brother is only 25 and has a long time to make up his lost ground financially speaking.

    Posted by: Matt | Aug 8, 2007 1:58:58 PM

    
    

16. Thank you Matt for your financila advice. Oh by the way, I am diversified-that was just a statement to get your blood boiling since you put him as a icon of business. Just because he came of the GE school, doesn't make him a great leader. Oh by the way, when Mr. Blake took over Home Depot, he pretty much threw all of Nardelli's ideas out the window. HD stock is now up 20%. God save Chrysler.

    Posted by: Andrew | Aug 8, 2007 2:06:35 PM

    
    

17. Paying into a retirement is investing in that company Andrew. It's like the stock market, you can lose some money or all of it but you can also make money. When you pay into your pention you are investing in that company that it will be around to pay back dividends. It sucks but if this man lost his money in the stock market it would still be sad but no one would blaming the stock market.

    Posted by: Matt | Aug 8, 2007 2:06:55 PM

    
    

18. Matt, I do agree with you there. ED-did your parent's co-sighn for your brother? they are laws around things that you can use.

    Posted by: Andrew | Aug 8, 2007 2:10:32 PM

    
    

19. Andrew,

    Do you honestly think you are making my blood boil? I'm just enjoying our discussion. I'm just stating my opinion. You are entitled to yours. You just seem angry. Oh, I wasn't suggesting Bob Nardelli was a great leader. He just happened to be in the paper this morning and fresh in my mind. I agree that he was bad for Home Depot. But he has a manufacturing background and may be good for Chrysler. Who knows?

    Posted by: Matt | Aug 8, 2007 2:11:06 PM

    
    

20. I'll say this Andrew. We are on both sides of the spectrum on this issue and we probably both need to move towards the center on this. But like I said at least we are discussing. This blog has changed my opinion on things. I support hate crimes law now. Only through discussion can we make the world, usa, etc a better place.

    Posted by: Matt | Aug 8, 2007 2:13:44 PM

    
    

21. MATT:
    I suspect you may be referring to me in your comment about "everyone bagging the rich."
    All I am pointing out is that the salaries of CEOs, etc,. are way out of line. If I came across has harsh on them, I meant it.

    Posted by: Stephen | Aug 8, 2007 2:21:39 PM

    
    

22. Thank you Matt. That is what this is all about baby. Discussion. We may agree to disagree, yet we open each other minds to different ideas. Cool ain't it?

    Posted by: Andrew | Aug 8, 2007 2:24:34 PM

    
    

23. Damn, Damn, Damn!!! Matt, Andrew, it's NO FUN if you guys make up! What else is a mindless idiot like myself supposed to do when he's bored at work and can't read a little vile and some good natured "douche bag" spewing on Towleroad?!! *cough* *COUGH*
    F*ck, I hope I'm not getting sick. :)

    Posted by: silverskreen | Aug 8, 2007 2:43:30 PM

    
    

24. The money spent on the illegitimate Iraq war would have paid for American health care and education. Poor choices made those elected by the people.... Or shall I say controlled by the Corporation. It's shameful

    Posted by: Vinny | Aug 8, 2007 2:55:08 PM

    
    

25. shhh, silverskreen-we are making-out. Hamptons here we come bitches!

    Posted by: Andrew | Aug 8, 2007 2:56:17 PM

    
    
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