Posts Made By: Doug Matulis

david elosser said:

"McDonald's Corp. has warned federal regulators that it could drop its health insurance plan for nearly 30,000 hourly restaurant workers unless regulators waive a new requirement of the U.S. health overhaul."

Basically, the new requirement maked them spend insurance premium money in a way that makes their program loose money.

"Last week, a senior McDonald's official informed the Department of Health and Human Services that the restaurant chain's insurer won't meet a 2011 requirement to spend at least 80% to 85% of its premium revenue on medical care. McDonald's and trade groups say the percentage, called a medical loss ratio, is unrealistic for mini-med plans because of high administrative costs owing to frequent worker turnover, combined with relatively low spending on claims."

As a case in point, look at what has been happening in California, which already has similar requirements in place for health insurers.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703431604575522413101063070.html

BTW, colleges are in the same boat: "They escape the 80-to-85% requirement this year because of when their plans were negotiated, and some may seek a permanent exemption."

McDonalds said their health care plan has been in place for 10 years, and 85% of participants have less than $5000 a year. Other large companies like Staples, Home Depot and CVS also offer these "mini-meds" plans. In other words, these plans work, so the Democrats had to screw them up!

David E

David Wagner said:

Well...

Seems the greeniacs and AGW nuts have sunk to a new LOW... check out this new "campaign" in the UK, from your friends at 1010global.org

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7awFypTnrOw

Seems they are saying the same thing that fundamentalist Wahabist terrorists are saying:

"Do what we require, or we KILL you."

I've a better idea, that would cut far more "human caused" Carbon, than any of this nonsense (if - and only if one presumes it's somehow morally OK to actually KILL people that is - which is after all rather what this video is suggesting, terrifyingly enough)

Just kill everyone who believes in AGW and Global Warming... there'd be a one-time spike caused by a large amount of decomposition, but then just think how many fewer humans there'd be around to "cause the crisis"... Cut down on car emissions by at least 2/3; power plants, etc...

No pressure! If you believe in man-caused climate change, just kill yourself! Problem solved.

David Wagner said:

Well...

Seems the greeniacs and AGW nuts have sunk to a new LOW... check out this new "campaign" in the UK, from your friends at 1010global.org

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7awFypTnrOw

Seems they are saying the same thing that fundamentalist Wahabist terrorists are saying:

"Do what we require, or we KILL you."

I've a better idea, that would cut far more "human caused" Carbon, than any of this nonsense (if - and only if one presumes it's somehow morally OK to actually KILL people that is - which is after all rather what this video is suggesting, terrifyingly enough)

Just kill everyone who believes in AGW and Global Warming... there'd be a one-time spike caused by a large amount of decomposition, but then just think how many fewer humans there'd be around to "cause the crisis"... Cut down on car emissions by at least 2/3; power plants, etc...

No pressure! If you believe in man-caused climate change, just kill yourself! Problem solved.

James Lacey said:

Koran burning has been in the news in the recent past and one thing that I noticed about the controversy is how Westerners have such a hard time understanding why Muslims get so upset about desecrating the Koran. Even a front page poll on this site had the vast majority of people responding that they should just "get over it."

So, whey do they get so upset? Well in Islam the Koran is the most sacred thing in their religion. It is as sacred to them as Jesus is to Christians. The Koran is more sacred than even Mohammed who was after all just a man. Muslims believe that the Koran is the inspired word of God delivered to Mohammed in Arabic and they went to great lengths through the ages to preserve it in its original form which included not allowing it to be translated to other languages. In fact translating it into different languages is a theological mine field in Islam. Many believe it can only be correctly read and interpreted in its original Arabic. Contrast this with the original manuscripts of the NT which were modified by well-meaning scribes and theologians over the early centuries of Christianity. Christians don't even have a common bible; catholics, protestants and also orthodox Christians all use a different Bible. Of course the Bible has been translated into literally hundreds of languages and into hundreds of different versions. If some group were to burn a Bible in protest most Christians would say, "Meh. There are hundreds more at the local book store." On the other hand, if an artist constructed a sculpture of Jesus being defecated on, most Christians would be uproariously angry (and this is exactly what happened in real life). So, if you look at desecrating the Koran as if Muslims were desecrating Jesus, then you might start to understand why they get so upset.

David Wagner said:

is reflected in this all too inevitable result: http://www.gallup.com/poll/143714/Gallup-Finds-Unemployment-Mid-October.aspx

Yes indeed, unemployment is rising back up again as all the "make work" of the Census takers and other (laughably) "shovel ready" jobs Obamanistas promised simply fade into the night... Is anyone surprised that jobs aren't being created when businesses don't know what the regulatory, tax and other government mandated cost-picture is going to be? I'm sure not.

14 more days til we can turn the country around folks... 14 more days...

If you are a democrat, liberal, socialist, statist, progressive and/or communist... I'd suggest a long "bender" with your favorite adult beverage...

Otherwise, VOTE!

Lee Spain said:

... to promote cultural understanding!

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/10/19/uae.court.ruling/index.html?npt=NP1

If you see a foreigner beating his wife and kids, just shrug, say, "Huh, would you look at that?" and keep on walking.

If you don't you are an ethnocentric, racist, xenophobe.

Mike Strieber said:

'Government Doesn't Suck' march planned
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2010/10/government_doesnt_suck_march_p.html

"We hear it day in and day out: the government sucks, federal employees are lazy and their positions are redundant," said march organizer Steve Ressler..."

Then he goes on to say...
"Government workers "are a lot of cool cats" who work hard, listen to good music and watch Stewart's "The Daily Show..."

Good for them! However, it does remind of this video that went around a couple years ago paying homage to government employees.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRBchZLkQR0

Christine Canelos Welsh said:

On the ballot in Illinois is a resolution to amend the state constitution to allow voters the ability to recall a governor.

In the interest of full disclosure (lest I be accused of trolling ) I have to vote on this issue in less than a week. My first reaction was "heck, YES". Upon further review, I'm not so sure. Recall elections are hugely expensive, especially for states already in financial crisis (like mine), time consuming, and most likely subject to the same kind of inflammatory campaign rhetoric as regular elections. Potentially, enough people could garner enough support to remove a governor just because they don't agree with him. There is already a process in place to remove a governor that engages in allegedly criminal actions. As such, Illinois was able to remove Blago before the end of his term. Do we really need a recall provision?

And, because I am really really really not trolling here, I am looking for opinions based on legal/constitutional points of view, not bipartisan hyperbole. I would especially like to hear from residents of California, since they personally experienced a recall vote in recent history.

ccw

Steve Hollenbach said:

Funny how the word "Liberal" is demonized by the far right wing. Equally funny how "Conservative" means nothing of the kind.

Both sides seek only to polarize and so paralize the country. The politicians of both sides cater to special interest groups more than to their voting constituents. Moderation and reason seem to have no voice. There have been some touting such a voice, but they too are caterers.

In this election, let's get rid of as many old criminals as possible and elect some new criminals. It's really the only way to wash out the corruption in Washington. Keep them back on their heels.
Steve
8)

James C Chandler Jr said:

Time to take out the old trash and bring in some new trash. Jump from fire back into frying pan!