Putting aside Judicial nominations and steroids
 

I don't get out much

Where's Hank?
 

This is so ridiculous. What really makes me angry is when the scientists on the evolutionary side say that they won't stoop down to their level and join in the debate. I hate that attitude. We live in the real world, and unless you want future voters who are going to be deciding your political leadership ten years from now to get a decent educated you have to get into the arena and fight. Boycotting the debate, or refusing to enter the discussion, just cedes the game to the opposition. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance, and these bozos need to get in their an fight.

Putting aside Judicial nominations and steroids
 

And when you do you are in lousy company.

Where's Hank?
 

Sing it, brother.


(sorry -- I'm not usually a typo-timmy, but this was too easy.)

Putting aside Judicial nominations and steroids
 

Now that you and LessinSF seem to be holding hands and singing Kumbaya, and have agreed on a National Health Care system where we knock of the aged and the crippled there are still a few problems. As someone that has lived in a few nations that have a national health care system, it always seems to suck. In Japan, the system was so bad that I paid to use private doctors and it cost me a fortune. After going to the clinics in England I felt like taking a shower. I wouldn't send my cats to the South Surrey medical clinic. I think one of the main problems is the free rider problem. If health care is free people will go to see the doctor every time their nose itches. In addition, there is no incentive to keep up quality. How do you stop the National Health Care system from turning into the DMV?

Where's Hank?
 

Actually, one of the foremost scientists (Eugenie Scott) dedicated to educating the public about the inherent stupidity of creationism aka intelligent design is right up the road from you.

http://www.natcenscied.org/

Where's Hank?
 

These guys are great. But they are not the problem. The way the creationists work is they go to areas that are safe Republican areas. And then they run as traditional Republicans and get on the school board (not letting anyone know what their true agenda is). Once they get on the school board they start working on the other board members giving them all sorts of false information about creationism. Then they hold a hearing and try and pack it with their "experts". Gettting anyone to show up at these hearings on the evolution side is like pulling teath.

the democrats: a party of class and wit (installment #436)
 

Where's Hank?
 

Did you mean "teat" or "teeth"? Take it from a farm boy in the heartland, one is decidely more difficult to pull to achieve quick results.

the democrats: a party of class and wit (installment #436)
 

Gosh, Katie looks great in that pic. Thanks.

Putting aside Judicial nominations and steroids
 

All good questions. But what I thought was strange is that you, as someone who, I would guess, has strongly opposed the idea in the past, you only yesterday became aware of one of the more compelling reasons, at least from a national economic standpoint, for supporting the idea. Certainly some fault in that lies with the proponents of the system for not explaining the reasons for supporting it better, but still.... one wonders.

I don't want National Health Care to be like the DMV -- though I would point out that the DMV is controlled by states and/or localities, suggesting that maybe Rs' knee-jerk response to any program with the word "national" in it may be misguided.

I think one of your concerns, that people will go to the doctor every time their nose itches because it's free, is misguided. People who get free or highly subsidized health care in the US often don't ever go to the doctor, until they have an emergency and then they go to the emergency room. How many people do you know who, despite minimal or zero co-payments, don't go the doctor when they are sick or for regular physicals, let alone when their nose itches? In general we'd probably do better if people did regularly see their doctors -- the woman who sees her doctor regularly throughout a pregnancy is much healthier, and much easier to deal with, than the one who goes in for the first time only when her water breaks.

Personally, I would favor some serious penalties -- restrictions on available care, or requirements to pay a substantial portion of the cost of care -- for people who did not get regular check-ups and did not take care of their health. I doubt that this would ever fly politically, though -- you can see the lobbyists for snack food cos and cigarette cos lining up to prevent it.

Putting aside Judicial nominations and steroids
 

Um, well, not for long. Federal requirements for issuing drivers' licenses?

Putting aside Judicial nominations and steroids
 

The poor and poorly educated also would not go to a greater percentage than the richer and better eduscated. Can you predict what groups would prevent cutting off their benefits? For that matter even cig smokers- Dems wouldn't let us cut benefits to smokers, they'd go after the companies.

Putting aside Judicial nominations and steroids
 

Again, I cite the December 2004 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine regarding quality at the VA hospitals.

Signed,

Replaced Cassandra Texan

Putting aside Judicial nominations and steroids
 

When someone looking like you walks into a Dr's office, of course every doctor lines up to see the patient. You probably get a thorough exam every time. But the program also has to be there for the Tys of the world.