Robin Cox – 10/2/13

This page was last updated on October 8, 2013.

Title: Medicaid acceptance a pleasant surprise? For whom?

Here are a few of the problems with the editorial “Medicaid acceptance a pleasant surprise.”

First, there is no such thing as “federal Medicaid expansion dollars.”  All dollars come from our family paychecks, pension checks, et cetera.

Second, the editorial speaks of “lack of compassion toward the poor.”  There is nothing compassionate about the government taking from one family’s paycheck to give to someone who didn’t earn it.  Compassion is when a family freely chooses to use its own paycheck to help someone in need.  Should people in need get help?  Of course, but from private charities funded by voluntary contributions, not by confiscated family income.

Finally, how many middle-income families get “nudged” into low-income, and low-income into “the working poor,” because of taxes they pay for income redistribution programs like Medicaid, Medicare, Socialist Security, and so on?  In other words, programs allegedly in place to help “the working poor” actually turn some families into “the working poor.”  The feds confiscate 15.3% of a family’s paycheck right off the top for Medicare and Socialist Security, and local, state, and other federal taxes gobble up another 14% in Pennsylvania.  That’s 29.3% of a Pennsylvania family’s paycheck or, stated another way, Pennsylvanians will work more than three-and-a-half months in 2013 just to pay taxes (local, state, and federal).  According to the Tax Foundation, “Americans will spend more in taxes in 2013 than they will on food, clothing, and housing combined.”  That’s not “a pleasant surprise.”

For your entertainment and as a teaching exercise, below you’ll find a bunch the reader comments visible on the BCT website at the time I published this piece.  I stopped adding them after the first 33 + 1, but you’ll see I should have stopped much sooner.  They’ll give you an idea of the quality and tenor of some of the comments I receive via e-mail regarding my website’s critiques.  I generally don’t publish the contents of e-mail I receive from critics because the sender may consider the message private and I don’t want to embarrass the author.

You’ll note the comments disagreeing with my position tend to be exercises in name-calling, personal attacks, and vulgarity, plus their authors hide behind screen names.  Further, none of them know me personally as far as I know.  This is one of the reasons I advocate letting your opposition talk/write as much as possible.  You’ll note this thread also provides an example of a quote attributed to Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens): “Never argue with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”

Read the comment by Deanthedream at the very end and you’ll see he appears to have a reading problem.

Except for Rich Laughlin, I don’t know who’s behind the screen names.  Blondie60, is that you Jesse White? <g>

At the time I published this piece, critical letters included “Accurate tax figures are important.”

lock posted at 8:45 am on Wed, Oct 2, 2013. (Note: “lock” is Rich Laughlin of Ambridge.  He is a 1962 graduate of AHS.)

“Cox.

“You could have pared this letter down to one sentence and said the same thing.

“‘I got mine so screw everyone else.’”

blondie60 posted at 10:40 am on Wed, Oct 2, 2013.

“I thought the exact same thing when I read it. Typical selfish loser Robobagger.”

Zippy posted at 12:03 pm on Wed, Oct 2, 2013.

“Private charities, funded by voluntary contributions, eh? So you dump $5 into the bucket at Christmas and you're all good for the year. [There’s a “wink” emoticon at the end of this sentence.]

“That brother's keeper thing must not be a big deal in Robin-world.” [There’s a “beam” (laughing) emoticon at the end of this sentence.]

mainely59 posted at 2:22 pm on Wed, Oct 2, 2013.

“Voluntary contribution would be a great thing. Unfortunately, we are forced to give through our pay checks which leaves little to give from the heart to those who truly need it. So to all of you responders to Robin, if voluntary contributions became the way to go, how much could we put you down for? Thought so.”  [There are two “smile” emoticons at the end of this sentence.]

gallaghernic posted at 2:39 pm on Wed, Oct 2, 2013.

“Charities to lots of people is a whole lot more than droppin' $5 in a bucket at Christmas, Zip.

“And something tells me that the Salvation Army and DAV and lots of others handle their money much more efficiently than the big spenders in D.C. do.”

surcharge posted at 10:52 pm on Wed, Oct 2, 2013.

“Robin, do you have a problem taking money out of my pocket to give to oil companies, "non-profit" insurance companies and universities, and banks? No, that's fine by you. You're Robin (actually a hood) -- give to the rich and steal from the poor. Tea baggers are a poisonous brew.”

mainely59 posted at 9:35 am on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“surcharge.....why is it that if the left doesn't agree with someone, they resort to name calling? Generally it is either a lack of vocabulary or one is afraid of something. Both democratic and republican parties are responsible for government waste. I guess you could say it is time for a change. Voters need to be aware of whom they are voting in to represent them. The change needed just may be the Tea Party.”

blondie60 posted at 11:04 am on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“You must be on that Krokodil and Vodka too, what an absolute asinine and delusional statement. Its the wacknut heathen teabaggerz that are the rot in this country today! Even remotely moderate Republicans despise you because they understand what a cancer you are to the GOP. Sane Americans--anyone who doesn't vote Republican--not only dislike you they hate you and what you all represent--a treasonous and sick and twisted ideology that will not fly in this country. You need to leave and quit wishing on stars because you are not going to happen. A bunch of ignorant old hateful racist farts and your borderline-retarded fat ladies strapping guns to your fat azzes and tromping around with your misspelled signs and stupid sayings and disgracing the flag by wrapping your blubber up with it, you make America sick and you are a JOKE, no brains, with your moron leaders like Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin and this psycho Cruz, you really think you have a chance in hades of being accepted in our political system? People want you losers GONE, and you will be, so why get on here and make a fool of yourself suggesting you are the "change" America needs.

“The only change we need is to have ALL of you weirdos gone and you will be, dream those fairyland dreams, you traitors are going to be gone next election, on that you can bet. And so if a few of you are left you wont have any clout so dream on, you sick puppy. Why not pack up and move to Texas and secede with those idiots, Northerners dont want your kind up here. You baggerz are as ignorant and hateful and spiteful and delusional and as un-American as they come. Better yet, pack up and move to Russia where you can kiss Putin's a ss on a close-up basis.”

blondie60 posted at 11:50 am on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“Unbelievable that someone would get on here and suggest that the "change" we need is the tea party.

“As we speak CNN conducted their latest polling of Americans on their opinion the Teabaggerz we already have in Congress and this is what they found:

“87% of respondents DISAPPROVE of the lunatic fringe Teabaggerz in Congress. That's an all-time record low for any group in Congress.

“And you say that we need to change to the Tea Party? You must be on crack, or your Krokodil, whatever, but you have got to be joking. Good thing the rest of America is dead serious about you.

“Your "Tea Party" is a DISGRACE to America, a joke around the world, always has been and always will be. It is nothing more than a divisive and demoralizing group of Fascist racist and homophobic haters and liars who claim to be patriots and Christians when they couldn't be further from both. Your heroes are the most stupid and ignorant of Americans who damage everyone else with their careless and irresponsible reasoning. You talk a lot about God and claim to be doing his bidding but you hateful and racist and evil people are no Christians and you don't fool anyone about that, either.

“Like I said, you must be on the Krokodil and Vodka to think you could get on here and spead your propaganda lies and get away with it. Crawl back under your rock and stay there, why don't you. Its where you belong.

“87%.”

mainely59 posted at 12:40 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“And there you have it......a fine example of the left. Is this what the rest of you want to be part of? All I hear is hate and lack of knowledge and vocabulary.”

mainely59 posted at 12:47 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“Prediction - the Tea Party will once again rise as it did in 2010. Watch out Blondie, we will be back.”  [There is a “rolleyes” emoticon at the end of this sentence.]

blondie60 posted at 1:20 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“Yeah, sure, I guess because Glenn Beck and FOX says you will.

“Freaking lunatics.”

William Dickson posted at 1:33 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“Et Al

“It certainly wasn’t a ‘pleasant surprise’ to hear from Flowerchild. If you agree with her to do away the tea party, GOP and Independents, you need to put your faith in the trustworthy, respectable and caring ‘Oppressor’ administration who fenced in the war memorial, locking out our surviving veterans who put their life on the line to keep us all free and safe. Considering what has been going on with our present dysfunctional administration, ‘free’ may be over exaggerated; but you get my drift. And let’s not forget how our caring and compassionate ‘Ocrybaby’ for not getting his way, also closed the Martin Luther King monument; which is a major attraction to blacks around the country. ‘Oarrogant’ doesn’t even have any consideration for his own people.

“P.S. Has ‘Oegotistical’ opened the white house so visitors can see what luxuries their taxes are supporting; or is ‘Omalicious’ still keeping it all for himself, servants and family?”

mainely59 posted at 1:49 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“Blondie....you forgot Rush Limbaugh. There is wide support for this group and we will eventually succeed. FOX is the most watched news station for a reason.”

blondie60 posted at 1:54 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“GOP'S BIGGEST FEAR BEING REALIZED: MORE AND MORE ANTI-OBAMACARE REPUBLICANS STARTING TO LIKE IT AFTER ALL:

“Butch Matthews is a 61-year-old former small business owner from Little Rock, Arkansas who used to wake up every morning at 4 A.M. to deliver canned beverages to retailers before retiring in 2010. A lifelong Republican, he was heavily skeptical of the Affordable Care Act when it first passed. ‘You could not have convinced me that Obamacare was going to be a good plan, I did not think that it was going to help me at all,’ he told ThinkProgress over the phone.

“But after taking the time to do his research, Matthews eventually realized how much the law actually could help him. And on Tuesday, his local Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) provider confirmed that he would be able to buy a far better plan than his current policy while saving at least $13,000 per year through Arkansas’ Obamacare marketplace. [Source]

“Turns out pre-Obamacare, Matthews was paying $1069.per month with a $10,000 deductible. Matthews’ doctor visits went from a co-pay of $150 to $8. Matthews has a simple message to all Americans. He says,

“‘I would tell them to learn the facts about it before they start talking bad about it,’ he noted. ‘Be more informed, get more information, take your time and study and do not go by what you hear on one side or the other. Actually check the facts on it. [Source]

“This story is not unlike Clint Murphy’s story. Murphy is a 38 year old Republican operative. He worked for Republican US Senator Paul Coverdell in the 1990s, Republican Casey Cagle in 2006, John McCain in 2008, and Republican Karen Handel’s gubernatorial campaign in 2010. He too used to speak loudly against Obamacare but now, after actually studying the plan says he came to his senses and welcomed the opening of the exchanges.

“Neither of these guys has given up on their Conservative ideology. They are Republicans. The difference is unlike Right Wing Tea Party Republicans, they are honest and pragmatic and are willing to let the truth lead.

“The Tea Party must realize that most Americans really have had their fill of their bizarre representatives and their unethical tactics being used to get their way. Its time to send these uncouth, unpatriotic, and unneeded children home.”

blondie60 posted at 2:07 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“And there YOU have it is right, Teabagger. YOU people never have amounted to anything more than a group of hateful, spiteful, racist, greedy, ignorant rightwing wackjob losers and perverts--from the time you wormed your slimey way into our political system you have contributed nothing but division and ignorance and lying and hate and made America the laughing stock of the world with your stupid froot loop candidates and uncouth followers. You need to be gone forever and we will see that happen, mark those words, you pathetic nutcase.”

mainely59 posted at 2:34 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“Blondie.....Mr. Matthews is getting a lower rate due to income level. He will also have to satisfy a $750 deductible which I agree is a drop in the bucket compared to prior coverage. This will not be the case for everyone as plans offered vary in different states. Hurray for Mr. Matthews to be able to retire early and have government subsidies pay most of his insurance. You do realize that you are subsidizing his early retirement. I would rather see my tax dollars go to those who are no longer able to provide for themselves. Naturally anyone that will get to benefit off the back of other working taxpayers now thinks Obamacare is the best thing since sliced bread. This situation is a poor example.

“As far as any republican politician now favoring the bill, they are more worried about their career than they are the people. Have you ever wondered how we are going to finance all these subsidies? I am willing to bet, premiums will rise next year or will be on the back of employers when the,employer mandates kick,in next year. That in itself will destroy business and jobs. And there it is.......”

blondie60 posted at 3:42 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“Sure, teabagger, keep spreading your lies and misinformation, what else can you do now but lie and try to create doubt and confusion about something more and more people want and will give the president credit for in the end. Like the two Republiturds said, don't knock what you don't know. But you do, don't you? Like a good little Koolaider Teabagger.

“Like the success you are having trying to convince people its Obama's fault for the govt shutdown. That has gone over like a lead balloon for you, huh? And about 9 out of 10 Americans blame the Republicans--especially the Bagger Republicans--for trying to destroy our country.

“Babble those lies to someone who cares, some other looney tune. There are plenty on here.”

mainely59 posted at 4:13 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“Blondie.....if you can point out the lies and misinformation in my statements, please do. Otherwise you are just spewing more hate and discontent. You come across as someone who just does not want to deal with the truth. Perhaps, you cannot handle the truth.”

blondie60 posted at 4:44 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“Teabaggers don't tell the truth about anything and that is not news, that is a well known fact understood by everyone who lives in reality. So there is no reason for "pointing out" what we already know: you talk entirely out of your puckered rectum and telling someone else they "cannot handle the truth" is the best joke I've heard all week. You watch too many movies, but then, so does everyone who lives in a fantasty world. Like the fairytale that says how a growing number of Republicans feeling the heat caused by caving in to your idiots that are to blame for shutting down the govt are really starting to hate you guys bigtime. You don't have to worry about the Democrats or Obama supporters doing you azzwipes in, it will be the people in your own party.

“Yummy, you big dope. Tell me I cant handle the truth. You will be shown the truth sooner rather than later when voters everywhere hand you your walking papers. Then you can walk to Texas and join a hillbilly outfit down there and secede the he ll out of these United States, you lousy traitors. And traitors are ALL any of you radical fruitcakes amount to--a collective bunch of ignorant Benedict Arnolds.

“There's your TRUTH.”

mainely59 posted at 5:03 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“Face it Blondie, you cannot point out one single lie or piece of misinformation or you would. You cannot cover up your ignorance of the facts with all of the hate that comes out of your mouth.

“The Tea Party faction happen to be very respectful people. Maybe someday you will have the opportunity to meet one and see that .......oh never mind, you are beyond recognizing the good in people. Peace.”

blondie60 posted at 6:16 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“Iowa State Senator Sorenson Quits After Probe Into ‘Respectable’ Tea Party Thief Michele Bachmann Illegal Payments.

“Yeah, sure, the TeaParty. You ARE on crack!

“hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha”

blondie60 posted at 6:26 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“Oh, wait, It doesn't matter if the Tea Party breaks the law as long as they are breaking the law in the name of ‘God.’ Like that Closet Queen Marcus and that sneaky little crook Michelle? Like that sleazey Palin bunch, who would sell their souls--IF THEY HAD ANY--for a few bucks! Butl, we know what they do sell in that family, don't we?

“Yes, sure, you teabaggerz are ‘respectable.’ You have a pretty twisted idea of respectability but then, everything else about you losers is twisted, what do we expect.

“Oh, yeah, that's right! Cause they are ‘respectable!’

“hahahahahahahahahahahahaha”

blondie60 posted at 6:32 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“You losers need to stop telling me what I need to face and worry about what you are putting your faith in, and that aint much at all. In fact, its despicable and anyone who aligns with that bunch has a screw loose. They aren't ‘nice’---they are hateful and racist and evil bigots, they aren't ‘respectable’--they are slimeballs who wrap the flag around them and carry a cross as if they are anything but degenerates.

“You cant be playing with a full deck to choose hanging with these losers. Not even remotely.

“‘Nice’ my azz.”

blondie60 posted at 6:45 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“The Teabaggerz and the Wimpy Republiturds are 100% responsible for the govt shutdown and 100% responsible for all damage to America that results from their treasonous action.

“This has proven that neither the radical Teabagger faction that controls them nor the GOP itself is neither fit nor worthy to remain in our political/govt system. Both are subversive threats to our national security and common good and must be removed from our govt. This is an anti-American homegrown terrorist group of conspirators that should be dealt with accordingly.”

mainely59 posted at 7:08 pm on Thu, Oct 3, 2013.

“Aw, come on Blondie, focus. We were originally talking about Obamacare. I am still waiting for you to point out my lies and misinformation. As far as politicians, there are slugs in every party. The democrats have produced their share. When I am talking about the Tea Party being respectful, I am speaking of the people, everyday citizens. When it comes time to vote one into office, you can be sure the well informed electorate of the Tea Party will do the right thing. Take a breath, Blondie, it will be okay.”

lock posted at 1:06 am on Fri, Oct 4, 2013.

“Teabaggers are enemies of State. They're seditionist scumbags and should be treated as such. The government should impose marshal law and round them all up... hold them indefinitely in re-education camps. Probably be a good idea to sterilize them. The whole program could be financed with their confiscated property. They'd appreciate it that no taxpayer money was spent on the thing.”

mainely59 posted at 5:44 am on Fri, Oct 4, 2013.

“Ahhhh, another voice from the left. A fine example of humanity. Is that all you have to say? No facts, just hatred.”

lock posted at 10:11 am on Fri, Oct 4, 2013.

“Teabagger 59.

“Right wing extremist teabaggers hate the US government and have proved they're out to shut it down, and to wreck the economy along with it. They're like bratty, stupid children who can't handle not getting their way. You're as unAmerican as any enemy of this country. Rather than complain about being hated you should expect it and get used to it because you deserve it. You're despicable. There's a fact for you.”

blondie60 posted at 10:38 am on Fri, Oct 4, 2013.

“Teabagger59: Read Lock's last two comments and imagine them with my big stamp of approval on both. Of course you will continue to be hated, you reap what you sow. And all you people sow is division, hate, racism, delusions of superiority, intolerance and every other sort of anti-American behavior. You think this shutdown business is going to blow over and be forgotten? Think again, Teabagger, its going to follow you like stink follows sh*t, you can forget about people thinking of you morons as ‘nice people.’ You are freaking terrorists and evil haters, the entire bunch of you. The only ones who are going to ‘like’ you are other haters and terrorists. But nobody else will ever accept you.

“So why not move to Texas---well, that's assuming Wendy isn't elected, because that will put a real wrench into your stew, you will just have to move on down to Meh-hee-ko or maybe to Cuba, where your Communist buddies live. Wherever, but you don't have a place here, that's for sure. You just don't know it yet.

“There's some more facts for you.”

blondie60 posted at 10:42 am on Fri, Oct 4, 2013.

“And just because Lock and I are the only two to get on here to say it, don't think for a minute there aren't more of us in western Pa than there are of you losers. Maybe those people don't get on here and make comments to let you know it but don't think for a minute that you are in any kind of majority on this, most people I have talked to roll their eyes and say they cant stand your bunch. It certainly isn't just Lock and myself that knows what garbage you losers represent.”

kikib63 posted at 1:15 pm on Fri, Oct 4, 2013.

“Food for thought: Would be funny if not so true. Got this via e-mail.

“We're going to be ‘gifted’ with a health care plan we are FORCED to purchase and fined if we don't, (unless you are Muslim) which purportedly covers at least ten million more people, without adding a single new doctor,but provides for 16,000 new IRS agents, written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that didn't read it but EXEMPTED THEMSELVES from it, and signed by a Dumbo President who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, for which we'll be taxed for four years before any benefits take effect, by a government which has already bankrupted Social Security and Medicare, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke!!!!!”

William Dickson posted at 2:04 pm on Fri, Oct 4, 2013.

“mainly59

“Don’t get in a dither over FlowerChild and her clone. As she stated there are only two of them, thank God. You know where they are coming from because neither is capable of providing any facts; other than their indoctrinated rhetoric. You can see where the clone stands, as he admitted he ‘hates’ you; he certainly shouldn’t bring up un-American; when he mentioned enemies of State; impose martial (not marshal) law; round them all up; hold them indefinitely in camps; sterilize them; and confiscate their property. Someone in Germany did that exact thing. I wonder if the clone lives in the house that hung a Nazi flag on their front porch.”

Deanthedream posted at 1:12 am on Sat, Oct 5, 2013.

“This started with Robin Cox stating that they take 29% in taxes..Social Security 6.25..Medicare 1.7% Unemployment 0.7% State income tax 3.07%...this doesn't even add up to 11%...where's the other 18%?”

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