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Title: Something's Wrong Here... Post by: Howey on June 22, 2011, 04:50:09 pm When a man has to rob a bank to get health care:
(http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/20/man-turns-to-crime-for-prison-health-care/) Quote As if conjured up by a presidential speechwriter to star in an anecdote about America’s dysfunctional health insurance system, James Verone, an unemployed 59-year-old with a bad back, a sore foot and an undiagnosed growth on his chest, limped into a bank in Gastonia, N.C., this month and handed the teller a note, explaining that this was an unarmed robbery, but she’d better turn over $1 and call the cops. That, he figured, would be enough to get himself arrested and sent to prison for a few years, where he could take advantage of the free medical care. Just to make sure that no one was confused about his intentions, Mr. Verone made sure to let the teller know that he would be sitting on a couch in the bank, waiting for the police. Before he set out for the bank that morning, he also mailed a letter explaining his scheme to a local newspaper, The Gaston Gazette. “When you receive this a bank robbery will have been committed by me. This robbery is being committed by me for one dollar,” the letter read. “I am of sound mind but not so much sound body.” In a television interview last week with a local news station, WCNC, Mr. Verone explained that he was hoping for a three-year sentence, which would give him a place to live and free health care until he was old enough to collect a Social Security check and buy a condo on the beach. “I’m sort of a logical person and that was my logic, what I came up with,” he said. Title: Re: Something's Wrong Here... Post by: ekg on June 22, 2011, 08:56:00 pm I can't say that I haven't thought about doing something similar. something that would tie me up for 3-5 years.. get everything 'fixed' and 'checked' out... but my problem is I love my kids too much and their still at home right now.. but in a few years? why not?
This kind of thing will have to become a viable solution for many people in the coming years. It's sad, but there really isn't going to be any change. Along with your other story of the GOP sabotaging any recovery effort, comes the realization that when they finally do get back in office the austerity-measures will be on such a level that even moderate to right conservatives and libertarians will be shrieking.. But their screams will go unnoticed by President Palin, Bachman or even Romney because the Kock Bros et all will have too much power by then. Sadly a few years after that, we will resemble some kind of Orwellian Bangladesh.. only our 'untouchables' will be the same people who put the Koch's et al in power while foolishly believing they wouldn't be steamed over once the power-grap was complete.. Title: Re: Something's Wrong Here... Post by: Howey on June 22, 2011, 08:59:37 pm I thank God every day for my medical care through the VA. Just the two ambulance trips from my recent health scare totalled almost $1400..
Title: Re: Something's Wrong Here... Post by: uselesslegs on June 23, 2011, 12:31:16 pm Capitalism has become synonymous with "anything goes." The argument has finally gotten to, "why shouldn't I be allowed to make some cash off of your health, through 3rd party sources?" I mean seriously...we've become fuckin financial cannibals. |