The fundamental ignorance of Americans about Socialism is still appalling. Somehow it got painted with Soviet style communism, which freaks people out, naturally. When I name myself head commissar, those people will be shot.
Sorry to channel Woody Allen there, but I was having dinner at a fancy restaurant last night, and the waiter brought a course, and as is the custom these days described everything about the dish including what creamery in Wisconsin the cheese was made in and what ranch in Missouri the cow was raised on, and he finished by describing the "jus" that was going on the plate next to the rib-eye, and of course after he left, I had to turn to my dinner companions and say, "Did he say 'Jew?'"
Thank you for explaining the “but I paid in” fact to the “socialism” naysayer. THANK YOU. And the “buy our policy” insurance never quits. You will get calls every year starting just before the beginning of the sign up window, and continuing through it.
What they don't understand is that "socialism" is just everybody pays in so that everybody gets the benefits. Did she think that they stopped taking it out of people's paychecks after she retired?
As I approach 65 I find one of the few joys in my life is taunting and teasing telemarketers. I take undue glee in stringing them along until they hang up.
The Do Not Call thingie doesn't work, but NoMoRoBo helps. Free for landlines like mine and $1.99 a month for mobile. It stops about half (?) my calls. The phone rings once on most robo calls, and then stops; caller ID shows "incoming call".
As Lennon/McCartney might have written, as a paid subscriber, I still need you, I still feed you*, when you're a year past sixty-four.
* One meal of Maruchan Instant Ramen a day for 119 days a year, by my calculation.
Happy birthday. And congrats, for what it's worth, on qualifying for Medicare. It has its moments, except when providers you've used for years don't accept it for certain services, let's say hearing aids. I hate to admit that I might need them but sudden hearing loss occurred and thus, so did the need for hearing aids. As you might well know, they're about the price of a small used car, so I was able to"self pay" or contact Medicare for a provider who could help me out. What? What did you say? I'll let you know how it goes. It's like getting lost in the car with the radio on. "Turn that off, I can't think!"
My doctor refuses to take Medicare patients. So, when I turn 65 next year, and decide to retire (which seems possible), I'll have to find another doctor (right now I have company-paid insurance). Not looking forward to it.
I grew up in a medical community. My Dad was my dentist, he shared a waiting room with my dermatologist, and I had the same doctor from age 2 to almost 30. I HATE changing providers of pretty much any service - medical, haircut, car salesman, etc. It takes years for someone to get to know you, to see if they have a sense of humor, and to feel like you can touch base on anything knowing you won't bug them unless it's serious. My oncologist has become a good friend. My wife tutors his son, his wife (who's not a doctor but has 3 graduate degrees) has made us Indian dinners, and he and I can talk for hours without ever bringing up cancer, despite him being 23 years younger than I am. I've obtained his promise that, regardless of where I live, he'll be available as my primary oncologist (given my type is likely to recur it's good to have a guy on three inside!).
I'm sorry you have to change but make sure you lie them!! Good luck and early happy birthday!
Thanks, Scott. It's been really hard finding a doctor I feel comfortable with over the years. My current one is fine, but she doesn't always follow up on things unless I press it, and she's a little bit of a nag when it comes to my being overweight. And her willingness to simply jettison people once they get on Medicare is pretty disappointing (she's up there in age herself, so you'd think she'd be a little more flexible, but she claims that the hassle is too great).
That response to Mrs. MAGA was so beautiful, I nearly cried. Had i been there, though, I might have messed up Vicki's other arm. By trying to reason with her, of course. Very strongly trying.
The fundamental ignorance of Americans about Socialism is still appalling. Somehow it got painted with Soviet style communism, which freaks people out, naturally. When I name myself head commissar, those people will be shot.
As long as you're judicious about it
Ha! Judicious, a word not frequently heard in America these days.
"Did he say Jew? Jew-dicious? Get it?"
Sorry to channel Woody Allen there, but I was having dinner at a fancy restaurant last night, and the waiter brought a course, and as is the custom these days described everything about the dish including what creamery in Wisconsin the cheese was made in and what ranch in Missouri the cow was raised on, and he finished by describing the "jus" that was going on the plate next to the rib-eye, and of course after he left, I had to turn to my dinner companions and say, "Did he say 'Jew?'"
Somewhere in there he did!!
I intend to be fair but ruthlessly so. EVERYBODY will be suspect.
So you're going for an East German take rather than a Soviet one? I fully endorse this.
Jah
Thank you for explaining the “but I paid in” fact to the “socialism” naysayer. THANK YOU. And the “buy our policy” insurance never quits. You will get calls every year starting just before the beginning of the sign up window, and continuing through it.
What they don't understand is that "socialism" is just everybody pays in so that everybody gets the benefits. Did she think that they stopped taking it out of people's paychecks after she retired?
Hell, I've been on both Medicare and Medicaid forever. Then again, I was born way too early.
As I approach 65 I find one of the few joys in my life is taunting and teasing telemarketers. I take undue glee in stringing them along until they hang up.
The Do Not Call thingie doesn't work, but NoMoRoBo helps. Free for landlines like mine and $1.99 a month for mobile. It stops about half (?) my calls. The phone rings once on most robo calls, and then stops; caller ID shows "incoming call".
As Lennon/McCartney might have written, as a paid subscriber, I still need you, I still feed you*, when you're a year past sixty-four.
* One meal of Maruchan Instant Ramen a day for 119 days a year, by my calculation.
Happy birthday. And congrats, for what it's worth, on qualifying for Medicare. It has its moments, except when providers you've used for years don't accept it for certain services, let's say hearing aids. I hate to admit that I might need them but sudden hearing loss occurred and thus, so did the need for hearing aids. As you might well know, they're about the price of a small used car, so I was able to"self pay" or contact Medicare for a provider who could help me out. What? What did you say? I'll let you know how it goes. It's like getting lost in the car with the radio on. "Turn that off, I can't think!"
My doctor refuses to take Medicare patients. So, when I turn 65 next year, and decide to retire (which seems possible), I'll have to find another doctor (right now I have company-paid insurance). Not looking forward to it.
I grew up in a medical community. My Dad was my dentist, he shared a waiting room with my dermatologist, and I had the same doctor from age 2 to almost 30. I HATE changing providers of pretty much any service - medical, haircut, car salesman, etc. It takes years for someone to get to know you, to see if they have a sense of humor, and to feel like you can touch base on anything knowing you won't bug them unless it's serious. My oncologist has become a good friend. My wife tutors his son, his wife (who's not a doctor but has 3 graduate degrees) has made us Indian dinners, and he and I can talk for hours without ever bringing up cancer, despite him being 23 years younger than I am. I've obtained his promise that, regardless of where I live, he'll be available as my primary oncologist (given my type is likely to recur it's good to have a guy on three inside!).
I'm sorry you have to change but make sure you lie them!! Good luck and early happy birthday!
Thanks, Scott. It's been really hard finding a doctor I feel comfortable with over the years. My current one is fine, but she doesn't always follow up on things unless I press it, and she's a little bit of a nag when it comes to my being overweight. And her willingness to simply jettison people once they get on Medicare is pretty disappointing (she's up there in age herself, so you'd think she'd be a little more flexible, but she claims that the hassle is too great).
Congratulations and welcome to the club, Barry. You're a senior citizen.
That response to Mrs. MAGA was so beautiful, I nearly cried. Had i been there, though, I might have messed up Vicki's other arm. By trying to reason with her, of course. Very strongly trying.