Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=jsarno;369411]I am assuming a 2 pay period month, meaning you pay over $600 a month???? If that's the case, you need to seek private healthcare for a better quote. [B]You might be able to get it cheaper than your company is providing. [/B]
[/QUOTE]

I'm not paying this seeing as how I'm not married. However, you're missing the point. If I had married my ex at that point, I would've had no choice but to pay $600 a month because she had diabetes and private health insurance will not touch her.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[quote=Mattyk72;369582]I think what he said makes sense. If you think that's the most asinine thing on the board this week you haven't been reading very much.[/quote]

Count me among the group that thinks that's the most ridiculous thing posted on this site in a long, loooong time.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

So I guess if you are poor you should just sit in the dark, have no furniture, and basically have no possessions that you might actually take any joy from.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;369811]So I guess if you are poor you should just sit in the dark, have no furniture, and basically have no possessions that you might actually take any joy from.[/QUOTE]

It's all about priorities.
We have a program out here that helps poor people go to college for free. Do you know how many take advantage of that? Very few.

Being poor and being lazy are often connected.

I tell you what matty...you show me a guy that is HONESTLY doing everything he can to make it in life, and busting his ass, just getting the shit end of the stick, and I'll change my mind for him. Those are an extreme rarity.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[quote=jsarno;369843]It's all about priorities.
We have a program out here that helps poor people go to college for free. Do you know how many take advantage of that? Very few.

Being poor and being lazy are often connected.

[B] I tell you what matty...you show me a guy that is HONESTLY doing everything he can to make it in life, and busting his ass, just getting the shit end of the stick, and I'll change my mind for him. Those are an extreme rarity.[/B][/quote]

I'm sure there are plenty of people out there like that.

Not everyone is a bum looking for a free ride.

What program helps people go to college for free?

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=jsarno;369843]It's all about priorities.
We have a program out here that helps poor people go to college for free. Do you know how many take advantage of that? Very few.

Being poor and being lazy are often connected.

I tell you what matty...you show me a guy that is HONESTLY doing everything he can to make it in life, and busting his ass, just getting the shit end of the stick, and I'll change my mind for him. Those are an extreme rarity.[/QUOTE]

Visit southside Virginia.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=jsarno;369843]It's all about priorities.
We have a program out here that helps poor people go to college for free. Do you know how many take advantage of that? Very few.

Being poor and being lazy are often connected.
[/QUOTE]

Really? What programs are these?

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[quote=jsarno;369843]It's all about priorities.
We have a program out here that helps poor people go to college for free. Do you know how many take advantage of that? Very few.

Being poor and being lazy are often connected.

I tell you what matty...you show me a guy that is HONESTLY doing everything he can to make it in life, and busting his ass, just getting the shit end of the stick, and I'll change my mind for him. Those are an extreme rarity.[/quote]

Weren't you without a job for a while?

Just curious if you gave up any luxuries and if your priorities were straight.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;369864]I'm sure there are plenty of people out there like that.

Not everyone is a bum looking for a free ride.

What program helps people go to college for free?[/QUOTE]

I'll have to think about the name, neither my wife, nor myself can remember the name...the program makes you take a personality test and if you seek the top 2 areas the test comes up with, the state will pay for your college.
I took the test about 7 or 8 years ago, it came up with environmental and science. It wasn't to my college credits at the time (in finance) so I wasn't accepted unless I wanted to change my degree and lose most of my credits. If I was willing to change, they would have paid for me to go to NMSU.

See, I don't agree that there are "plenty" out there, I think there are a very select few.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[quote=jsarno;369912]I'll have to think about the name, neither my wife, nor myself can remember the name...the program makes you take a personality test and if you seek the top 2 areas the test comes up with, the state will pay for your college.
I took the test about 7 or 8 years ago, it came up with environmental and science. It wasn't to my college credits at the time (in finance) so I wasn't accepted unless I wanted to change my degree and lose most of my credits. If I was willing to change, they would have paid for me to go to NMSU.

See, I don't agree that there are "plenty" out there, I think there are a very select few.[/quote]

Never heard of such a thing, I'd be interested to see something to back up this claim.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;369891]Weren't you without a job for a while?

Just curious if you gave up any luxuries and if your priorities were straight.[/QUOTE]

Yup, and absolutely I did.
I changed my eating habits, I changed my electricity habits. I had my truck up for sale (took it off when I got a job). I sold several collectible items as well. I used my wife's car instead of my truck cause her car gets about 15 miles more per gallon. Completely drained and shut off the circuit breaker to my hot tub. We used to go out to eat 2 or 3 times a week, and we didn't go out at all. I also planned ahead for a rainy day, so I lasted several months without having to go all out crazy to afford to live. I also did not have insurance, I took the chance there and didn't expect a single soul to help me. It was my problem, and I handled it. I had to adjust my priorities to fit my lifestyle. Not once did I put my hand out.

ps- it's killing me I can't think of that program...I'll ask around tomorrow. Maybe it's just a New Mexico thing...not sure...but I know some of the people I work with will know the program. I'll post it here tomorrow.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;369921]Never heard of such a thing, I'd be interested to see something to back up this claim.[/QUOTE]

Like I said, I'll ask around...I'll come up with it, cause I have a buddy that did take advantage of it. He'll know what the name of it is.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[quote=jsarno;369964]Like I said, I'll ask around...I'll come up with it, cause I have a buddy that did take advantage of it. He'll know what the name of it is.[/quote]

Just might be a reason people don't use this program. Tough to take advantage of it when you've never heard of it.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

The department of labor was the ones who told me about it, but I can't find it online right now. I must not be looking in the right areas.

At worst, I'll call them tomorrow...they'll know.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;369975]Just might be a reason people don't use this program. Tough to take advantage of it when you've never heard of it.[/QUOTE]

valid point.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

There's a huge difference between free tuition and going to college for free.

I just did a quick google on free college and found this article: [URL="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/060910/18free.htm"]More programs offer free tuition - US News and World Report[/URL]

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[quote=jsarno;369949]Yup, and absolutely I did.
I changed my eating habits, I changed my electricity habits. I had my truck up for sale (took it off when I got a job). I sold several collectible items as well. I used my wife's car instead of my truck cause her car gets about 15 miles more per gallon. Completely drained and shut off the circuit breaker to my hot tub. We used to go out to eat 2 or 3 times a week, and we didn't go out at all. I also planned ahead for a rainy day, so I lasted several months without having to go all out crazy to afford to live. I also did not have insurance, I took the chance there and didn't expect a single soul to help me. It was my problem, and I handled it. I had to adjust my priorities to fit my lifestyle. Not once did I put my hand out.

ps- it's killing me I can't think of that program...I'll ask around tomorrow. Maybe it's just a New Mexico thing...not sure...but I know some of the people I work with will know the program. I'll post it here tomorrow.[/quote]

What's scary is you have an advanced degree and here you were without a job. Think about people out there without a degree or meaningful experience in place to fall back on. So many people just jump from dead end job to another. Once you're in that cycle it's not easy to climb out.

What if your period of unemployment lasted longer? What if you started exhausting all of your resources, it's possible at some point you might have had to ask for some help. You're lucky you didn't get to that point I guess.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;370038]What's scary is you have an advanced degree and here you were without a job. Think about people out there without a degree or meaningful experience in place to fall back on. So many people just jump from dead end job to another. Once you're in that cycle it's not easy to climb out.[/quote]

Well, out here is worse than in most parts of the country. There are very few specialty jobs, but a lot of labor jobs such as mining work. I would have caved eventually and took one of those underground jobs, but I'm glad I didn't have to.
It is scary to have such a good degree and it not be worth much to people. I am way over qualified for 95% of the jobs out here. Other states won't hire me because they don't want to pay the relocation costs.

[quote]What if your period of unemployment lasted longer? What if you started exhausting all of your resources, it's possible at some point you might have had to ask for some help. You're lucky you didn't get to that point I guess.[/QUOTE]

I would have had to accept a job that was something I didn't want to make ends meet. It came real close too.
Point being, I planned ahead, and I worked hard to get what I have. Sure, everyone will get kicked in the teeth at some point, you need to plan for it. I did. I suffered with horrible cars, a crappy apartment etc to save money and make it to where I am now. That's what people don't see. There is a lot more that went on behind the scenes.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

Wait a minute, so you chose to stay unemployed vs. taking a job you didn't want??

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=724Skinsfan;370017]There's a huge difference between free tuition and going to college for free.

I just did a quick google on free college and found this article: [URL="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/060910/18free.htm"]More programs offer free tuition - US News and World Report[/URL][/QUOTE]

Exactly! There is much more cost to going to college than just tuition.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=jsarno;370073]Well, out here is worse than in most parts of the country.[/QUOTE]

Probably not worse than where I live. Luckily for you, you were young enough to find another job relatively easy. What sucks is that there were plenty of people here that lost their jobs who were not old enough to retire, but too old to be considered for employment elsewhere.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[quote=Mattyk72;369811]So I guess if you are poor you should just sit in the dark, have no furniture, and basically have no possessions that you might actually take any joy from.[/quote]

Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

You take care of your needs before you take care of your wants.

In other words, you spend your money on shelter, food, water, heat, electicity, healthcare, and then if you have anything leftover, start taking care of your desires.

So yes, the poor should sit without cable TV until they can afford healthcare. Otherwise, they are complete pieces of shit in my book.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;370076]Wait a minute, so you chose to stay unemployed vs. taking a job you didn't want??[/QUOTE]

I had the ability to take a job under ground and I would have had to lie about my claustrophobia. I probably could have worked at McDonalds, or Taco Bell too. Shitty jobs are always available.
There is ALWAYS a job you can have...from flipping burgers to digging ditches. Open a paper anywhere and there is always a job.
This job that I got came at the very last minute for me. I would have had to accept an extremely hard labor job had it not come through. But I planned ahead enough, and cut expenses enough for me to wait until a good job came around.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=skinsguy;370081]Exactly! There is much more cost to going to college than just tuition.[/QUOTE]

Like what?
You can take night classes you know, that way it doesn't interfere with your job. There are always excuses. If you had free tuition you wouldn't figure out how to make it work?

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=skinsguy;370084]Probably not worse than where I live. Luckily for you, you were young enough to find another job relatively easy. What sucks is that there were plenty of people here that lost their jobs who were not old enough to retire, but too old to be considered for employment elsewhere.[/QUOTE]

Here is a link to most of the jobs that are available at this time in my area:
[url]http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?strCrit=QID%3DA6654265465447%3Bst%3Da%3Buse%3DALL%3BTID%3D8114%3BBID%3DC8NZ%3BCTY%3DCarlsbad%3BSID%3DNM%3BCID%3DUS%3BENR%3DYES%3BDTP%3DALL%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BJN%3DAll%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D7%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3Dsid%5Fgaca1011%3BSS%3DNO&ch=AL&IPath=PI&lr=cbga_ca[/url]
That comes straight from the local newspaper online. It's NEVER good here, but there are always a few jobs to shoot for.
I had my share of no calls when I applied to jobs, shit happens. I know I'm too old / out of shape for a bust ass labor job. I need something that is not very physical.
We have an employment agency in town that is always looking for people to work at constructors digging ditches and such. They don't care about age. Maybe you have something like that in your town (job placement agency that is).

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[quote=Schneed10;370097]Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

You take care of your needs before you take care of your wants.

In other words, [B]you spend your money on shelter, food, water, heat, electicity, healthcare, and then if you have anything leftover, start taking care of your desires[/B].

So yes, the poor should sit without cable TV until they can afford healthcare. Otherwise, they are complete pieces of shit in my book.[/quote]

All on minimum wage huh? Talk about stretching a dollar.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=jsarno;370117]Like what?
You can take night classes you know, that way it doesn't interfere with your job. There are always excuses. If you had free tuition you wouldn't figure out how to make it work?[/QUOTE]

Tuition is just part of the cost of college. Anyone who has been to college should know this. The cost of books is a separate cost, activity fees, there's a cost just to apply to college, the cost of room and board, food, and supplies. Heck, there are several colleges requiring students to have laptops, so that's another sizable cost. There is also a cost just to graduate college too.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;370131]All on minimum wage huh? Talk about stretching a dollar.[/QUOTE]

Not a whole lot of people make min. wage.
Those that do, make it for a reason, and it's not cause they are exceptional employees.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=skinsguy;370140]Tuition is just part of the cost of college. Anyone who has been to college should know this. The cost of books is a separate cost, activity fees, there's a cost just to apply to college, the cost of room and board, food, and supplies. Heck, there are several colleges requiring students to have laptops, so that's another sizable cost. There is also a cost just to graduate college too.[/QUOTE]

Hold up...are you telling me there are no colleges near you at all? No community colleges you can commute to? There should be no need for room and board.
Yes, books are a part...buy used and save big.
Activity fees? What activities will you be doing? You should be focusing on school work and actual work, activities are a luxury.
The cost to apply is small. $39 I think.

Again, you go to night school and don't quit your job. You are assuming you need to quit your job and do what a 19 year old kid does when he moves to college...that's just not required.

If tuition is covered, there is very little other expenses required to make it.

ps- you can get a refurbished computer from the school if you just ask.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[quote=jsarno;370156]Hold up...are you telling me there are no colleges near you at all? No community colleges you can commute to? There should be no need for room and board.
Yes, books are a part...buy used and save big.
Activity fees? What activities will you be doing? You should be focusing on school work and actual work, activities are a luxury.
The cost to apply is small. $39 I think.

Again, you go to night school and don't quit your job. You are assuming you need to quit your job and do what a 19 year old kid does when he moves to college...that's just not required.

If tuition is covered, there is very little other expenses required to make it.

ps- you can get a refurbished computer from the school if you just ask.[/quote]

What if someone has kids? It's not that easy to just say go to night school.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=jsarno;370126]Here is a link to most of the jobs that are available at this time in my area:
[url]http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?strCrit=QID%3DA6654265465447%3Bst%3Da%3Buse%3DALL%3BTID%3D8114%3BBID%3DC8NZ%3BCTY%3DCarlsbad%3BSID%3DNM%3BCID%3DUS%3BENR%3DYES%3BDTP%3DALL%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BJN%3DAll%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D7%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3Dsid%5Fgaca1011%3BSS%3DNO&ch=AL&IPath=PI&lr=cbga_ca[/url]
That comes straight from the local newspaper online. It's NEVER good here, but there are always a few jobs to shoot for.
I had my share of no calls when I applied to jobs, shit happens. I know I'm too old / out of shape for a bust ass labor job. I need something that is not very physical.
We have an employment agency in town that is always looking for people to work at constructors digging ditches and such. They don't care about age. Maybe you have something like that in your town (job placement agency that is).[/QUOTE]

It's just as bad here if not worse. We have had just every single factory closed in this area. Thousands have lost their jobs and have had to sale their homes, uproot and move. I'm quite lucky because I was able to find a programming job for a non-profit community service board. Which means, I basically get paid half of what other programmers doing the same thing would get paid for, but those jobs just don't exist around here.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[quote=jsarno;370143][B]Not a whole lot of people make min. wage[/B].
Those that do, make it for a reason, and it's not cause they are exceptional employees.[/quote]

Huh?

Why do we have so many people below the poverty line?

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;370169]Huh?

Why do we have so many people below the poverty line?[/QUOTE]

The poverty line and $5.15 (now $5.75) are two different things. Isn't it anyone that makes under 20k is under the poverty line? That's around $9.61 an hour. Unsure of where it is for sure. But you're talking about two different things...and you totally missed my point of people that are making that low of an income are making that for a reason. Great employees don't make min wage, and ANYONE COULD be a great employee...don't you agree?

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=jsarno;370156]Hold up...are you telling me there are no colleges near you at all? No community colleges you can commute to? There should be no need for room and board.
Yes, books are a part...buy used and save big.
Activity fees? What activities will you be doing? You should be focusing on school work and actual work, activities are a luxury.
The cost to apply is small. $39 I think.

Again, you go to night school and don't quit your job. You are assuming you need to quit your job and do what a 19 year old kid does when he moves to college...that's just not required.

If tuition is covered, there is very little other expenses required to make it.

ps- you can get a refurbished computer from the school if you just ask.[/QUOTE]

You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. Save big on used books? LOL!!!! When I was in college, I bought all of my books used and the average cost per book was $60. Every student is required to pay an activity fee. It might be called a technology fee, considering which college you go to, but this is not a luxury fee. It cost me $200 to apply to the college I graduated from. And I think you're assuming I'm only talking about adult students. I am talking about going to college in general. I had to drive an hour to the closest University just to avoid the high cost of room and board.

You can't just limit your scope to community college. In today's world, community college is just an extension of high school. The job market is so competitive, that even those with bachelor degrees often find it difficult to find work. A community college education is only effective in getting a student to the next level in education.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=skinsguy;370164]It's just as bad here if not worse. We have had just every single factory closed in this area. Thousands have lost their jobs and have had to sale their homes, uproot and move. I'm quite lucky because I was able to find a programming job for a non-profit community service board. Which means, I basically get paid half of what other programmers doing the same thing would get paid for, but those jobs just don't exist around here.[/QUOTE]

I understand...we had a few mines close and a lot of people left town. My wife works for a non profit orginization, so I am fully aware of what they pay.
I was lucky enough to find my job too. I make less than I should, but I'll make it with a smile on my face!

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[quote=skinsguy;370164]It's just as bad here if not worse. We have had just every single factory closed in this area. Thousands have lost their jobs and have had to sale their homes, uproot and move. I'm quite lucky because I was able to find a programming job for a non-profit community service board. Which means, I basically get paid half of what other programmers doing the same thing would get paid for, but those jobs just don't exist around here.[/quote]

If you're talking about Martinsville, then yeah, it doesn't get much worse anywhere in the country ([URL="http://www.vec.virginia.gov/pdf/newpres1.pdf"]Unemployment rate as of October 26, 2007 = 8.8%. [/URL])

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=724Skinsfan;370189]If you're talking about Martinsville, then yeah, it doesn't get much worse anywhere in the country ([URL="http://www.vec.virginia.gov/pdf/newpres1.pdf"]Unemployment rate as of October 26, 2007 = 8.8%. [/URL])[/QUOTE]

Yep! Everywhere else, even Roanoke looks like New York City compared to our employment here.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[quote=jsarno;370175]The poverty line and $5.15 (now $5.75) are two different things. Isn't it anyone that makes under 20k is under the poverty line? That's around $9.61 an hour. Unsure of where it is for sure. But you're talking about two different things...and you totally missed my point of people that are making that low of an income are making that for a reason. Great employees don't make min wage, and ANYONE COULD be a great employee...don't you agree?[/quote]

I'm well aware that the poverty line and minimum wage are 2 different things but in the grand scheme of things does it really matter? Point is you have people out there that can barely support themselves, even on $10 an hour. I think there are plenty of great workers out there making shit money, just as there are plenty of people out there who are shit workers making great money.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

[QUOTE=skinsguy;370178]You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. Save big on used books? LOL!!!! When I was in college, I bought all of my books used and the average cost per book was $60. Every student is required to pay an activity fee. It might be called a technology fee, considering which college you go to, but this is not a luxury fee. It cost me $200 to apply to the college I graduated from. And I think you're assuming I'm only talking about adult students. I am talking about going to college in general. I had to drive an hour to the closest University just to avoid the high cost of room and board.

You can't just limit your scope to community college. In today's world, community college is just an extension of high school. The job market is so competitive, that even those with bachelor degrees often find it difficult to find work. A community college education is only effective in getting a student to the next level in education.[/QUOTE]

LOL...you obviously don't know what it takes to go to school at night and not live there. The last I knew (granted like 5 years ago) it was $39 to go to NMSU here in town. They offer associates degrees, and bachelor degrees without having to go to class during the day at all. I seriously doubt that we have the only college in the country that does that. You don't need to go to the BEST college in the area, save the money and go to cheaper college.
I have done it all man. I've lived at college (cost me $14k a semester), I've done night school (cost me 2k a semester), and I've done internet classes ($200 or so per class). You have preconceived notions of what college should be, and trust me, hundreds of thousands of older people are working full time and getting degrees at night.

I don't know what expensive college you are going to, but when I went to Harding University (14k a semester) I bought all my used books at around $20-$65 a book max. Also, there are ways to buy it from college students for even cheaper. You have to be willing to look. One semester I bought all my books from a couple students and spent maybe $100. Rough.
So again, I ask, if someone took care of your tuition, you couldn't find a way to pay for books? Give me a break man.

Re: Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...
 

I wish there was some good way to quantify the "Poor Picture". There are many people who think that most poor people are just lazy or are simply poor due mostly to their own doing. There are just as many who think the exact opposite. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. Based on my experiences and my knowledge I tend to think there are a lot more people out there who have financial difficulty because they refuse to act financially responsible rather than those whose situation is totally or even mostly out their control.

I do recognize though that I, as does probably everyone else on this board, have very limited point of view when it comes to this stuff.