Only one whiney letter. Remarkable.

Oh, by the way, Jake, healthcare is not a right.

Dave Kennedy- I believe that since bankruptcies are court proceedings that newspapers are required to publish them. I agree that is is disrespectful to publicly shame people that have suffered losses, perhaps BDN staff can give us some insight?

jake we shouldnt have to pay for a right. good luck paying those student loans.

a right should not demand something of someone else

Dave Kennedy: I agree. I do not see any benefit in using that newspaper space for such a purpose. That is not knowledge that needs to be shared for any purpose, as far as I can see.

Carol Tiffin James: A lot of us share your feelings . Knowing that one day this will be enacted by the U.S. Supreme Court and rights and protections extended to more couples and their children, is something we will see in the future, but as you said, that does not help those who currently were hoping for this decency and fairness to be part of their lives now. That is a huge disappointment for those people.

Jake Stevens: Yes, most decent people in this country feel that healthcare is a right and that having a healthy population in this country overall, benefits everyone. It is not all about us against them. We should not be all right with many citizens going without medical care.

Beedy Parker: Hope you get a lot of response to that great idea. More recycling!!

Barrie Pribyl: It seems when an employee has given their best efforts to a job, that the least they deserve is some ease with the transition out of that job. It is hard enough to lose a job.

7:01 PM, EJParsons, it's not a right to you because you have free healthcare. Get lost, it's should be considered a human right. We have the capabilities to do it and it should be done. To do less is immoral.

Hey Chersully~~~Thank You~~You saved me alot of typing !!!!

The only thing I would add is about Healthcare.

We All should have affordible Healthcare

And Insurance Co do not Care about Us and never Will

So this is far more then for those that just have a Healthcare Plan

All I can say about the current plan being bandied about, is if is far from the best plan out there in the World Today.

There is no reason at ALL for the Legislature to try to re-invent the Wheel

Unless they are trying to screw us again

And the way the Country is so Polorized it has been a piece of Cake for them So Far.

Later Gator. ^Blue^^str/m Proudly fighting the dang Rebels^

The only acceptable plan is "universal healthcare for everyone with all necessary legal procedures covered 100%." No more back door attacks on Roe vs Wade. Down with fascism.

Suppose to say~~So this is far more then for those that do not have a Healthcare Plan

ElectraGlide and William: Yes, in the United States , tons of people should not be without accessible, affordable healthcare. Of course, people should take responsibility for their health; practice good health habits (not smoke,etc etc.) but at the same time, families (and anyone) should have access to healthcare. It is the only humane thing and our country should be about nothing less.

ElectraGlide: You are real perceptive (about posters and many things.....right-on.)

Hey William did you hear the good news about how one of the big wigs of planned parenthood resigned from he job after seeing an abortion being performed on an ultrasound. She had an awakening as to just how horrible and totally barbaric procedure it really is. Praise God!

Sorry about that~~to much NO FEAR tonight~~~~

Don't worry ForHim, China will continue to force abortions on mothers who violate the one child policy, and thanks to the YES voters of Maine, there are less eligible couples in Maine now that could have adopted those children. I can't believe God is smiling on our state right now.

Great letter Jake. I hope the bill passed this weekend passes the Senate, with the current restrictions on abortion funding in place!

Shouldn't a well-balanced diet be a right before healthcare is a right?

After all, we've all got to eat so that we can grow up to be dependent on the state for "free" health care...

Hey 4him~~~have you heard anything lately.

It is hard to hear when you are thinking about what you are going to say before trying to comprehend what was said.

I thought that was very nice and polite. Dang what is getting into to me now.

"I believe that since bankruptcies are court proceedings that newspapers are required to publish them."

Absolutely false. Ever heard of the First Amendment?

Dare I say dirigodad~~~ are YOU in a very HIGH income BRACKET.

Don`t expect an answer. Even though I would tell YOU.

It certainly sounds like it to me.

You sure have some good advice on other issues.

But you are way off base here.

Do you work for Cheney???? or Rush ??????

or Sen Snowe???????

gay mar............yawn

didn't we already put that to bed?

Barrie Pribyl, perhaps if the government did not feel the need to steal so much from its citizens people would be more inclined to give.

Dave Kennedy, they are legally obligated to do that. It is actually the people claiming bankruptcy doing that to publicly notify the people they owe money to.

Jake Stevens, health care is not a right. To be able to take care of oneself is a right. To block someone from taking care of them self would be wrong. That is why we need to take care of people in jail not because health care is a right but because we have removed the ability of them to be able to care for themselves. This is a very fine point and to confuse this point will destroy America.

>Yu went to Bed yes-on-1>the issue Never Goes to Bed>

>>>Smile your on Bigot Camera<<<

Carol Tiffin James - warped logic concerning heterosexual divorce rates. I'll use your logic for a minute - our laws condemning murder aren't working so we should allow murder? Stupid isn't it, just like your letter!

>Smile> Neocon>You On Bigot Camera>

Ms James - no need to apologize. Its Dirigodad, neocon, 4him2today, frostheeve and rodney who need to apologize for thinking that they are superior to others.

Ryan Robbins - what purpose does printing the bankruptcies have other that giving people whose life's are so horrible that they take pleasure in the misfortune's of others. In case you did not get the point. I am talking to you son.

So let me get this straight on bankrupty, all of the sudden its the same as running a red light? I dont think so. Its something we all to pay for. If you loan someone money and they dont pay you back thats just not right. I agree that some circumstances warrant filing such as medical, and or loss of job, but most are excessive spending.

What kind of an entitlement socity are we creating?

The BDN has every right in the world to publish the names. Pay your bills like the rest of us and stay out of Wal Mart for a few days.

Geez

i dont know about anybody else, but i use these bankruptcy lists to give me a heads-up to be extra careful when dealing with these people.

you might not feel so bad if you had been shafted by them.

as always, the other side of the coin.

Mr. Stevens - if the provision of health care is a right, then one or both of the following applies:

1) The government must have the right to confiscate my earnings to pay for the care of others.

2) The government must have the right to force you and your medical colleagues to provide such care, regardless of your consent to the rate of compensation, or, in such cases as abortion, regardless to your cosent to provide services that may run counter to your values.

Do you and your colleagues wish to be forced to provide care against your will? I thought not. Likewise, I and other conservatives do not want to be forced to pay for the care of others, especially when I want to provide the people I care about with more resources.

There is nothing in our Constitution that guarantees health care provision. It is clear to me that our founders put far more thought into the issue of rights than you have.

EJParsons>Why>>Is everyone and I mean everyone>

Recieves Healthcare at EMMC`s ED>??????

Next time you are in the Hospital Tell your attendant You don`t believe IN getting takin care of.

Your just hangin around to see if someone mite take car of ME (Dang)

>OH MY GOD give me a little strenght Today. Thank You God I needed DAT<

OMG>>Yesman>When did you become such and expert on Healthcare for ALL ??? <

>You know nothing about Human Rights<

>And we are suppose to Trust you on Healthcare<

>Smile Yesman you are on Ignorant and Bigot Camara<

What is health? What is health care? Is it what this aspiring medical student says it is? Did he tell us in his letter? Is it what the homeopath says it is? The aroma therapist? The chiropractor? Is health care fetal heart surgery or is it abortion of the fetus? Life is unhealthy, isn't it?

We are paying for ER visits, of the uninsured, now, via our taxes.

Half of those visits could be cut out with proper preventative medicine, and normal check-up screenings.

A fifth of Americans don't have any coverage at all.

We pay most of the premiums for health insurance now for state and federal employees, via our taxes.

We permit the insurers now to have massive monopolies that make them record profits every year, at the publics expense, both financial, and health.

60% of the bankruptcies now in the US are caused BY heath care expenses.

There is nothing in the current proposals forcing anyone to provide "care against their will" - that statement just screams disinformation scare-tactic.

I do agree however, that health care isn't a "right" - but strangely enough, if you go to any ER in the USA - you can't be turned away !

I'm just wondering why "conservatives" can't be honest about the facts and details, I mean, is it "a right" for the insurers to have massive monopolies at the publics expense ? Is it their "right" to drop people at will who have been paying premiums for years, as soon as they get sick ? Is it their "right" to refuse ANY coverage of people with certain conditions ?

Oh, and there's Medicare - isn't Medicare a right ?

Please try being honest and accurate for a change, then maybe people will take your arguments seriously instead of seeing you as a tool for the insurance industry.

Speaking pragmatically for a moment: Somewhere back in time, a national decision was made that everyone should be educated. Most reasonable citizens now believe that provision of learning is a right, and that government does indeed have a "right to confiscate my earnings," as a few ideologues put it, to pay for a public school system. An educated citizenry is necessary to the well-being of the country.

A similar national decision looms on health care. The laissez-faire capitalist model has made a few people rich and relegated the majority to expensive (sometimes prohibitively), inefficient health care. A healthy citizenry is in all of our interests. To this end, government has a legitimate role to play in guaranteeing access to health care for all Americans. It is not stripping you of your liberty any more than when government uses tax money to build a bridge.

I agree that people have a responsibility to take care of their health, just as parents have a responsibility to make sure their kids go to school and do their homework. But nobody goes bankrupt from sending their kids to public schools. Nobody has their house confiscated by a bank or insurance company. The same principles should apply to health care, which, like education, is used by virtually 100% of the citizenry. All ideological posturing about what is and is not a "right" aside, providing affordable health care for all is the right thing to do.

Bankruptcy: Absolutely, at a very minimum, the public deserves to be notified of people who don't/can't pay their bills, no matter how they got into that situation. It's not to belittle anyone, but instead, it's to put the public on notice that if you enter into any kind of contract with this person, they legally don't have to live up to their end of the agreement. I found that out the hard way when someone who owed me $30K just walked away from it and I was forbidden from even asking for the money back. Money owed to that persons plumber, snowplow guy, veterinarian, heating oil provider, mortgage holder all went unpaid. At the very LEAST, the public deserves a heads-up about people who are in this situation. If they have fallen into it due to no fault of their own, their family and friends will know this and not hold it against them.

Of course health care is NOT a right. It's a commodity that we all can buy. It's expensive to hire all these highly trained people and expensive equipment to work on me, so I try to minimize how much I have to buy by exercising regularly, avoiding most risky activities, and eating healthy foods. If everyone did all that, healthcare would be much more affordable for us all. THAT'S the healthcare reform that we need, not another big. expensive, government program. I'm hearing many of the same arguments that proponents of Dirigo Healthcare used a few years ago. Fortunately, to avoid making a HUGE mistake on a national level, all we have to do is look at how Dirigo has worked out to see what gets delivered and at what cost, compared to what is promised by its proponents.

> EJ Parsons . . .so you must support the current system as it stands? A system that actually makes money on the backs of the sick and dying? A system that is only good for health insurance companies and drug manufactures?

Health care FOR EVERY AMERICAN is a right EJ, and not a privilege! By you making such a statement I can only surmise that you are part of the GOP . . .that preaches EXCLUSIVITY and not INCLUSIVITY. Do you go to sleep at night listening to old recordings of Ron Reagan saying things like, "poor people are poor because they choose to be poor"!

Jesus might love you EJ . . but the rest of us think you're an A-HOLE!

The whole health care debate is something I just can't get my head around. We donate billions every year to third world countrys so they can build hospitals and have clean water and food. We personally donate to UNICEF, Save the children, church missions and on and on... yet when it comes to our own we just can't seem to muster the same level of charity and good will. If you don't have a job, are poor, homeless... too bad just keep out of sight and try to get by as best you can. National health care is debated by using Europe , Canada etc and the failures in their systems. This is America.... don't you think with all our talent and great government we could do a better job than these countrys we hold ourselves above? This is the greatest country in the world with the most talented business men and women available anywhere. Couldn't we put togather a team of those people to come up with a plan? You and I both know it can't be done by polititians who's only talent is raising re-election funds.

This is the Plan That alot of People think is right for America

President Obama thinks it is right, but stated that at this time

With all the polorization he didn`t think it could go thru

Sen Snowe has also in the recent past has stated she thought it was the best.

WHY are WE not GOING for the BEST no MATTER how long it TAKEs Congress?????

google Single Payer YOU mite be amazed who supports this PLAN

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The house is no longer going to vote for the single payer amendment that was “promised” by leadership to be introduced this weekend. We were hoping to finally get a count on which Congressmen would actually vote in favor of single payer and which ones just say they will to gain votes. Read more here…

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/democrat-gives-up-a-pet-issue-to-streamline-house-vote/

We will still be tracking Congressional votes on the overall health care reform bill and want to keep the pressure on them. Please help us continue to spread the word and grow our voting bloc. Here is a link to our voting bloc that you can forward along to your friends and contacts:

http://www.votingbloc.org/Health_Bloc.php

Sincerely,

Votingbloc.org

8:27~~Hey bubbalouie~~~I agree completely with your Statement.

Dang, We went to the MOON didn`t WE people !!!!!!!!!

Thanks ElectraGlide. I can only see this bill as a massive give away to the insurance industry. No public option... mandatory coverage, fines, and on and on to the tune of last I heard 1700 + pages. And it still leaves millions without coverage. Look what happened when motor vehicle insurance became mandatory. A great idea but it should be run by a government pool where we all pay a reasonable amount and get insured with lawsuits limited to actual damages and reasonable health care for injuries. The insurance companys swore the price would go down and would be cheap for all.... how much do you pay? I carry full coverage and the price is outrageous.

mAineAc,

I don't believe that posting the granting of a bankruptcy is required. There may be a requirement to post that the action has been filed in the public notices section. What Dave is talking about is different. It's like where they post divorces granted. Not a requirement, just something the paper knows nosey people like to look at to see if they find the name of someone they know.

It's the same thing with how the BDN published aressts accross the front page. If the charges are dropped, or the person is found not guilty, they never publish that unless it is a big court case. These poor guys that are accused of child molesting by a peeved step child or spousal abuse by a wife trying to gain advantage in a divorce get their name smeared all through the paper, but when the truth comes out that is was just a fabrication by the alleged victim, you never hear about it. To me that is a bigger problem.

bubbalouie~~~I pay one heck alot more than I should!!!!

Did you check out Single Payer as I listed above ???

Let me know what you think about that. Thanks<<

PIchris, where did you find this? I found it interesting but can't find more about it.

"60% of the bankruptcies now in the US are caused BY heath care expenses."

Thanks

William - 7:59 AM - I don't have free healthcare. I have to pay for mine, but as retired military I pay less than most. I earned that right. And I don't want this government intervention to cause mine to change. there are better ways to fix the system, but the government won't even entertain anything that might cause them to back off. All they want is control and power, and people like you are more than willing to give up your freedoms for a little security at the expense of others.

ElectraGlide - 7:20 AM - ??????????????

labsX3 - 8:11 AM - I have said repeatedly that the only thing the government needs to do is enforce tort reform and take down the state by state restrictions on healthcare insurance. Our government, in case you haven't noticed, has not been able to oversee a single program in the last half decade that has come in on time of budget. And if healthcare insurance is a right, then when are you going to petition for government supplied auto insurance and life insurance? And who's going to pay the bill?

EJ, you are employing the "slippery slope" fallacy when you compare health insurance to auto insurance. We all know that driving is a privilege, not a right. Not everybody drives or owns a car, but everyone has a body, with which something can go wrong at any time. Under your rigid ideology, a non-wealthy person who has cancer should just slink off and die a painful death, rather than use one cent of your righteously-earned taxpayer money. How come socialized road construction is OK, but not socialized medicine?

hank - Point taken. But you say we all have one body. Well, we also have one life, so why not demand government life insurance? Also, your interpretatioin of my ideology is so far off base that it doesn't deserve a response. Of course, there is the unanswered question.....how are we going to pay for this multi-trillion dollar mess?

EJParsons>>>Unlike EJ I believe we can make the Government Work for Us Again.

It is All our faults that things are like they are. We feel Asleep and now Awake can do Things.

I guess you gotta still believe in this Country. Sorry you Don`t

I have advocated for A single payer for auto insurance hadn`t thought about life insurance.

If you trust insurance co. more than America and its people sorry about that.

I did not know you were retired Military. Respect that alot so if I forget it let me know.

Hard to keep up with all the posters.

I still understand why you seem so bitter about so many things about the ole US of A???<

I am not Proud of how this country has gone to its all about $$$$$$

But I am proud America is starting to Wake Up but that mite be scary for awhile too

The polorization is incredibly destructive.

We can have the best of everything and I won`t give up until we do.

As long as I`m alive.

Southern Voice what a great CW song. ((:~0 ))))))

9:56>hankwilliams>>I don`t know anymore if driving is a privilige anymore???

Auto insurance co got us by the throat also.

There are very very people that do not need a car.

Unless there is alot of mass transit like in big cities.

EJParsons - the difference between life insurance and health insurance. Life insurance does not promote life, health insurance does.

ElectraGlide - 10:21 AM - It has nothing to do with trusting the insurance companies. It has everything to do with the present leadership in DC. They are not patriotic, they are not conservative, and they are not looking out for the American people. They only have one thing on their minds, and that is total control and power over every aspect of our lives. Obama is an elitist that trained under marxist and socialist professors. He has been involved with shady dealings for all of his adult life. The people he surrounds himself with should scare the pants off of any freedom loving American. And then there's the over 40 czars, the closed-door meetings, and the arm twisting from his closest henchmen. If anyone honestly believes that our President has the betterment of the American people and the country in mind, they are being deceived.

As for the American people, more and more are waking up to the truth every day. It will be interesting in November of 2010 to see just how many have seen the light. If we don't begin to turn the country around in 2010 and 2012, then America will cease to exist as a great power. Is that what you want?

pjramsay - Still, how we gonna' pay for this multi-trillion dollar mess? You know as well as anyone that the leaders have no clue and are throwing out theories and possibilities, all of which can't be backed up. The rich won't pay for it; they will pass on the cost to the consumers.

All insurance agents posting here raise your hands. Stop pretending you don't have a profit motive for posting. You know who you are!

anne - I work for a general contractor, not an insurance company. I've told you that before, but due to your short memory, I guess I should remind you again.

Carol Tiffin James;

We absolutely did live up to our motto "Dirigo".

We did not bend to the wishes of a few perverts and did not follow a state full of liberal yuppies like MA.

We sent a perfect message.

Healthcare:

Yes we need it, BUT, name just (1) single program that the government operates which is not corrupt, not stolen from to fund other pet programs, or already bankrupt.

Social Security?

Internal Revenue Service? (Want these people handling your health?)

Medicare?

US Postal Service?

How many times will we let this government rip us off and thumb their nose at us because they are above the law and there is not a single thing that we can do about it when they do?

10:51 AM,............yawn...

It should be a human right? You have the "right" to make me pay for your lifestyle choice? Really?

EJParsons~~~You and I are not that far apart on election issues.

You assume because I support Gay Marriage that I am someone I am not.

I have been following Politcs all my freaking (well I can`t say 62)

but i remember the Vote for IKE do you.

IT is time for some changes / no one is advocating change for change sack

There are people in this country from all parties that want the best.

Again Polorization or as I call it sometimes in private conversations

Political Bigotry WoW can you believe that.

The government can do good things

Why shot the horse when you need it to get to work

Calm down and talk where people are really coming from.

it takes time on here.

But if you cannot seperate the Gay issue from others there is no hope

If you want to blame just one party or one thought process for all the wrongs there is not hope

It really boils down to bottom line / it is ALL of our Fault.

Is that what you want. / I listen to Rush alot but I listen to alot of others too.

That makes me mentally balanced / don`t tell anyone OK !!!!!

WTF266>>I still hate to type that handle>>Have you ever been in the Service.

Just trying to figure you out.

You know the US Postal Service led the Way for UPS and FED-EX

Wow 266>>people and things are not perfect are YOU???<<<<

Does anyone out there remember how smart we were at 16<

and then came working and something in our thought process started to change

and then came 30 and OMG did I ever figure out how freakin stupid i was at 21

This stupid feeling goes on and on and on and on and on

When you are talking like you know it ALL you are talking like a fool.

That is just a perception from other people it is called a norm of your knowing it all behavior

Health care is a right

If the federal government can afford $500 Billion for war in Iraq to prop up the oil companies profit than they can that amount money for the health of the taxpayers

OK if healt care is a right, so is freedom of speech, but the government does not provide you with words or writing utensils.

12:15, oh boogyman. Sometimes you're such a dolt. :( Does the term "public school system" mean anything to you?

How soon before Happiness is a Right?

Oh anne, I can't say what you are. Education and freedom of speech have nothing to do with one another.

Oh anne, I can't say what you are. Education and freedom of speech have nothing to do with one another.

Patycat, you're right there, tho that's not why we're in Iraq. But because the federal government can afford it doesn't make it a right. I don't pay my government to do these things, especially when its not particularly good at the things its doing now!

The internet is a "right" in Denmark. We really should be more like Europe! (jk)

Electra ... took a moment to check your link... not much time but will look into it more in depth later. Can the government run health care? From personal experience I think they can. I am a disabled vet and get my health care at Togus. Could not ask for better... very caring staff and I know they don't make what they could in the private sector. When the government gets the bill I can bet it looks nothing like what it would if it were a private hospital billing an insurance co.

Bubbalouie...MIL and VA heath care is excellent, but it's not a delivery system everyone would tolerate. But they will now! Everyone thinks they will get Blue Cross-style health care, and they are about to be rudely awoken.

How many times will we let the insurance companies rip us off and thumb their nose at us because they are above the law and there is not a single thing that we can do about it when they do?

Two words: Public Option.

11:57 AM, ElectraGlide;

My point exactly. UPS and FED-EX are booming profitable companies with excellent service. The USPS is bankrupt. It has pathetic service and is constantly raising it's rates, for poor service.

I'm not saying that anyone is perfect, but don't you find it strange that everything the government gets involved in is bankrupt? They run nothing like a business. How many chances are we supposed to give them?

How can people still trust them? I do not. Until there is major changes, I don't believe people will ever trust the government again. It seems that those that do are naive and don't learn from repetitious poor and unhonest behavior.

1:29WTF266

My point about the US PO is that the comptition that was created by UPS and FED EX is what destroying the PO.

but are they destroyed or are they just costing more to keep up with the competition

So that is what happens to most Public options.

Not all people pay in because they are afraid of government.

We have so much government stuff that is working we just need to monitor it better.

In the single payer there is no competition.

We all pay into a Single Payer

and the insurance co can suck wind.

there will be some business for supplemental insurance you mite want.

What I`m saying if done rite,

All our healthcare will be cheaper, will insure all, and Medicare will be revived with all the extra money.

It is the peoples responsibility to make sure we keep them on the ball.

1:13 PM, hankwilliams..... the insurance companies, the credit card companies, or big banks ... you name it, they thumb their nose at us based on laws put in place by our own congress that is bought and paid for on both parties. They make the crazy rules. Now I should trust the same crooks to in a sense cut out the middle man and rip me off directly?

fmrmti~~you and I know ( more you than I ) that the VA can and should be better.

Sometimes I wonder how all the disabled Vets do not demand better.

I know I would demonstrate till the cows came home to get you much better service and benefits.

I am a NEV 67-72 and have some idea of what you are talking about.

We can do better in alot of areas. don`t cha think???

12:30 pm, well it would be nice if people were educated before exercising their freedom of speech.

12:24 PM, David889327, what part of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" isn't a RIGHT?

The verb "pursuit" is the key word, WmDS.

correction: "pursuit" is a noun, not a verb - sorry

Mrs. Kershaw_of_mdi, should we pursue happiness in private also?

Star Trek~~how many planets have they visited that were places of complete harmony. All most looked like the people expected that right.

Of course these movie like people were way ahead of our times.

HOw many things have I seen that were just dreams of the future that have come true.

Just being on this computer is a magic trick to me.

I still remember my family getting one of the first TV`s,

We take oh so much for granted these days.

And have also gotten so pessimistic and negative in all things that may be possible.

What has happened to this fine country of ours

So Sad indeed.

I am a Man Straight as can be. But if I was to Marry another Man

Here HE one of my Role Models for sure.

These Movies he has made

I`m sure alot of other people have seen.

His major ones like Dances w/ Wolfes I have seen several times

and it still knocks me out.

The hidden messages in these movies about the Indians and baseball are amazing

Man dealing with his own Pride. What a teacher he has been in his Movies.

If only you are looking for an overall meaning.

Most Yahoos just like death and destruction. oh well

Here is my MAN KEVIN

One of Hollywood's most prominent strong, silent types, Kevin Costner was for several years the celluloid personification of the baseball industry, given his indelible mark with baseball-themed hits like Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, and For Love of the Game. His epic Western Dances with Wolves marked the first break from this trend and established Costner as a formidable directing talent to boot. Although several flops in the late '90s diminished his bankability, for many, Costner remained one of the industry's most enduring and endearing

why is it so many countries in Europe can offer their citizens healthcare and not have problems like we do with our wonderful insurance companies ripping us off? seems like what is offered there is better than the nothing so many of our citzens have!

go live in another country see how good yu have it. get a clue we live in the greatest country and you people want to follow the examples of a bunch of second rate countries. we do have the best health care . yes there are problems but giving control to the government is not the answer. look at the banking industry.

Barrie Pribyl: these "5 minutes and out the door policies" are indeed terrible. In the corporate world, this has been the layoff devilish practice for over a decade, even written up in the Wall Street Journal. These boots have been done on long term professionals and not just hourly staff. Reasons given include preventing theft and sabotage. Dubious excuses at best and especially poor for a not for profit. Do these organization depend on public contributions? Let's all stop giving to them right now. Do they receive government grants or other money? Let the NLRB know about these practices (in fact, let them know anyway).