Idaho Legislature Sends Bill Outlawing Public Funds For Trans Health Care To Governor

[awkward-yet-sweet]

46 minutes ago, emeraldmountain2 said:

Just to clarify, I meant to write that I do not know of any country where such a trans person could easily afford quality and complete gender affirming care.

 

That's because it doesn't currently exist.  America was actually a unique and exceptional experiment in world history.  I believe such things would currently exist here if we'd kept the republic as intended.  Here and probably nowhere else.  As it is, the encroachment of government on every aspect of life is worldwide.  Probably better here in the USA than elsewhere, but things are getting worse. 

 

The system has left us no alternatives.  The current choice of the poor?  Resign themselves to accepting bread and circuses - handouts from the powers that be, and living only by their permission.  Depressing!  The other choice would be to embrace a significant transition in how we do business....a rough process that would mean significant and unpleasant short-term issues. 

 

To be able to independently afford what we need, the system as we know it must be torn apart and rebuilt.  And an entire group of oligarchs, corrupt "officials," and other pernicious types will need to be removed from power and put to work doing something useful where they can't cause damage anymore.  I suspect that cannot be done in the context of the current 50-state version of the USA, and I look forward to the possibilities of a new republic where we might be able to prove the concept.

 

1 hour ago, emeraldmountain2 said:

People did go bankrupt from medical illness before healthcare was as expensive as you say it is today. Not all taxation is bad if if the proceeds are used for good. I would say that providing a medical safety net for people is good and I'll say it again: I'm happy and proud to contribute my tax money to a social good.

 

Sure, people have always gone bankrupt or been in poverty.  It happens....but never to the degree we would see today at current prices.  That's the big difference between past times and today, and technology solves a lot of the risks that people endured 100 or 200 years ago. 

 

I definitely have a problem with the idea that taxation is fine if the proceeds are "used for good."  That seems like  saying that the ends justify the means.... a thought process that has been the basis for numerous totalitarian regimes.  Socially, we've put a pleasant face on a process that is essentially theft at gunpoint. 

 

I believe we can do better, that we can be better.  I believe we can have affordable care AND liberty.  And I believe that doing so would take the power out of the hands of the elites, so we don't have to wonder about when the next regulation is going to show up to deny us the things that we need - like what's happening in Idaho. 

[Charlize]

This thread is beginning to leave the topic well behind and has wandered into a political argument.  Lets us please calm down and return to the topic before the thread is shut down.

Thank you.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[VickySGV]

2 hours ago, Charlize said:

This thread is beginning to leave the topic well behind and has wandered into a political argument.

I agree with Charlize completely.  Lets get back on topic folks.

[Jet McCartney]

I live in Idaho, and as much as I love the scenery of this state, the people are a different story. Hopefully I'll be able to leave to Washington or Nevada soon.

[VickySGV]

1 hour ago, Jet McCartney said:

I live in Idaho, and as much as I love the scenery of this state, the people are a different story.

 

I went through the state both directions about 3 years before I came out and went full time.  I agree that it is beautiful, I have some great photos of the Grand Canyon Of The Snake River and a couple from up in the panhandle area, but even before being out I knew I was a "foreigner" to a number of the people I met and it was not entirely comfortable.  My mother was born in Montana and I visited there on the same trip, in fact that had been the purpose of the trip.  We know how Montana is these days as well.  Sigh.

[Sally Stone]

On 3/24/2024 at 3:14 PM, awkward-yet-sweet said:

Our society is addicted to government, and has been addicted to it for a century

My view is we are "dependent" on government, because as a society, we are too lazy to stay actively involved. So, we let politicians do our bidding for us.  I think we'd be in a better place government wise if we policed the actions of our politicians.  We elected them; they work for us.  Sadly, we are allowing them to run amok.  We are where we are because we have chosen to let politicians make all decisions without us.  Remember "by the people, for the people?" That was the intent of our democracy.  Today, however, it is "by the politicians, for the politicians," the people be damned.