Comments | caspian_x: jumping SCHIP

caspian_x

jumping SCHIP

Oct 09, 2007 10:43

Sorry, but I can't endure all the left's rhetoric about how heartless Bush doesn't care about the "poor" children without health insurance anymore. This story illustrates how ridiculous this issue has become.

The important bits:
On September 29th, 12 year old Graeme Frost of Maryland got to do the Democrats' radio address, in which he told his ( Read more... )

socialism, healthcare, schip, politics

Comments 44

Unrelated resk October 9 2007, 16:04:13 UTC

ish

Re: Unrelated caspian_x October 9 2007, 16:11:54 UTC

firewall'd. can't see it.

thebruce0 October 9 2007, 16:12:29 UTC

SCH as in SCHEDULE (British)? Or as in SCHOOL?

Jumping 'SKIP' sounds a little happier than jumping 'SHIP' :P

not to, you know, derail the political rant or anything ;)

caspian_x October 9 2007, 16:21:39 UTC

*THWACK*

No, actually a little humor helps calms my political rage, which should happen more often these days...

clayfoot October 9 2007, 17:05:33 UTC

The issue of socialized medicine aside, I do think the kid was an unfortunate choice for the Democrats, but I can actually see how a small business owner might be completely overwhelmed by medical bills when his two children suffered severe brain injuries. The Baltimore Sun article says the family makes a combined income of $45K. It seems like the private school tuition ($20K/year/child) would mean they must be making much, much more than that, but Maryland's CHIP program cuts off at $60K/year. Either the family has managed to hide gobs of income from the CHIP program and from the IRS (if they had to submit an income tax return to apply), or else their income really is more modest than the skeptics would have us believe. And even though $45-$60K per year can hardly be considered poor, someone making twice that much could be easily bankrupted by catastrophic medical bills.

caspian_x October 9 2007, 17:40:11 UTC

I can actually see how a small business owner might be completely overwhelmed by medical bills when his two children suffered severe brain injuries.

Which is why he should have chosen to buy health insurance for his kids! As machiavilli_f has pointed out several times recently, the government should not use my money and your money to bail people out of making bad decisions. Should the kids go untreated? Of course not. Mr. I-need-a-$400K-house-before-my-kids-need-health-insurance should go into debt. Lots and lots of debt.

clayfoot October 9 2007, 18:15:31 UTC

Oh, sure; I agree. My suspicion is that Mr My-kids-need-to-go-20k-per-year-private school did have health insurance, but either a) it didn't sufficiently cover this particular catastrophe, or b) his insurance company dropped him shortly after this incident, and he has been unable to find replacement coverage at any price. At that point, I would expect charity to begin helping out, not the government.

caspian_x October 9 2007, 18:21:02 UTC

I highly doubt both of those scenarios. Damage from a car accident is a pretty basic thing. I had to buy a $20 policy that to cover the month or two between college health insurance and starting my career. It didn't cover much, but catastrophic events (such as a car accident) was one of the few things it covered (or at least capped the out of pocket debt).

The kid said without SCHIP he wouldn't be here. That makes me think that the car accident medical bills paid for his injuries, not that he had private health insurance which dropped him later.

I think this guy should have received every last cent of bill for his kids care. Perhaps charity would help out at that point (though, I think there are worthier causes to help than someone who won't buy health insurance for his kids). At that point he would have had to sell his house, maybe move into an apartment, etc. That sucks, but that's personal responsibility for making a bad choice such as not purchasing health insurance.

Thread 9

Questions stealth_cat October 9 2007, 17:30:53 UTC

1. What is the scholarship program at Park School?
2. What is Mr. Frost's yearly net income?
3. How long have the Frosts owned their home?
4. Did the care that the children receive after the accident truly save their lives?
5. Was that care actually funded through SCHIP?

I need more information before I can decide if I agree with you that the Frost's took advantage of the program or if this case is, as you said, BS.

Re: Questions caspian_x October 9 2007, 17:42:41 UTC

None of that matters because the guy CHOSE not to buy health insurance for his children!

People keep saying that health insurance is SUCH a basic necessity. Then why are people choosing expensive homes and schools before paying for it themselves? Because people make bad decisions and CHOOSE a certain lifestyle and they say "I simply can't afford health insurance."

No. You CHOOSE not to afford health insurance. And that choice should cost YOU. Not me.

Re: Questions stealth_cat October 9 2007, 17:51:53 UTC

Don't just dismiss me, casp. I asked those questions for a reason. You're using the example of extravagance for your argument and I don't see actual evidence of extravagance ( ... )

Re: Questions caspian_x October 9 2007, 18:05:16 UTC

Ok fine. I'll address each question individually and show you that none of it matters.

1. What is the scholarship program at Park School?
Unless they are both getting full-ride scholarships, it's more expensive than public school. That money could have gone to health insurance. Yes, I'm assuming they didn't get a full-ride. Since it's one point of many, I think it's a fair assumption.

2. What is Mr. Frost's yearly net income?
The Baltimore Sun article claims it's $45K. That's quite small, to be sure, but not small enough to justify neglect to buy health insurance for your family, considering other expenses

3. How long have the Frosts owned their home?
Doesn't matter. If health insurance is the basic necessity that the left claims it is, they should have sold the home and purchased health insurance. If you can't afford food and you live in a $400K home, you sell the home and buy food.

4. Did the care that the children receive after the accident truly save their lives?I fail to see why this matters. They needed treatment. Whether ( ... )

Thread 16

ikkarus01 October 10 2007, 03:35:14 UTC

Personally, I'm fine with some political spin if it makes Bush look like even more of a jackass. I don't really care if it's true. It's politics.

And I couldn't care less about this SCHIP business beyond the fact that Bush managed to put himself in a good position to get sniped by spin from the left. Keep up the good work, George!

caspian_x October 10 2007, 04:48:53 UTC

This is more than political spin. These are lies.

"and if it hadn't been for SCHIP, they wouldn't be here today."

That's a lie. If it hadn't been for SCHIP, his father and mother would have much greater debt than they do today. He would have received treatment regardless.

Bush was absolutely right to veto an increase to an already inflated and ineffectual health care plan. The Bush Derangement Syndrome is in full force to the effect that anything he does is an evil, heartless gesture.

ikkarus01 October 10 2007, 13:34:33 UTC

These are lies.

I guess that's supposed to bother me? Nope. Not feelin' it. Sorry.

Also: It's only a lie based on your interpretation of a few facts. I sincerely doubt that is the whole story.

caspian_x October 10 2007, 15:27:26 UTC

In the words of the great Cortana (the AI, not the LJ user):

"What. are. you. talkingabout?"

It's not a lie based on my interpretation of facts. It's fact. Health insurance does not save one's life, it saves one's pocket book. Doctors do not turn you away from emergency care due to lack of means to pay. Saying "Without SCHIP I may not be here today" is untrue. I don't blame the kid, he's 12, he probably doesn't know how these things work. I blame the Dems that have chosen to exploit him as their mouthpiece in their game.

Thread 6