Let's be rational

A Rational Voice

2009-07-13T22:05:00.001-07:00

Thom Hartmann Show Excerpts

Love and Hate

2009-07-13T17:17:00.001-07:00

Intellipoop.com

Quote: I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Report: Bush surveillance program was massive

2009-07-12T12:00:00.001-07:00

Report: Bush surveillance program was massive

Posted on 7/10/2009

A team of federal inspectors general reported Friday that the Bush administration built an unprecedented surveillance operation to pull in mountains of information far beyond the warrantless wiretapping previously acknowledged.

The report questions the legal basis for the effort but it shielded almost all details on grounds they're still too secret to reveal.

Unprecedented Collection Activities
The report, compiled by five inspectors general, refers to "unprecedented collection activities" by U.S. intelligence agencies under an executive order signed by President George W. Bush after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Few Relevant Officials Knew
The report says too few relevant officials knew of the size and depth of the program, let alone signed off on it.

They particularly criticize John Yoo, a deputy assistant attorney general who wrote legal memos undergirding the policy.

John Ashcroft Unaware till March 2004
His boss, Attorney General John Ashcroft, was not aware until March 2004 of the exact nature of the intelligence operations beyond wiretapping that he had been approving for the previous two and a half years.

Read the AP story

The danger of power

2009-07-12T11:44:00.001-07:00

Thom Hartmann | News, Debate and Opinion « Intellipoop.com
The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism — ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power — Franklin D. Roosevelt

How happiness is affected by the number of our choices

2009-07-12T11:30:00.001-07:00

Updates: Whatever Happened to Hubble's Last Fix?: Scientific American

More Choices, More Happiness?
Having too many options can leave people less happy with the decisions they ultimately make [see “The Tyranny of Choice”; SciAm, April 2004]. Experiments described in the March Psychology and Marketing attempt to reconcile those findings with theories from psychology and economics that equate more choices with greater satisfaction. In one test, participants had to pick a charity to which to donate money from a list of either five or 40 organizations. The study found no evidence of the too-much-choice effect even in the more plentiful option, except when participants were asked to justify their picks. Under those circumstances, they seemed less satisfied with their decisions, because they had to recall the choices they could have made. The researchers suggest that the too-much-choice effect may occur only under certain conditions and is less robust than previously thought. —Kathryn Wilcox

2009-07-09T20:01:00.001-07:00

Bloglines | My Feeds (337)

"If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy". -- James Madison.

Thom Hartmann | News, Debate and Opinion

2009-07-08T19:58:00.000-07:00

Thom Hartmann | News, Debate and Opinion: "The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism — ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power — Franklin D. Roosevelt"

Gizmodo, the Gadget Guide

2009-07-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

Tornado Tower Looks Like a Cloud, Makes Its Own Energy

The Tornado Tower is a design for a performing arts center in Taipei, Taiwan, and man is it crazy. That huge bubble on top is where the theater sits, and the whole thing harnesses the wind for energy. More »

Gizmodo - World's Largest RC Chopper Is Probably Big Enough for a Very Short Pilot - World's largest rc helicopter

2009-07-08T19:53:00.000-07:00

Gizmodo - World's Largest RC Chopper Is Probably Big Enough for a Very Short Pilot - World's largest rc helicopter

Personal Fitness

2009-07-04T23:58:00.001-07:00

At 40 years old, I was feeling miserable and out of energy. It happens to all of us at some time in our lives, but it doesn't have to be so hard. Stairs were intimidating, and the mountain hikes I have always loved were just out of the question for the last five years. Getting that way takes time, and you don't always realize what you are allowing to happen to you.

On February 21, 2009 I set out on a journey to better health. I've watched a million infomercials about products that boast about incredible results from their program that only takes 3 minutes a day or whatever, and I've bought countless products to try to get a grip on my health but I never followed through. A commercial for P90X was on late night tv, and I was desperate. I believe that the program is special and superior, but that's not what makes it work. I needed to do something because I was turning into everybody I've watched die of poor health. I needed it like a bottle of beer needs two more. I was at the end of my rope with no where else to go. I had acid reflux, couldn't run half a block, didn't get good sleep, snored like a pig, ate like a pig, and always got dizzy just tying my shoes. I ordered P90X and got started on a Sunday so I could always remember which workout I needed to do. 90 days later, i had lost 25 pounds and could run a little bit. I was still fat. There's no miracle cure for obesity but if you keep doing something that works you'll get there. So I started the program for a second time. Tomorrow I will start my 6th week of round 2, and I feel great. I can already see though, that I need to do it 2 or 3 more times after round 2. I really am a fatass. I can outrun you now, but I'm still a fatass. I'm in the best shape of my life, but I'm still a fatass. It takes time. I need to lose another 30 pounds to get where I need to be, and then I'll start a maintenance routine. Right now I workout 7 days a week, and I don't mind but I could use that time for other things. Not quitting. Not an option. Not until I get there. I need to see those washboard abs.

The Formula for Long Term Happiness

2009-07-04T11:59:00.000-07:00

What is happiness? You might think it's a feeling, but it's deeper than that. Happiness can be defined as a state of mind in which your thoughts are generally pleasant a great deal of the time. You may experience joyful occasions, and relate to them as a happy time by mistake, as the feeling is only temporary and then you go back to the way you were. Happiness is a lifestyle that you can plan and evaluate as a purposeful endeavor. Let me explain...

Happiness requires a foundation for long term existence. There are 3 things that need to be in place before you can achieve and maintain a happy life.

You need to be able to give and receive love
You need something worthwhile to occupy your time
You need something to hope for

Love gives us that sense of self value in society. When we are accepted by others we feel like we belong to our family, our workplace, our social groups, etc. When we are withdrawn from these groups, we may be seen as depressed or just odd. Feeling wanted and needed is a key element in all social groups, and without that we operate in life as an outcast on the fringe of these groups. Imagine how you would feel if you were rejected by all your family, friends, and co-workers. You can't be happy without love. I think the hippies were on to something important.

Time flies when you're having fun, or when you're busy, or when you're sleeping. Time seems to last forever when there's nothing to do. A productive day at work is much better than a lazy day around the house. We all need to produce something, and that's another way we can feel valuable in society. You don't even need to enjoy the task at hand as long as there is a desirable result of the activity. Time must be occupied for happiness to have a chance.

Hope is that feeling you get when you buy a lottery ticket or when you are raising a child. It's that aim you take when pursuing a goal. You are looking forward to a positive outcome. Hope is a reason to do something worthwhile. Hope is tied to how you occupy your time. If you are doing something worthwhile, it is measured by the hope you get from it. Without goals, there is no reason for hope. Without hope, there is no reason to occupy your time. Without occupying your time, there is no reason to love. Without these three elements, there is no reason to be happy.

So in order to get happy and stay happy, you need all three elements in place. It's not possible to be unhappy when those three things are a part of your daily life.

Don't put passion into things that won't benefit you.

2009-07-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

Life is short, much too short to waste time. It's also long, which may seem like a paradox unless you can manage more than one perspective. We put passion into our daily lives and we build our experiences and confidence level in various situations. When we are doing what we love, time seems to evaporate. Conversely, when the activity at hand is not comfortable, time seems to pass slowly and miserably.

When I was a young boy, I remember riding my bike or shooting my BB gun and it seemed like the afternoon was gone in the blink of an eye. All those after school times when all I could think about was some trivial activity that filled my mind with endless possibilities of entertainment were all as fleeting as a glance from a face in a crowd.

I'm much older now, and things haven't changed at all. I still look forward to those times when I will be doing what I love to do. It's not quite that simple though, because there are things I love to do that are spread across several days or months or even years.

Passion is a very strong emotional energy. It's passion that keeps the world moving forward. It's passion that strengthens love and hate. Passion is the key to survival in a dangerous situation. The very essence of life is passion. Passion is the most valuable commodity that any of us can possess. We all need passion. Without it, there would be no meaning in life. It overcomes the odds, and fulfills our dreams. It's the fuel that propels us to our goals. It give us the will to go on when it seems like all is lost. But passion without proper guidance can ruin your life.
It's not easy to know what life will bring you, but with a little experience, you can learn to trust your gut instinct. It's important to understand when your brain is trying to tell you something is not right. You could end up spending a lot of time or money or other capitol (passion is capitol) on an endless pursuit of something that will never be worth your time. Don't waste your passion on things that won't pay. Your best efforts won't always pay, but you can limit your exposure to these things that suck the life out of you. Incidentally, that is what is happening when you are wasting time. Life is being sucked from you.
Instead, your passion should be as guarded as Fort Knox. People and situations will always require passion of you, but ultimately you get to decide where to spend your valuable energy. Some things are not worth your passion. If your gut says there is something wrong, trust that instinct and run like hell or you could end up in a bad situation.

It's time to learn to master the technique of determining which situations deserve your passion. Your gut feelings will help guide you. Trust yourself. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it's probably a duck. Learn to identify many kinds of ducks.

The Carry-over concept. We all carry-over luggage (not baggage because the word baggage implies a negative tone) into every situation. Whether it's knowledge, fear, skill, weakness, spite, love, hate, or any other disposition, there is always something that gets carried over into new situations that will affect the progress and the outcome. Here's a simple example of the carry-over concept. Let's say you are on a business trip to a foreign country whose language you do not speak. Although the people may graciously accept your presence and your dealings may have a positive outcome, there is that element of the language barrier. You will have a difficult time trying to explain your position to your hosts. Maybe they even speak your language, and maybe even speak it fluently, but there are those tricky words that don't have a direct translation from your language to theirs. And then there are those words that are not always used as defined by your language.

This article will be updated periodically, so bookmark it and check it once in a while.

How to rescue a cell phone from the toilet or tub...

2009-07-03T22:28:00.000-07:00

I dropped my cell phone in the toilet the other day, and I got pretty lucky. This article could save you much heartache over lost information.

How to Save a Wet Cell Phone

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Ever dropped your cell phone in the sink, or even worse... the toilet? Did you ever leave it in your pocket and run it through the washer? Did you ever swim with your cell phone in your pocket? It usually means you have to replace your phone, but sometimes if you're fast, you can save the phone!

Steps

Get it out of the water as soon as possible. The plastic covers on cell phones are fairly tight, but water can enter the phone in a short period of time, perhaps only 20 seconds or less. So grab your phone quickly! If you can't get to it in time, your best bet is to remove the battery while it is still under water. Water helps dissipate heat from shorts that can damage the phone, so most damage occurs when the inside of the phone is merely wet and there is a power source. This can go both ways. Being under water is more likely to short the battery to even more sensitive contacts, so be careful.
Don't panic. Your phone will probably not be too damaged if you right away take it out of the water. While it's in the water, immediately take it out.
Remove the battery. This is one of the most important steps. Don't take time to think about it; electricity and water do not mix. Cutting power to your phone is a crucial first step in saving it. Many circuits inside the phone will survive immersion in water provided they are not attached to a power source when wet.
If you have a GSM carrier, remove your SIM card. Some or all of your valuable contacts (along with other data) could be stored on your SIM. To some people this could be more worth saving than the phone itself. SIM cards survive water damage well, but some of the following steps are unnecessary i.e. don't heat it. Just pat it dry and leave it aside until you need to connect your phone to your cellular network. (This step does not apply to CDMA carriers such as Verizon, Alltel, US Cellular, Sprint, etc.)
Dry your phone. Obviously you need to remove as much of the water as soon as possible, so you can save it from getting into the phone. Shake it out without dropping it, then use a towel or paper towel (ideally trying not to clog the wet paper in the gaps and grooves of the phone) to gently remove as much of the remaining water as possible. Dry the excess moisture by hand.
Remove any covers and external connectors to open up as many gaps, slots, and crevices in the phone as possible.
Use a vacuum cleaner if possible. Do not use a hair dryer (even on a "cold" mode) to dry out the phone, as this may force moisture further into the small components, deep inside the phone. If moisture is driven deeper inside, corrosion and oxidation may result when minerals from liquids are deposited on the circuitry. Using a hairdryer might be a temporary fix, but this will eventually cause component failure inside the phone. Instead, remove all residual moisture by drawing it away with a vacuum cleaner held over the affected areas for up to 20 minutes in each accessible area. This is the fastest method and can completely dry out your phone and get it working in thirty minutes. Be careful not to hold the vacuum too close to the phone, as a vacuum can create static electricity, which is even worse.
Use a substance with a high affinity for water to help draw out moisture. Leave the phone in a bowl or bag of uncooked rice overnight. The rice would absorb any remaining moisture. If available, it is preferable to use desiccant instead. Desiccant will absorb moisture better than rice. It may be found under a brand name such as the "BHEESTIE Bag™" "DRY-ALL" "Damp Rid" or "Dry Right".
Let the phone sit on absorbent towels, napkin, or other paper. Remember that the goal is to evacuate all the moisture and humidity, not to trap it or add even more. Check the absorbent material every hour for 4 to 6 hours. If moisture is evident, repeat the vacuuming step and desiccant steps.
Test your phone. After you have waited a day or so, make sure everything is clean and dry looking and re-attach the battery to the phone and see if it works. If your phone does not work, try plugging it into its charger without the battery, if this works, you need a new battery. If not, try taking your cell phone to an authorized dealer. Sometimes they can fix it. Don't try to hide the fact that it has been wet. There are internal indicators that prove moisture.
Take the phone apart If your phone doesn't turn on at all. Try taking it apart. First, make sure that you have ALL the right parts and know exactly where they go. Be sure to put everything back in its proper place once finished. As you're disassembling it, pat each individual part dry with a small towel and use the vacuum cleaner once more on the crevices. If this doesn't work go to the professionals.

Video

Tips

In most cases, if you pulled the battery out in time, cleaning the inside of your phone with cleaning alcohol (alcohol will displace the water) or contact spray will fix your problem. If there is even one drop of water left inside, it can ruin your phone by corroding it and making the wrong contact. If your phone is powering up but still acting strange after you have cleaned it, then you've missed some liquid or the corrosion has already occurred and dis-assembly and cleaning with a toothbrush and appropriate solvent may fully fix it. For the fainthearted, a skilled technician or engineer can often fix such an issue easily and quickly.
Excessive heat can damage your phone even more! Most phones have warnings about leaving them in your car or exposing them to heat. The main point is to completely dry the phone before applying power. Be patient! When using a hair dryer use the lowest heat setting! or better still don't use heat at all, use a vacuum cleaner to rapidly draw all the residual moisture out, this usually takes about 20 minutes of care and patience turning the phone every few minutes to ensure all holes and outlets get accessed.
If your phone falls in the ocean or another form of salt water, rinse it with fresh water before salt crystals can form in the phone after the removal of the battery.
If your phone has been subjected to salt water crystallizing, gently tap the board and the chips with a plastic object (the back of a small screw driver for example). The vibration of the taps will set some of the foreign objects free and they will fall out. Be careful and don't smash the board or the chips. A sharp enough blow will break the chips. Tapping very gently multiple times in multiple locations, especially around the chips, is a preferred method. And follow up with appropriate solvent cleaning afterwards to clean away any oxidation residue.
Place the phone in a vacuum chamber (found at many high schools and universities) and activate the chamber. Typically universities and specific industries will have a vacuum chamber available if you happen to know the right person. Water "boils" at room temperature, given enough time, meaning that it evaporates through bubbles even though it isn't heated. This method should be successful when the vacuum is maintained at room temperature for about 30 minutes. That will dry out parts you can't access as will the tip above regarding a vacuum cleaner if you have no vacuum chamber available.
Try holding a compressed air can STRAIGHT (upside down, sideways, or at an angle will shoot out a freezing liquid) and shoot into the crevices, speaker, mic, and keypad. Any excess water stuck should come out. If the can gets cold and you're not done, let the can sit a while before continuing, as cold air could make excess moisture condense onto parts deeper inside. This process should be followed by the other methods that use a vacuum chamber or vacuum cleaner to more thoroughly remove any deeper residual moisture and humidity as the phone must be totally dry inside to ensure no further failure later on. The contents of many "canned air" products can be poisonous. Follow all recommendations on the can label.
Since your warranty is void anyway, if you have further problems with your phone's functions after trying the above methods to dry it out, then buy Torx screwdrivers to open the phone's case, since these are almost always specialized. (For example, the RAZR needs Torx #4, #5, and #6). Pick up a can of Contact Spray (electric contact cleaner)and douse the inside. It dries rapidly. Scrub any residue with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Spray with compressed air, and/or vacuum it out for several minutes to suck out further moisture and then carefully put it back together. Do not leave your phone wet for an extended period of time. Dry it out as soon as possible.
To find out if the phone is truly water damaged, remove that battery. In the corner near where the battery is, there should be a white square or circle, with or without red lines. If this is pink or red, your phone does in fact have water damage.

Warnings

Do not switch the phone on. This is important as it will prevent a charge from running from the battery to the phone which may subsequently cause the phone to short circuit.
Don't heat the battery or it could leak or explode. Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive. If you use an oven or hairdryer, make sure to remove the battery first.
If you use alcohol make sure to do so outside, and do not apply heat in any form, not even the gentle heat of a monitor. Do not hook up the battery until the alcohol smell dissipates.
Do not apply too much heat to your phone, as mentioned above. You don't want to melt or burn your phone.
Be warned that manufacturers of most modern cell phones place liquid damage indicator stickers that will change colors in the presence of a liquid inside their phones. This helps technicians know that you have dropped your phone in water, as most cell phone insurance coverage policies don't cover water damage. Chances are, if the sticker under the battery is triggered, then the internal stickers you can't access have probably been tripped as well. This will result in you paying a voided-warranty fee in the long run. You should be aware that warranties don't cover water damage, only insurance does, and even then, not all insurance companies or plans will honor water damaged phones. It is also worth noting that these liquid damage indicator stickers have been known to change colors in extreme humidity as well.
Even if all these steps are followed, minerals dissolved in the water can precipitate on solder and component pins, causing corrosion or shorting. Component pins are packed so closely together in modern cell phones that even a small encrustation can create a short, rendering the phone inoperable.
Do not put the phone (or any electronic or metal-containing object) into the microwave. You will destroy electronic components and potentially the microwave.
For the semi-mechanically inclined remove screws and as a minimum crack the case open to allow moisture to escape. Cell phones are normally somewhat water proof so they can be used in the light rain and humid environments. This means that once moisture has entered the phone it is very hard for it to dry out.
Removing your cell phone from the water quickly and IMMEDIATELY REMOVING THE BATTERY gives you the best chance of saving your phone.
If you do not want your cell phone to be damaged, keep it away as far as possible to any liquids.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Save a Wet Cell Phone. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Unlock your potential

2009-07-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that most jobs don't perform at the level of "American Dream" with respect to earnings and job satisfaction. The bigger problem that nobody really talks about is the potential your job possesses. Most jobs are now subject to a decreasing potential because of many factors. Technology makes jobs easier, and therefore, worth less than before. Many labor markets such as web design or data entry have become flooded with well-trained and hungry people who went to a technical college to get in on the next $100K job. The law of supply and demand can turn that $100k into $40K before you even make it out of school. There are other problems that turn those skilled positions into a Joe-job and ruin the potential to earn a decent wage. We are shipping our jobs out of the country, and buying goods and services from labor forces that survive on much less than our incomes here in America. With all these factors involved in the job market, it's almost impossible for the average person to achieve that elusive American Dream that was more common in past generations.

There still is hope though, but it isn't easy. You need to think outside the box. Instead of trading hours for dollars, you need to serve as many people as you can. You can't do this by yourself, because you run out of daylight. You must learn to leverage your time by involving other people in your business, and making sure they make money while you make money. In other words, multiply your effort. Whether it's a conventional business or one of those mlm's or home based selling businesses, the concept is the same. You simply can't do it yourself. Eventually the market becomes flooded with people who want to compete with you, driving your prices and profits down. Unlock the limits and get other people involved. It's the only way that will work long term.

Passive Health Care

2009-07-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Look around you. Chances are that you will see overweight and out of shape people everywhere. That's not just a coincidence. It's a symptom of our society's passive health care attitude. Most of us think about our long term health, but are constantly distracted by busy schedules and hectic lives that give way to improper diet and insufficient exercise. Our bodies are efficient at processing simple foods while getting moderate exercise daily. When we consume processed foods, or foods that have concentrated levels of fats and carbohydrates, our body takes more energy to break it down and we get sleepy and then we don't exercise. This situation leads to more potential problems because internal organs have to filter everything we consume. If you drink too much alcohol you can get cirrhosis, if there's too much sugar in your diet you get diabetes, and if you eat too much protein you can get dehydrated, and so on.

Diet is a big problem in our country. Obesity is rising every year and causing a strain on our economy in many ways. I would argue that the food pyramid was originally constructed to support the grain industries, regardless of what our bodies need nutritionally. Our digestive tract is in it's finest condition when we feed it the freshest food that is closest to the ground. When we process grains we are concentrating calories in an unnatural way. A piece of fruit doesn't have the same caloric value as the same weight in bread or pasta.

So to get to the point, we've been sold down the river to these big companies who make processed foods a part of our daily lives and tell us that our body needs it. When prehistoric man was wandering around the fields looking for food, he never found any bread or spaghetti. His diet was based on what he could find and eat on the spot. When bread came along it was used in moderation, and not as the biggest part of the diet. Meats and veggies were still the main source of food. American society as a whole is uneducated and ignorant when it comes to proper diet.

Many people don't even know that there is a new food pyramid that's less specific visually, and the responsibility is on the viewer. It shows all the food groups side by side in the shape of a pyramid, some larger than others but they're all in the foundation of nutrition. This recent change should demonstrate that there is a shift happening in dietary opinion. The government doesn't want the responsibility for a nation that has become obese as the result of a diet that was wrong from the start and was published and marketed for years without much question.

What it all boils down to is that food is too easy to get and the caloric values that are too high. When we eat close to the ground, our diet is simple and our body can efficiently process everything. When we eat fast food or processed foods, our body has to un-process it and then it tries to store all the extra calories as fat. Excess fat causes health problems both directly and indirectly. Good food and good exercise are the key to good health both directly and indirectly. Chances are that if you are obese there are no plans in your near future to run a marathon. What's so good about running anyway... Go eat something fatso.

The Bailout

2009-07-02T19:39:00.000-07:00

I agree with you. The bailout sucks. It was necessary though because the businesses that failed were too big a part of the economy to allow them to dissolve. There needs to be limits and regulations to avoid this kind of problem. If businesses run absolutely free, there is no reason not to cheat and steal to make huge profits. Let's fix the problems and avoid these problems in the future. Regulation closes loopholes, and used correctly can be a benefit to business and consumers alike. Small businesses can't compete with giants, and that's why mom and pop business are run out by Walmart. There are no regulations to stop Walmart from outselling the local gun shop or shoe store that's been in town for 50 years. As is the case with big banks, insurance companies, and auto makers as we have seen in the past few months. Big business can lead to the destruction of the fabric of the American Dream if we don't take steps to make them compete on a level playing field. Conservatism has had it's day. If we are in a global economy then we need to strengthen our small businesses and stand beside the working class instead of pumping dollars into foreign economies until we are owned by foreign interests and we have no money to participate in world commerce.

Let's bring jobs back home and find ways to limit monopolies and encourage fair competition on American soil.

Universal health care

2009-07-02T17:44:00.000-07:00

The debate rages on in the nation's capitol about health care reform. It seems a little odd though, that every time a business is threatened, the Republicans some to the attempted rescue, claiming that freedom and patriotism are going to die with any new ideas. After all, they are taken care of. They have wealth, and their needs are far more than met. It's a sad commentary that we see again and again, with the working class struggling to pay bills and just to get by, while the big corporations are offering less and less of their services at a greater cost. You can see this very plainly across the banking and insurance industries in the example of our latest economic downturn. They charge more and offer less in return for things that are absolutely necessary for life.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with profit. There needs to be a limit. We don't have private fire departments or police departments. Why would you ever want to be in a position where you needed to put a value on your safety? I submit to you, that your health is your safety as well, and that the profit motive withing the health insurance industry is putting your safety at risk. If you doubt me, please do a search on pre-existing conditions. You will find some appalling stuff and you might even find that you have a condition that would be turned down for coverage. You should also take a look at people who have gotten sick and were dropped from insurance, and can't get new insurance due to their pre-existing condition.

Insurance works by spreading the risk across the members of a plan. If we all were in the same plan, the cost would be low for 100% coverage on everybody. There would be no more claim denials because somebody thought your cancer was pre-existing, or that you did it to yourself. It would just get take care of. When a health catastrophe strikes, there is no return. Could you afford $150,000 for a week in the hospital? Neither could I, but I would lose my house just because I own some assets they could take. If I had nothing, they would still treat me and you would pay my bill with higher insurance cost and higher medical pricing. It just makes sense. Cover everybody under the same plan and cost will come down. That leaves more money in your pocket to go out and buy American made goods and services I hope.