Davis Resigns

How about this. It is cold in Germany in winter. They need natural gas. They buy it from Russia.

More like NATO is full of corrupt bureaucrats and they don't like being exposed for the crooks they are. I guess you're ok with the hypocrisy. Most of us are not.

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1) NATO acts like Putin (eg, Russia) is the boogie man. They refuse to let them into NATO because omg Russia is? evil!!!

Do you mean the G7? Or have you jumped through so many intellectual hoops to justify Trump's obvious control by Russia that you want Russia to join NATO?  Russia can't be a member of NATO at least until they stop attacking western democracies. 

 By the way, how do you know Trump is under the command of Putin?  He insists on having the first 30 minutes of the meeting in Helsinki IN SECRET, one on one with Putin.  No notes, nobody else present but translators.  What other reason could possibly justify that?   

2) Then Germany runs out and make pipeline deals with them for billions of dollars.

Is this a big deal?  Most of Eastern Europe has been buying energy from Russia for years.  Believe me, if there was any decent alternative they wouldn't do it, considering that Putin likes to close the tap every once in a while.  I've no idea why Trump brought this up or what relation it has to Putin.  That's probobly what SOS meant when he said Trump sounded like a drunk guy, making nonsensical arguments and just repeating the same thing over and over more belligerently each time. 

President Trump has been calling these people out on it for YEARS, long before he ran for office, and he's holding true to his word of doing it straight to their faces. It's a glorious thing to see.

So has many other politicians, this has always been an ongoing negotiation.  Here's a quote from Obama:  “One of the things that I think, medium and long term, we’ll have to examine is whether everybody is chipping in,” he said. “And this can’t just be a U.S. exercise or a British exercise or one country’s efforts.” And he actually convinced NATO to do it in 2014. 

What's not glorious is how embarrassing this is for the US.  Trump's lame threatening mafia boss impression is accomplishing nothing but alienating our allies.  In politics when you have no friends, you have no power.  Being a great leader is making deals and getting stuff done for the US, not making impolite threats.  Obama is the true deal maker here.

And reading the news today, Trump has become like the drunk at the wedding....just lashing out at anyone around him. Word salad, red-faced...

And isn't it enough that he doesn't want Americans to have health care? Now he's complaining about Germans having it. He's all over the place.

You know going in that he says stupid stuff. It isn’t about him personally any more than his comments about women have anything to do with US moves on trade deals. As I told the other gentleman, the cult of personality is bs and a waste of your time.

Also, don’t be so crass as Trump or Republicans generally do not want people to have healthcare. You know for a fact that’s not true. The conservative position is it may not be a govt responsibility, at least for people that can pay their own way. And, trying to give lowest level basic coverage to everyone shouldn’t come at the cost of denying life saving care to those who can afford it. The way to get the cheapest of anything is to let the free market work it out through competition with as little interference as possible. The American system is incredibly expensive because of well intentioned but misguided anticompetitive govt interference.

In general, things Trump says do not matter. What the US does or doesn’t do has almost nothing to do with what Trump (or any president) says.


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In general, things Trump says do not matter. What the US does or doesn’t do has almost nothing to do with what Trump (or any president) says.

Maybe in the past, yes. But President Trump ran on a very specific platform and thus far, has followed through on many campaign promises. Things that other presidents ran on, promised, and never delivered. He's not a politician and he's doing what businessmen do - getting things done.

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And, trying to give lowest level basic coverage to everyone shouldn’t come at the cost of denying life saving care to those who can afford it. The way to get the cheapest of anything is to let the free market work it out through competition with as little interference as possible. The American system is incredibly expensive because of well intentioned but misguided anticompetitive govt interference.


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That's bull.

The American system is so expensive because healthcare is big business. Not because of 'government interference'. You can't just say things like that without any back-up from a reputable and non-biased source.

Have healthcare for everyone and if people want to pay extra for a different standard of care, let them! The rich would do that anyway. There are always doctors out there who are paid a premium for what they do, why would that change? But everyone would be able to NOT die from stupid things like an infected cut or pneumonia, or go bankrupt because they needed lifesaving medical care in an emergency. Those poor people at the Last Vegas shooting last year (which doesn't happen in any other first world country) can't afford to pay their medical bills and people started crowd funding to help!!!

I couldn't read what you said and say nothing. But honestly, I'm not interested in a debate with you because you aren't open minded and I'm not interested in what you have to say because I used to think a little bit similar to you, but I moved to a country where healthcare is a right and not big business and I saw the light.

You can't just say things like that without any back-up from a reputable and non-biased source.

I wonder who gets to determine what's considered "reputable" and "non-biased". You?

Those poor people at the Last Vegas shooting last year (which doesn't happen in any other first world country)

It doesn't, eh? Tell that to the people who got slaughtered in Paris. Unless you don't consider France a first world country, of course.

But honestly, I'm not interested in a debate with you because you aren't open minded and I'm not interested in what you have to say because I used to think a little bit similar to you, but I moved to a country where healthcare is a right and not big business and I saw the light.

The irony in that sentence is striking and hilarious. "I don't want to debate you because you're close minded, I'm right you're wrong, neener neener neener". And if you're referring to the NHS, it's not a right - it's something that is paid for with tax dollars. And oh by the way, it's going broke because socialized medicine doesn't work. Remember that the next time a loved one needs a new hip and they have to wait 9 months to get it.


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. And oh by the way, it's going broke because socialized medicine doesn't work. Remember that the next time a loved one needs a new hip and they have to wait 9 months to get it.


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It doesn’t work, huh?

Tell that to everyone in my family who has been treated and saved by the NHS over the last few decades.

The NHS has been working for 70 years and is one of the best and most well-respected healthcare systems in the world (it ranks higher than the US system in world healthcare rankings)

If it takes 9 months for a hip replacement, why did my grandmother get one done in 12 weeks? She then had another hip surgery a few weeks later when it went out of place, and another one a few months after that... all free of charge. She was in hospital for about 3 months... again, free of charge.

My mum’s best friend also got a hip replacement around the same time, but she chose to pay for it privately. It was still many thousands cheaper than in the US. It was done in 2 weeks, by the same surgeon who did my grandmother’s hip surgery.

The same friend was diagnosed with cancer last year - she had quick treatment free on the NHS and is now in remission.

When my brother was born in the 80s, my mum haemorrhaged afterwards - she would have died if it hadn’t been for the fast, free NHS treatment she received.


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Here's the same pattern, lvjereremylv says something that he / she heard from the right wing media : "The NHS is failing because it's socialised medicine ".   Then someone who lives here and knows the actual facts because we live here and actually use the NHS blows that argument out of the water because it's ridiculous.   Thanks for that Ksand.

The right wing media says all kinds of junk that is frankly ridiculous if you experience the reality, like "Muslim No go areas" or crime rates rising in Germany because of immigrants or NHS death panels trying to euthanise Steven Hawkins. 

It's not surprising that Lvjereremylv doesn't know how to determine what media is legitimate.  Google it mate, there's a difference between proper news sources and crap made up by Russian shills. 

If you trust nothing, you'll believe anything.  That's precisely why Trump attacks the media.

You know going in that he says stupid stuff. It isn’t about him personally any more than his comments about women have anything to do with US moves on trade deals. As I told the other gentleman, the cult of personality is bs and a waste of your time.

Also, don’t be so crass as Trump or Republicans generally do not want people to have healthcare. You know for a fact that’s not true. The conservative position is it may not be a govt responsibility, at least for people that can pay their own way. And, trying to give lowest level basic coverage to everyone shouldn’t come at the cost of denying life saving care to those who can afford it. The way to get the cheapest of anything is to let the free market work it out through competition with as little interference as possible. The American system is incredibly expensive because of well intentioned but misguided anticompetitive govt interference.

In general, things Trump says do not matter. What the US does or doesn’t do has almost nothing to do with what Trump (or any president) says.


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I think the correct argument is that Republicans don't care if others have health care as long as they do and it results in more money in their own pockets.  That's a pretty sad indictment. 

While I agree with your argument that Trump's specific personality is not the most important factor in international relations and negotiations, you can't get away with saying what he says doesn't matter.  As you know, in many areas the president is essentially powerless, his main power IS what he says.  The president has to lead by talking.  If he can't do that (and Trump has shown no capacity for such leadership), then we have nailed down the reason why Trump is incapable of doing the job.

Can someone figure out where that hot air is coming from? It's annoying.

Who can reach the AC switch?

 

Maybe in the past, yes. But President Trump ran on a very specific platform and thus far, has followed through on many campaign promises. Things that other presidents ran on, promised, and never delivered. He's not a politician and he's doing what businessmen do - getting things done.

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One thing we agree on, Trump has certainly tried to do every thing he promised.  I'll give him that.  Too bad each of those promises were either blatantly unconstitutional (Muslim ban) or idiotic. 

Ah yes, the NHS...where you will likely die before they treat you because socialized medicine doesn't work... NOT!!!!

I woke up one morning and experienced something that COULD be a sign of cancer. Went to the surgery; got an appointment that afternoon and a referral to consultant. Within a week, had an ultrasound, consultant appointment and given the all clear.

Had my routine blood work. Called and referred immediately because I was found to be anemic. Within 2 weeks, had endoscopy, colonoscopy and CT scan to make sure that there were no internal bleeding issues, or causes for concern.

DH (who is now 78) woke up one morning feeling really unwell. Called the helpline, who sent a doctor out.

DH was diagnosed with a hernia. Waited 4 weeks for surgery only because the 1st appointment he was offered (10 days) was on his birthday.

DH and I have had cataract surgery on both eyes. DH has narrow angle glaucoma - monitored regularly by NHS consultants.

I could go on and on - and as OAPs, we are part of the group that the naysayers insist are ignored and left to die.

That's just us; pretty damned good considering our UK income taxes are way less than we paid for BC/BS crap high co-pay and high deductible insurance before we moved back here.

I woke up one morning and experienced something that COULD be a sign of cancer. Went to the surgery; got an appointment that afternoon and a referral to consultant. Within a week, had an ultrasound, consultant appointment and given the all clear.

This has been my experience also. When the situation requires speed, the NHS moves very fast.

 And if you're referring to the NHS, it's not a right - it's something that is paid for with tax dollars. And oh by the way, it's going broke because socialized medicine doesn't work. Remember that the next time a loved one needs a new hip and they have to wait 9 months to get it.

Jeremy, do you mind me asking you, where are you living at the moment? I know that you applied for a spouse visa but I don't know the outcome.
The reason I ask is that I have never heard that sort of thing from anyone who has actually had experience of the NHS and of living in the UK.
If you are not here, that could be why you don't have a clear picture of the way things are in the UK?

Jeremy, I'm having my first experience of a loved one being F*CKED over bad by the US medical system.

My good friend and dance partner from when we were kids found a lump in her neck in February.  She turned 40 in January.

Went to the docs, had a needle biopsy on it and another lump they found.  Benign.  Woo hoo!  But due to the location of the main tumor, they wanted to remove it because if it grew, it could affect bloodflow to her brain.  They removed it.  Did a biopsy.  Oops, CRAZY rare cancer that was missed in the biopsy.

Referred to oncology, having lots of issues.  Cigna refuses her insurance claim.  Cigna refuses to offer a PET scan.  Friend pays thousands out of pocket for a PET scan and has learned her body is riddled with cancer.  Stage 4.  Only options to attempt to slow the spread and growth of the cancer is oral chemo, immunotherapy, and radiation.  Cigna again says, "Nope."  She is an upper-middle class woman who has ALWAYS held excellent health insurance in the USA.  And she can't get her insurance company to pay for (potentially) life-saving cancer treatment.  So yeah, I'd rather be in the UK under the NHS any day of the week.

Cigna's CEO earned $49 Million dollars last year.  Explain that one.  No on in the NHS is taking home a multi-million dollar bonus.  Instead the money is used to TREAT people.