The American Nightmare: Nebraska single mom struggling with taxes, college for kids, medical care and a parent with dementia

[Buffalogurl]

we know, we know

Gotta problem with the truth?. Hmmmm.....

 

[butters]

I Gotta problem with the truth. derp

we know, we know

 

[dmallord]

I’m a progressive socialist.
In a country of supposed capitalists, why does America rely on a system where businesses/employers are shouldering the burden of healthcare?

I’m going out on a limb here and admitting that labels are becoming confusing to me at my age: the silent generation, boomers, genZ, genX, genY, and hell, even progressive socialists. Define what you want a progressive socialist to be, and help me out.

And on your statement, ‘In a country of supposed capitalists, why does America rely on a system where businesses/employers are shouldering the burden of healthcare?’ that requires some context to understand your position, too.

A bit of research turns up the U.S., the employer-based healthcare system emerged during World War II. It seems wage controls prevented companies from offering higher salaries to attract workers. Instead, they began offering benefits like health insurance as an incentive. Over time, this system became the norm, with businesses responsible for providing health insurance to their employees. It became the expectation and norm post-war time.

Apparently, they have a bone to pick over insurance being a burden on businesses, the coverage being inconsistent, health care being an inherent right, not a privilege, and the current system being inequitable, as different levels of care or lack thereof create disparity among all people in the USA.

Did I get that right? Is that your point? Or did I mess up your message?

So, as Capitalist purists, we are a type of hybrid system that provides some help but not enough. Healthcare needs to be removed from businesses in the form of a unified government approach, the way other civilized countries have moved to provide health care for everyone. Fix that, you would, and allow businesses to get on with business matters, not healthcare.

One source I read had this to wrap up their discussion:

‘The progressive socialist perspective raises a crucial question: in a country that values capitalism, why are businesses burdened with providing healthcare—a service that, in many other nations, is considered a public good managed by the state? Progressive socialists advocate for a shift towards a system where the government de-commodifies and guarantees healthcare. This shift would free businesses from this responsibility and ensure that healthcare is accessible to everyone, regardless of employment status.’

Is this your stance? And if so, what suggestions would you offer the candidates to fix the healthcare matter?

 

[Bn2f]

I’m going out on a limb here and admitting that labels are becoming confusing to me at my age: the silent generation, boomers, genZ, genX, genY, and hell, even progressive socialists. Define what you want a progressive socialist to be, and help me out.

And on your statement, ‘In a country of supposed capitalists, why does America rely on a system where businesses/employers are shouldering the burden of healthcare?’ that requires some context to understand your position, too.

A bit of research turns up the U.S., the employer-based healthcare system emerged during World War II. It seems wage controls prevented companies from offering higher salaries to attract workers. Instead, they began offering benefits like health insurance as an incentive. Over time, this system became the norm, with businesses responsible for providing health insurance to their employees. It became the expectation and norm post-war time.

Apparently, they have a bone to pick over insurance being a burden on businesses, the coverage being inconsistent, health care being an inherent right, not a privilege, and the current system being inequitable, as different levels of care or lack thereof create disparity among all people in the USA.

Did I get that right? Is that your point? Or did I mess up your message?

So, as Capitalist purists, we are a type of hybrid system that provides some help but not enough. Healthcare needs to be removed from businesses in the form of a unified government approach, the way other civilized countries have moved to provide health care for everyone. Fix that, you would, and allow businesses to get on with business matters, not healthcare.

One source I read had this to wrap up their discussion:

‘The progressive socialist perspective raises a crucial question: in a country that values capitalism, why are businesses burdened with providing healthcare—a service that, in many other nations, is considered a public good managed by the state? Progressive socialists advocate for a shift towards a system where the government de-commodifies and guarantees healthcare. This shift would free businesses from this responsibility and ensure that healthcare is accessible to everyone, regardless of employment status.’

Is this your stance? And if so, what suggestions would you offer the candidates to fix the healthcare matter?

Don’t sell yourself short, I think you do more than well as far as being knowledgeable and, as in the case of my post, taking what may seem confusing to the next level and looking things up to satisfy your curios nature. I sometimes add more sarcasm than is necessary and this is one of those times.

I’m frustrated hearing stories of our broken healthcare system. I’m appreciative of the ACA but know there are still many Americans without healthcare. I ‘liked’ your post on your charity but can still be embarrassed that a GoFund Me exists as a resort for people in need.

I want free healthcare for all. I want a system like the NHS in the UK - even the post austerity version.

The rest of your post was pretty spot on in capturing the snark of me claiming to be the socialist wanting to free up businesses to be like a business and attract workers through wage incentives - isn’t that more capitalist? I would like to think that not having your employer knowing anything on your healthcare is a more conservative way of thinking.

I’m not inventing the wheel here. I’m just upset at hearing the situation this woman in Nebraska finds herself in. I wish that socialized medicine wasn’t stigmatized by the republicans in her state house and her representatives in DC who are happily getting healthcare, to some extent, off of her tax dollars.

 

[dmallord]

Don’t sell yourself short, I think you do more than well as far as being knowledgeable and, as in the case of my post, taking what may seem confusing to the next level and looking things up to satisfy your curios nature. I sometimes add more sarcasm than is necessary and this is one of those times.

I’m frustrated hearing stories of our broken healthcare system. I’m appreciative of the ACA but know there are still many Americans without healthcare. I ‘liked’ your post on your charity but can still be embarrassed that a GoFund Me exists as a resort for people in need.

I want free healthcare for all. I want a system like the NHS in the UK - even the post austerity version.

The rest of your post was pretty spot on in capturing the snark of me claiming to be the socialist wanting to free up businesses to be like a business and attract workers through wage incentives - isn’t that more capitalist? I would like to think that not having your employer knowing anything on your healthcare is a more conservative way of thinking.

I’m not inventing the wheel here. I’m just upset at hearing the situation this woman in Nebraska finds herself in. I wish that socialized medicine wasn’t stigmatized by the republicans in her state house and her representatives in DC who are happily getting healthcare, to some extent, off of her tax dollars.

Long ago, historians dubbed a period of history the so-called Age of Enlightenment. An "enlightened" society was supposed to embrace reason, compassion, and fairness—a society where the well-being of all individuals was a shared priority. But looking at where we stand today, it’s hard to say we’ve fully lived up to those ideals, especially when it comes to healthcare.

Politicians often tout the idea that America is the greatest country in the world, yet when it comes to providing healthcare, too many of our citizens are left to fend for themselves. The wealthiest among us often turn a blind eye to the struggles of the less fortunate, as though healthcare is somehow a luxury instead of a basic human need. It’s incredibly frustrating to see people in positions of power who receive publicly funded healthcare themselves continuously block attempts to expand that care to the wider population.

You're right about the absurdity of having to rely on GoFundMe to cover medical expenses. It feels like a failure of society when charity is often the last resort for people who fall through the cracks. And yes, the idea that employers should control your healthcare is backward—it forces people into jobs they might not want or traps them in employment just to maintain insurance coverage. That’s not freedom and certainly not what a compassionate society should look like.

Ultimately, we can talk about enlightenment, freedom, or progress all we want, but until we start treating healthcare as a right, not a privilege, we’re just spinning our wheels. The fight for a more humane, fair system is far from over, and the fact that people in states like Nebraska still suffer despite all of our supposed advancements shows how much work remains.

I've enjoyed this dialog. It has been a breath of fresh air amidst the usual pedantic rhetoric.

 

[Bn2f]

Long ago, historians dubbed a period of history the so-called Age of Enlightenment. An "enlightened" society was supposed to embrace reason, compassion, and fairness—a society where the well-being of all individuals was a shared priority. But looking at where we stand today, it’s hard to say we’ve fully lived up to those ideals, especially when it comes to healthcare.

Politicians often tout the idea that America is the greatest country in the world, yet when it comes to providing healthcare, too many of our citizens are left to fend for themselves. The wealthiest among us often turn a blind eye to the struggles of the less fortunate, as though healthcare is somehow a luxury instead of a basic human need. It’s incredibly frustrating to see people in positions of power who receive publicly funded healthcare themselves continuously block attempts to expand that care to the wider population.

You're right about the absurdity of having to rely on GoFundMe to cover medical expenses. It feels like a failure of society when charity is often the last resort for people who fall through the cracks. And yes, the idea that employers should control your healthcare is backward—it forces people into jobs they might not want or traps them in employment just to maintain insurance coverage. That’s not freedom and certainly not what a compassionate society should look like.

Ultimately, we can talk about enlightenment, freedom, or progress all we want, but until we start treating healthcare as a right, not a privilege, we’re just spinning our wheels. The fight for a more humane, fair system is far from over, and the fact that people in states like Nebraska still suffer despite all of our supposed advancements shows how much work remains.

I've enjoyed this dialog. It has been a breath of fresh air amidst the usual pedantic rhetoric.

I’ve enjoyed as well! Especially since I was airing a frustration. I’m again appreciative of the effort you took before responding. I feel that sometimes the right gets off to the cruelty heaped on the poor and hoped to have my post appeal to the conservative sense of privacy and profit rather than enlightened care for their neighbors.

I did not expect anyone from the right to reply and don’t. Our conservative friends sent people to Congress to do nothing and all of us now reap the returns. The best discussions on solving our problems and offering up solutions come from Democrats arguing amongst Democrats. To be fair, one of our members did suggest that employee based health insurance is an incentive for people to work. I did not think this was a solution. You and I have been around employees having this attitude and it makes for a poor working environment. It is even worse for a customer /consumer to have to deal with an employee who feels they only Work for the benefits.

If any of our conservative friends responded, I was expecting the complaint to be against the government knowing their private information or that to fund healthcare with meant increased taxes on companies. The trade-off between the government knowing my healthcare against my employer having access to my health history is confusing to me. Yes, I admit that socialized healthcare will have to be funded by increased taxes upon our wealthiest individuals and businesses. I am again confused when a person who supports Republicans objects to taxation. The trump tax cuts added to our debt and he’s promised even more to tech bros. Coupled with his desire to add tariffs to foreign goods services would spell economic disaster for the poor and kill off whatever is left of the middle-class.