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Name:   MartiniMan - Email Member
Subject:   Conservative rally in DC
Date:   9/13/2009 10:55:32 AM

See much coverage of the tens of thousands of conservatives that rallied in DC yesterday? No windows broken or cars burned, no arrests and the wrong message so it was mostly ignored by the government media.

Much in the way of news about the largest petition ever presented to Congress last week? Just 1.3 million Americans going out of their way to send a message that will be ignored by Obama and Dems in Congress (of course along with the government media organs).

The Washington Post piece was a laugher. Said these people don't represent the views of a majority of Americans even though every poll shows a majority opposes Obamacare, a wide majority think we are going in the wrong direction, more and more every day now associate themselves with the Republican party, etc., etc.

On another note, Obama only got a modest bounce out of his speech to Congress despite the fawning, non-stop coverage and the near total ignoring of his serial lies in the speech. What is interesting is his strongly approve numbers are up but the strong disapproval numbers remain static. It once again proves my point about many (not all) so-called independents. Who gives a good speech, no need to really examine an issue, what direction is the wind blowing. Look for it and his other numbers to soon resume their nosedive as more people lose their jobs and homes (record bankruptcies), the national debt continues to skyrocket in the trillions and so on.



Name:   GoneFishin - Email Member
Subject:   Martiniiiii
Date:   9/13/2009 4:06:31 PM

I looked up into the sky and I swear it is falling. Between Obamacare, stimulus, bailout,and lack of coverage by the govenment media of the Conservative rally you need a vacation on a remote island without TV. newspaper, or the forum. Or, at least a well prepared stiff martini.





Name:   water_watcher - Email Member
Subject:   Martiniiiii
Date:   9/13/2009 4:52:56 PM

You can laugh now ... but we are heading down a very dangerous path and it continues to get worse. We are spending 170% of revenues right now and we have a weak recovery at best. While Obama wants to say that we are doing better if he did not pass the stimulus ... but many disagree, and actually feel it has delayed recovery. You have other countries growing jobs and we are still losing them and Obama thinks it is great that it is at a slower pace.

We have China warning us, the US dollar continuing to fall and we just keep printing more money to cover Obama and the democrats spending addiction.

People are in fear, saving rates are going up because they do not trust the guy. He just keeps focusing on his agenda and trying to apss everything he can while he has a rubber stamp congress. But what he should be doing is working every day on what will get people back to work quicker. He just keeps expanding government and adding more Czars and making business the enemy and profits a dirty word.




Name:   architect - Email Member
Subject:   I can't believe it!
Date:   9/13/2009 6:58:53 PM

WW just grudginly admitted we are in a "weak at best recovery" and this in spite of Obama's socialistic efforts to destroy America.




Name:   water_watcher - Email Member
Subject:   Believe it! :)
Date:   9/13/2009 7:06:26 PM

yes, in spite of Obama's efforts, an economy the size of the US will eventually turn around. That is the whole point ... 1. the stimulus did noth 2. If anything it slowed the natural recovery 3. it is dangerously inflationary and we are seeing it in the value of the US dollar 4. It has created more government and massive spending that even his massive increases on "families" making over $250m can not pay for. 5. he is destroying america and capitalism that made us the envy of the world.

The only good thing that I can say about Obama is he is solving the problem with illegals as he destroys america and more and more jobs are exported to get away from his policies and businesses close because they can not afford his programs.

Archie, are you still in business? How is your business doing? Booming?




Name:   architect - Email Member
Subject:   polls
Date:   9/14/2009 8:33:38 PM

Acccording to our old friend Scott Rasmussen (I'm sure he is holding his nose as he releases it) Obama's strong and total approval is up 7% and his strong and total disapproval is down %5 in the first half of September. He is now at 52/47 approve/disapprove ratio. If the trend had been reversed would have still posted that it was insignificant?



Name:   water_watcher - Email Member
Subject:   Way to embace the polls
Date:   9/15/2009 5:25:25 AM

when you like them. So can we agree to use that poll as accurate?

You crack me up.



Name:   MartiniMan - Email Member
Subject:   Way to embace the polls
Date:   9/15/2009 7:34:33 AM

The poll is only accurate or relevant when it supports Archie's views. What is interesting is that his disapproval numbers are about the same but his approval numbers are up a bit. Considering the wall to wall coverage of his speech to Congress and the fawning, non-stop sycophantic government media coverage I would take no comfort in a mild bump in his approval ratings.

It won't last. Another poll showed that the more people learned about Obamacare the more they opposed it. That is why they are rushing to pass it. Despite his making his 112th speech on health care all that happened was Americans are now evenly split for and against. As people learn about his serial lies in that speech this support will again erode.

And that's the best the Messiah's got?



Name:   MartiniMan - Email Member
Subject:   polls
Date:   9/15/2009 9:23:02 AM

Speaking of polls, I'm sure Archie will want to ignore this one as it is devastating news for Obamacare and shows widespread support for the bills proposed by Republicans in Congress. Zogby/O'Leary poll of 4,500 likely voters:

Purchase health insurance across state lines: 83% for, 7% against

Tort reform: 79% for 13% against

Taxing employer-provided health care benefits: 13% for, 77% against

Taxes to pay for those who can afford insurance but don't buy: 15% for, 75% against

Force people to buy health insurance or pay fine: 19% for, 70% against

Support Independent Medicare Advisory Group: 31% for, 59% against

Support for insurance portability: 55% for, 25% against



Name:   GoneFishin - Email Member
Subject:   Purchase Insurance across Stat
Date:   9/15/2009 1:23:39 PM

What exactly does this mean? You can buy group coverages for a business from carriers with their Home Office is other states. You can buy insurance from companies with their Home Office in other states. You can buy medicare supplement policies from carries from other states.



Name:   MartiniMan - Email Member
Subject:   Purchase Insurance across Stat
Date:   9/15/2009 3:00:10 PM

What they are doing is making it possible for individuals or groups to buy health insurance across state lines.

For example, in Georgia only certain insurers are licensed to sell health insurance to residents. Obviously if Georgia residents were able to buy insurance from any insurance company anywhere in the U.S. for coverage in Georgia that would instantly increase competition, lower prices, etc. Just the way you and I can buy homeowners or life insurance from any insurance company we want to.

Where this really impacts my company is I have the worst of all worlds, I am spread all over the country but am a small market so there are very few insurers that can cover the nation but are interested in 250 employees. So I tend to bounce around between those few companies looking for the best combination of rates and service. This would allow many more companies to offer their insurance to companies like me which hopefully will increase competition. I am sure there are other reasons why this will help reduce costs.



Name:   GoneFishin - Email Member
Subject:   Purchase Insurance across Stat
Date:   9/15/2009 4:04:39 PM

“For example, in Georgia only certain insurers are licensed to sell health insurance to residents. Obviously if Georgia residents were able to buy insurance from any insurance company anywhere in the U.S. for coverage in Georgia that would instantly increase competition, lower prices, etc. Just the way you and I can buy homeowners or life insurance from any insurance company we want to.”

Your comment pretty well summarizes what most people would say if asked the same question.

Insurance is regulated by each state. Ignorer to sell ANY type of insurance, a Company must file with the State Department of Insurance copies of policies and rates they will charge. Many states have specific requirements for policies issued in their state. The state must approve the policy before it can be sold. I live in Florida and the homeowner market is quite restricted. Many Companies choose not to sell homeowners in the state due to windstorm from hurricanes. As an example, the largest writer of homeowners in Florida, State farm, wanted a 47% rate increase. The state said no and State Farm is withdrawing from the state. So, the truth is you can only buy homeowners, auto, and life insurance in Georgia is if the Company has filed and had excepted by the State the forms and rates they want to use.

As to health, it is NO different from homeowners, auto, or life. The Company must file with the state forms and rates. Their policy form must include certain benefits that Georgia requires. The fact is it is all MARKET driven. A Company may decide they do not want to enter the Georgia market. Maybe, they do not have a sales force to sell it, maybe they can’t get the rates they want.... You are in a middle market 250 employees with multiple locations. There are Companies that like that market and they pursue it. Other companies want only large accounts and they pursue those target groups. It is all capitalism at work. It has nothing to do with across state lines.

Blue Cross sells only in the one state but that has nothing to do with regulation. They have their own territories and can not market outside it.

Medicare supplement programs have their benefits set by the Federal government. They are about 10 different plans but all Companies can ONLY sell those plans. Competition controls the rates and they must be approved by each state before the can be used.

It is very expensive and time consuming to enter a new market. What would you think of making all health insurance regulated by the Federal government so a Company has only deal with one entity to get a policy form approved for market? That may well be the only way you will open up the market across state lines.





Name:   Aqua Man - Email Member
Subject:   Best typo
Date:   9/15/2009 4:47:49 PM

This typo caused a doubletake:

"Insurance is regulated by each state. Ignorer to sell ANY type of insurance, a Company must file with the State Department of Insurance copies of policies and rates they will charge."

I assume Ignorer = In order.

:<))





Name:   GoneFishin - Email Member
Subject:   Best typo
Date:   9/15/2009 5:24:11 PM

Thanks, you are correct. In order.....



Name:   MartiniMan - Email Member
Subject:   Let me educate you
Date:   9/16/2009 8:33:51 AM

why there is an important distinction so you will understand because by your snide "That is what most people would say" comment I assume you are inferring that this is a red herring when it is not.

As you rightly point out, each state has its own rules and regulations for insurers and currently in order to sell insurance in that state you have to abide by those rules. Presumably any insurer can apply but for many states with burdensome rules why would they? What is being proposed is that you can domicile your insurance company in a state with rules and regulations that suit your business needs but sell insurance in other states. Just like my business is regulated by the state of Nevada where my businesses are incorporated but I work in all 50 states, Canada and internationally.

What state attorneys general are concerned about with this is insurers domiciling in states with more reasonable regulatory environments selling very inexpensive insurance to those least likely to use it (i.e., the young) and picking off this demographic thereby leaving their state-registered insurers with the raw end of the deal (adverse selection). Of course this could be a problem but those insurers registered in their state could do likewise so I think this is the true red herring.

The fact is they don't like the idea of insurance companies being able to domicile where they like and ply their products where and as they like and let the markets ferret out the wheat from the chaff. I am of the opinion that in almost every case competition tends to drive down prices, increase innovation and improve productivity. It works with auto, homeowner and life insurance except in those states where they make it impossible for that competition to occur. Guess where the rates are highest (i.e. California)?



Name:   GoneFishin - Email Member
Subject:   Let me educate you
Date:   9/16/2009 11:40:33 AM

My comments were not intended to be snide.

However, you are confusing where you are registered as a Corporation and where you perform the actual work. I assume when you do your actual work you have to adhere to specific state regulation concerning the environment imposed by the DEP of that state and not Nevada.

Insurance companies, like you. incorporate in states where it is most favorable. Howerver, that has nothing to do where they sell their product. If a company wants to sell insurance to companies with 250 employees in Georgia, they will file a policy in Georgia. The fact is they have determined it is not a profitable market and that will not change with what you proposed with just filing in one state. It is still market driven and the bottom line.

The reason you have many markets for homeowners, auto, and life in Georgia is simply insurance companies feel they can make a profit and have filed their policies.



Name:   MartiniMan - Email Member
Subject:   Let me educate you
Date:   9/16/2009 12:12:00 PM

It was the line about me thinking what most people think that I took as snide because the presumption is it was an incorrect assumption. If I took that wrong I apologize.

I am not sure why you are focused on this issue as it is apparently a real problem that both sides are talking about, attorneys general all over the country have views for and against allowing insurance companies to sell health insurance across state lines, etc. I am not aware of any debate about whether this is the current law of the land. What seems to be an issue is whether this proposal is the right thing to do and whether it will save on costs.

Perhaps everyone in Congress and the state attorneys general are missing something but I somehow doubt it.







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