Ok - I'm going to bring it up

[jillan]

The Bankruptcy Bill.
There - I said it.

I was just over at Kos - someone wrote a great diary about seeing Biden in Iowa.
How Biden impressed him.
The majority of people responded by bringing up the bankruptcy bill. MBNA Joe.

You don't have to tell me why he did it. I understand.
I understand that the bankruptcy bill helps me because when people claim bankruptcy, companies raise their rates/fees to compensate.
I understand that the bankruptcy bill keeps a divorced father (or mother) from claiming bankruptcy to get out of paying child support.
I understand that bankruptcy is the symptom - not the problem.
I understand that Senator Biden is from Delaware - the credit card capital of the world and these are his constituents.

But I cannot help but wonder if that one single vote is what's keeping Senator Biden from making any headway in this campaign.

It doesn't seem to matter what wonderful things he proposes in the Senate, what wonderful things he has accomplished in his past, all people seem to care about is that he voted for that bill.

I'll be honest. I watched that bill being debated on C-Span and I was really disappointed when he cast that vote. But - inspite of that, I still believe in him - still believe he is the right person to put our country back on track.

Do you think that his campaign has any idea how much this is hurting him? Do you think he should address this issue? Or do you think I spend too much time online and it really doesn't matter?

[PatSeg]

1. That was the only time I was disappointed

but I DID understand that he was representing Delaware and the people of Delaware. I don't think it will have a profound effect on his campaign, as other candidates have problems as well, but I agree that he should address it.

[demommom]

2. I don't know.....

but it is also held against him by a portion of Delawareans also. If you ask why don't you like Biden,the bankruptcy thing is usually the reason. I admit that I have not completely researched the bill. Most of the upset people, seem to be against it because they say it eliminates medical bills from being included. I scanned over part of it and I didn't see it there, however I quickly scanned it so I don't know for sure. I'm pretty sure he and his campaign do know it was not a popular vote. I personally, from what I read do not see how it screws the average person. I think it does change the qualifiers for determining whether a party files chapter 7 or chapter 13,which is whether you pay back at a determined rate or get full relief. Is that right?

I know several people who filed bankruptcy and before you could blink, they were right back with new cars, vacation trips and just about anything they wanted, and not that I thought they should live the rest of their lives in poverty, but It pi...ed me off to see them get everything so easily under the circumstances, while my husband and I worked our a...es of for less. So I guess I'm not as violently against it as some.:shrug:

[jillan]

3. I agree - I'm not as upset as some but

it's the medical part that is hard to get over.

I am so lucky that my husband has such great insurance - as we are raking in the
medical bills for my daughter.... it so far has totalled approx 500k and if we didn't have
insurance we would lose everything. I don't know what people do without insurance.

That is the part of the bill that is hard to get over, and I believe hurts him.

[PatSeg]

4. I have medical insurance

but a recent illness still almost pushed me to the brink of losing everything. I'm holding on by a very thin thread. The credit card companies are basically vultures, legal loan sharks. I can't believe the crap they get away with. They can raise your rates at any time, for any reason, OR for no reason at all.

I was in the hospital when two of my payments were due and when I called the companies to explain why I was late, their attitude was total indifference. One woman actually asked me, "what do you want me to do about it?" They finally deleted the late fees, but both companies got emails berating their poorly trained and rude customer service.

I hope your daughter is doing better. How sad to see a child ill.

[demommom]

5. I have very good medical insurance also....

it is the reason I am still working at 67 years old, The company I work for pays 2/3 of it, I still pay 120 a month, but I have had 2 kinds of cancer in the last 15 years and it paid every penny,except the co-pays of 10 and 20 dollars for doctors. It pays 80% of my prescriptions also.
But I never know when my company will decide they can no longer afford to pay for it. My sister passed away with cancer two years ago and my brother-in-law who is on disability is still paying on her medical bills.

[PatSeg]

6. Many companies change their insurance every year

which can really disrupt any medical treatment a person is getting. I was fortunate that the last change still included the doctor I was using, but my payments are higher. Though my insurance was fairly efficient, there were still a lot of out the pocket expenses and deductibles that really set me back. For some time going to the mailbox was a nightmare. It was hard enough recovering, but facing the pile of bills made the whole ordeal worse.

[jillan]

8. What are you doing up so late? lol

I feel asleep watching tv, and starting thinking about the IAFF endorsement being a good thing,
so I came online to share.

I am beginning to worry about myself - I fall asleep and wake up thinking about that endorsement:silly:

[PatSeg]

10. Oh how funny!

We are so engulfed with politics that we are dreaming about it! When I fall asleep, I try to picture Joe Biden in the oval office or giving the State of the Union address. OR I picture Rove, Bush, and/or Cheney sitting in front of a congressional hearing sweating and stammering as they try to cover their asses. Of course, Cheney is always facing Leahy and the crowd waits anxiously for him to tell Leahy to "go fuck himself"!!! Ah, the movies in my head are far better than the ones out of Hollywood!

I live on the west coast, so I'm often up when the boards are quiet.

[jillan]

7. Look at the 3 of us - his biggest supporters, and all 3 have gone thru

situations where we could have lost everything if it wasn't for insurance.

You can understand why people are upset about this bill. Nothing would be better
for Biden's campaign then if he came out with an amendment to the bankruptcy bill so it would not
apply to people who claimed bankruptcy for medical reasons.

When it comes to someone who buys things they cannot afford - oh well.
They shouldn't get off the hook so easily. But illness is something entirely different.
You never know when it will strike and who has that kind of money?

demommom and tsegat - I hope you both are okay now :hug:

[PatSeg]

9. And it isn't just medical bills

Many people lost good paying jobs and ended up taking jobs that paid a lot less. As a matter of fact, the people I know who filed bankruptcy all suffered severe reductions in income for that reason. Bankruptcy allowed them to stabilize their lives and start over. The image of irresponsible spenders who are out of control represents a small minority of those who resort to bankruptcy. Most are people who have run out of options and file bankruptcy with extreme reluctance and a pervasive sense of shame and failure.

Bankruptcy is not an easy out for people. It is a scarlet letter that they must wear for years and can affect their ability to get a good job or even rent an apartment. Many companies do credit checks on applicants and bankruptcy often shuts doors. I used to be a assistant property manager and we would not approve an application with a bankruptcy in the past two years even if the person offered to pay six or twelve months rent in advance.

I try to live by the motto, there but for fortune go you or I. I've been down too many rough roads to pass judgment on my fellow travelers. If I tend to look down on another, I know I could be setting myself up to walk a mile or two in his/her shoes.

[demommom]

12. So far ..... I am doing good.

I get my regular check ups. I had very good treatment. My first bout with cancer I had my surgery at University of Maryland Hospital,in Baltimore and my treatments in my area. That was 13 years ago.

My most recent was melanoma 2 years ago,had everything done at Hopkins in Baltimore,2 1/2 hours away, but that was the closest melanoma specialist. I go every 3 months to be checked and have scans once a year and so far I,m good. My insurance from work paid for everything and is still paying for my follow ups. I know that I am blessed.
And that is why I haven't retired,Medicare is not as good as my insurance. I am also blessed that my employer does not have a mandatory retirement.I have worked at the same place for 18 years,they would rather I stay,because it would take them a while to train someone and it would also be costly for them.

[mrigirl]

14. Hey Guys-

As a medical professional (MRI/CT TECH) I've seen alot and I'm happy to know that you guys are all o.k.!
Just to share- My husband almost DIED from his lack of insurance before we were married. One of the top hospitals where we live turned him away after diagnosing a DVT in his leg (which I had suspected and sent him to the ER for an ultrasound)and told him to come back in 2 days for treatment because they were too busy. TOO BUSY????? No- because he had no insurance at the time!He wnt back 2 days later and I went w/ him only to find out that the DVT moved from behind his knee to the hip area and all of a sudden his life was in grave danger and the hospital panicked and admitted him for 1 week under observation in case he threw a clot and died. I reamed the ER physician for sending him home w/out treatment 2 days prior. the clot was at the level of his knee which you are supposed to treat immediately, only below the knee is non-life threatening. All this from 400lbs of lumber falling on him at his job! Not only did he not have health insurance his workman's comp policy was a fraud and we couldn't use it.
Needless to say- he married me after that ! The ER Doc said if I hadn't sent him to have the ultrasound he would have been dead in less than 1 week! thank God he now has my insurance. Can you imagine- my boyfriend dead at 26???? I would have been devastated!!! Ten years now together and going strong!
I have seen what lack of health insurance can do to someone and it's terrifying!!!

[demommom]

13. how is your daughter?

[PatSeg]

11. The credit card industry needs to be regulated more

They are out of control and there needs to be legislation restricting their predatory lending practices. They are like an abusive spouse who is quick to blame the victim, and never has to take responsibility for his actions. The laws almost always favor the industry and turns a blind eye to the consumer.

They are right up there with the oil industry. They take and take and are never held responsible for their policies.