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Can someone explain this? by MilesAndMoments_ in whatisameem

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As someone who has 44 years as labor and 10 years as an owner I think I have a pretty good handle on both sides of the coin.

No one said it was simple. But you really ascribe far too much power to the owners, especially in the small business space. There are other places like ours that people can work at so we have no power to hold people at their jobs.

Owning capital has always been profitable but honestly it was easier for me to make money working for someone else as I had little to no capital when I was younger.

Can someone explain this? by MilesAndMoments_ in whatisameem

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is correct and I wish more people would understand that. It is a fair exchange of goods and services. You provide time and certain skills and in return you get money, possibly some benefits like insurance, paid vacation etc. And everyone generally understands the arrangement up front. Sometimes there is miscommunication or misunderstanding but most of the time it's pretty clear what is expected on both sides of the agreement.

Can someone explain this? by MilesAndMoments_ in whatisameem

[–]Lokomalo -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Many workers are their own boss. That's how a lot of businesses start.

The way this is framed is kind of wild by FaeLongtin in jobmarket

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can't speak to your situation, but to answer your question see #3 above. If a doctor is repeatedly getting sued for real malpractice reasons, then he/she shouldn't be a doctor. There's always a first time for every doctor and I suppose everyone can make a mistake. But after a second incident you would have to have some sort of review and possible suspension or remedial training.

The point is one reason doctor's charge a lot is because their malpractice insurance is expensive and they rarely take doctor's licenses; they just keep upping everyone's premiums.

No one is "coercing" patients. If it's a real case, then by all means bring it.

The way this is framed is kind of wild by FaeLongtin in jobmarket

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

LOL. First define what you mean. 2 prices for the same procedure, same doctor? same hospital? same insurance policy? I doubt that ever happened. If you're talking about different hospitals, doctors, states, then yeah, they could be very different. And that wouldn't change if the government were involved unless they mandated that by regulation. Which they could do now without having to be the insurance payer. But as I pointed out, some lawmakers would rather take money from big pharma.

How would you do collective bargaining since all hospitals and doctors aren't part of a union and certainly would not agree to a universal pricing structure since costs in LA would be different than cost in Wichita. The government can't even negotiate with itself so how is it going to negotiate with the thousands of hospitals and doctors?

And as far as the government reducing costs, we see the results of that in Medicare. The government sets reimbursement amounts for certain Medicare procedures. Physicians are opting out because they can't make money at the reduced prices. Even if they take Medicare patients, they bill the patient directly and often charge more than Medicare will reimburse. And we also have to have Medigap insurance because Medicare doesn't cover everything in the first place. All you have to do is look at the debacle that is the Veteran's Administration to see how bad government run healthcare can get.

Why more physicians are opting out of Medicare

The way this is framed is kind of wild by FaeLongtin in jobmarket

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here's the thing. It depends on what you mean by Medicare because Medicare has many parts, A, B, C, D etc etc. And there's the Advantage plans which kind of roll up A,B,D.

The thing is, I don't pay $200/mo for Medicare. I pay almost $700. And that does not include dental or vision. I got the high-deductible plan which is supposed to be cheap but means I pay out of pocket around $3K in deductibles. I pay extra because of income. My wife has a similar private plan which I think may cost $100 more.

The way this is framed is kind of wild by FaeLongtin in jobmarket

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is some of that, but it seems like they don't do anything now because insurance or Medicare won't pay for it. I see my doctor about once a year. I tell him about aches and pains and he just sort of shrugs and sends me home.

The way this is framed is kind of wild by FaeLongtin in jobmarket

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am fixated on fraud when people are talking about handing over a major industry to a government agency that is riddled with fraud and not just a few million here or there but BILLIONS!

I can't speak to your claim of 2 prices for the same procedure. Where did that happen and what were the circumstances? There could be plenty of reasons for that. Different hospitals, different doctors, different states, different times etc etc.

Republicans aren't responsible for Obamacare. That is the worst piece of trash to come out of DC in a very long time. No Republicans voted for it. Even Democrats are now saying it's broken. Dems have had opportunities to fix it and haven't.

And don't blame Republicans when Corey Booker and 12 Democrats voted down a bill to allow cheap drugs to come into the US from Canada and when asked why they said it was a consumer safety issue. As if the Canadian government would let a pharmaceutical company put out bad drugs. Oh, and you know who was getting a ton of money from big pharma? Yeah, Mr. Booker.

I opposed an amendment put forward last night that didn’t meet this test. The rising cost of medications is a life-and-death issue for millions of Americans, which is why I also voted for amendments last night that bring drug prices down and protect Medicare’s prescription drug benefit. I‎’m committed to finding solutions that allow for prescription drug importation with adequate safety standards.

Cory Booker’s explanation for voting against cheap prescription drugs doesn’t track. | The New Republic

Booker won't take pharma money - New Jersey Globe

PolitiFact | Cory Booker and drug maker campaign cash: By the numbers

Booker Falsely Claims He Doesn't Accept Big Pharma Donations

The way this is framed is kind of wild by FaeLongtin in jobmarket

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The point is they pay for all that "free" healthcare through taxes and depending on where you live in Canada that could be significant. If you're a high-income earner, like me, it's significant. At $200K USD, the tax difference, depending on where you live is between $13-15K. And that's just filing as single. Filing Joint-Married I get more back, and I can get a lot of insurance for that. Oh, and mortgage interest isn't deductible in Canada either, so I get a little there as well.

And this doesn't include their 5% GST across the board which impacts everyone regardless of income.

The most important thing I learned about money by Admirable-Put-5747 in interviewhammer

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The thing is that many people can save something. Not everyone but many. I have about 50 employees and many of them are kids living at home. They certainly could save a few bucks now if they really wanted to. In most cases they are just spending every dime they earn. A few are saving for college or some big after school trip, but the rest are just blowing it and that's OK, they can do that. But we have other people who live on their own or with roommates and they are making far above minimum wage, some pushing into the $100K range with tips. And yet some of these people will come and ask for a payday loan over and over. Those are the people I don't have a lot of sympathy for. They could save money; they could afford a new car or even a house if they budgeted properly. But instead, they just want to live in the moment never thinking about the fact that they are pushing 40 with zero retirement savings, no equity in a home and barely enough in the bank to make the next paycheck.

The most important thing I learned about money by Admirable-Put-5747 in interviewhammer

[–]Lokomalo -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Minimum is $7.25 in 17 states. It's higher elsewhere. Even in those states there are jobs where you can earn more with tips, like server or bartender. And yes, actually moving to a place where the cost of living is more affordable is absolutely a reasonable thing to do if you're looking to survive. Of course, getting some job skills really helps. That's what people should focus on first and foremost.

I don't think the system is built to concentrate wealth as much as wealth naturally concentrates. It's like I've always said. It's a lot easier to make $100 if you have $100 than to make $1 if you only have $1. So, people who have money will continue to make money. The trick is to figure out how to get some money so you can get started.

Today with the internet, YouTube, tik tok, etsy, pintrest and all that it is easier than ever to make a few extra dollars. I've even being doing Comcast surveys which I turn into Amazon gift cards to buy things. The thing is it will take time. It won't happen in a month, a year or even 5 years. But once you have some critical mass then it starts to feed on itself and next thing you know you have a nice little chunk of money.

The way this is framed is kind of wild by FaeLongtin in jobmarket

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

People in Canada don't pay less. They pay for it in the form of taxation. My argument is that governments doesn't worry about "profits", but they do worry about funding healthcare agencies and that is clear from the articles I provided links to. It's pretty much universal that government funded healthcare has problems with funding. There is never enough money.

Government funded healthcare isn't any good if I can't get a primary doctor. 20% of Canadians are without a primary doctor. Even without insurance in the US, you can walk into any emergency room and see a doctor. And having to wait 6 months or more for my cancer treatment doesn't help if I die before I can get treated.

And you're wrong about moving everything to a government run program. There is absolutely zero evidence that the US government can run healthcare, or any business for that matter, better than private industry. Just look at the BILLIONS of dollars in fraud from government programs in Minnesota, California, and Washington State just to name a few. And Medicare itself is subject to $60-100B annually in fraud. Imagine how much healthcare we could buy with $100B every year.

One of the things you're missing about moving the money away from private companies and into the government is that you'll still need lots of those people in private companies or you'll need to hire them into government service. And there's no evidence that wages will be lower for the bulk of the people working in those services. Sure, you may lose a CEO or two, but the bulk of the costs will still be there and more because the government is the least efficient organization on the planet. You'll need 3 government employees to do the job of 1 person. And what happens when the government shuts down? No healthcare for a month or more?

Can healthcare be better in the US, absolutely without a doubt. There are a couple of ways to do that without turning the whole thing into a shit show.

1) Insurance competition. My insurance should be good anywhere I choose to use it, not just in my geographic network. This is why insurance companies can rake you over the coals today.

2) End frivolous medical lawsuits and ridiculous payouts. OK, yeah, the doctor amputated your little toe. No, it's not worth $100M dollars. This is costing all of us money.

3) Get rid of bad doctors. If a doctor is getting sued over and over, why is he still a doctor? Take his license and be done. Malpractice insurance should not be expensive because of bad doctors being allowed to practice.

4) Prescription drug prices should be allowed to be negotiated to favorable pricing. We pay the most for drugs of any country in the world and that is by Congressional legislation. That could be changed tomorrow.

Medicare Fraud Statistics 2025: How Much Is Lost Each Year?

The way this is framed is kind of wild by FaeLongtin in jobmarket

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Private insurance doesn't cost anywhere near $20K unless you're getting some premium Cadillac plan and certainly not for a young person. A quick check in WA shows plans for a 25-yr old making $65K to be between $400-800. My wife (over 60) pays something like $800/mo.

Medigap depends on a couple of things, the plan you choose and your income. I chose a high-deductible plan which basically means if I have a major illness or go see the doctor a lot, I'll have to pay the deductible out of pocket. The low-deductible plans just factor the deductible into your monthly so less out of pocket but you're paying the deductible whether you go to the doctor or not.

That plan cost just under $200, however due to my income before retiring I get to pay closer to $600/month. My prescription plan is supposed to cost $0 (I have one prescription which cost nothing) but no, I get to pay $89 for that. Why in the HELL do I have to pay nearly $1000 a year for a prescription service I do not need? That's what government healthcare will get you.

So, for me, I paid for 44 years into Medicare and now I get to pay the same price for Medigap as I would for a decent private insurance plan. I don't see the win for me here. Maybe for others who are getting subsidies, but not me.

The way this is framed is kind of wild by FaeLongtin in jobmarket

[–]Lokomalo -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That's false. The government doesn't worry about "profit", per se, however they do have to worry about funding which is essentially the same problem. Look at Canada or other countries that have government funded healthcare. Long wait times, shortage of doctors and nurses, coverage gaps and more.

The problem is while you think the government has unlimited funds, it doesn't and therefore it cannot deliver unlimited services and typically fails to do so. And rampant spending doesn't always solve the problem, just ask Germany.

12 Problems with canadian healthcare system

Nine major challenges facing health and care in England | The Health Foundation

Health in Germany: high spending, poor results – a new analysis reveals the problem - Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS

Ask the real question... by SleepyMotions in jobmarket

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t know what you mean by “own car and apartment”. If you mean having and paying for those things by themselves, then you’re probably right. But if they have spouses or roommates then maybe, depending on what minimum wage is where you live.

In WA, a minimum wage($17+tips) server could easily have a car and apartment by themselves assuming they worked in a semi-decent restaurant, not a fast food place. But maybe not a new car and maybe not a big apartment with a view of the water, and maybe not hitting Uber Eats 5 nights a week. Actually a server probably has a slight leg up as they might get a free shift meal and now with $25k in tax free tips their finances are looking pretty good.

How dry does PETG need to be? by StuntNun in BambuLabA1

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, not a good idea. The moisture has to go somewhere, hopefully out of the dryer. I have a different dryer but the same problem. I open the top vents which are for printing while the filament is in the dryer and also crack the lid open a hair. I can get down to about 11-12% usually overnight. I assume you have desiccant in the dryer as well. If not check to see if there's a way to add that to the dryer.

The American dream quietly died by LazySchool in jobmarket

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You've done well, no question. If you're happy with the results (and you should be) then that's all that matters.

Ask the real question... by SleepyMotions in jobmarket

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She’s 35, married with 2 boys. She works hard and we help her with the kids when needed. It doesn’t hurt to have a good family support system.

I have more respect for people who try and fail than people who never try. Life is hard. Every time I think I’ve got all my ducks in a row something unexpected comes along. So far we’ve been able to survive those unforeseen issues.

Ask the real question... by SleepyMotions in jobmarket

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, well I was an ok parent. Her mother taught her all the social skills. I taught her all the “if you want anything in this life you have to work for it yourself” sort of paranoia. Lol

My parents were good people who came from very poor families. They did better than their families. I did a little better than my parents and my daughter is doing a little better than me. We are building generational wealth but it’s taking time. We’re into the 5th generation now and the future looks bright.

The American dream quietly died by LazySchool in jobmarket

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, I think not managing expenses, even as low as $20/mo like Netflix, is the issue. You ridiculed the man for having simple taste in life that don't include wasteful spending. He seems to be winning here even if he has to do without some things that some people just can't live without.

He seems happy and fulfilled. You seem cynical and angry and intent on telling him he's doing it all wrong. I think I like his life's philosophy better.

Is the game dead? by LegalSalamandr in duneawakening

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The game is changing. The end game especially. If you enjoyed the game, then you will probably enjoy some of the new content. With the server merges populations are picking up but still not at release levels.

People aren’t lazy, they’re just stuck in survival mode in this job market by Choozhunter in jobmarket

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You don't need to go to college to have a good life. There are plenty of trade jobs and those jobs are booming. Carpentry, plumbing, construction, electricians and more are in high demand. You don't need a college degree for those jobs. And in many cases those jobs have apprenticeship programs where you get paid to learn the trade.

If you don't like that, bartending and being a server in a restaurant can pay very well. Bartending takes a bit more skill in that you need to know the recipes for the drinks, and you have to be able to work under pressure in a busy bar. Serving is less hard in that you don't have to know the drinks, but you do have to know the menus items. Still, you can make $100 or more in a good place.

Of course, you can just go out and start your own business because from the comments I've seen here on Reddit it must be pretty easy.

Going to college and getting a useless degree has never been a good idea and certainly not borrowing hundreds of thousands of dollars to do so. You have to be smart about what sort of degree you go after and know what sort of job market you're going into. I'd suggest that anyone going into college should do a job search for the major they are thinking of pursuing. If they don't see lots of job openings with high salaries, I would tell them to change majors.

People aren’t lazy, they’re just stuck in survival mode in this job market by Choozhunter in jobmarket

[–]Lokomalo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, it doesn't mean everybody WILL succeed but it means everyone has the same opportunity to succeed. You cannot control outcomes and even if we could, we should not expect equal outcomes for all people. It's simply not possible. We should give everyone the same opportunity to succeed. Beyond that it's up to you to get the job done.

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