Grover Norquist advocates power to the people

[Xavier_Onassis]

For you, all arguments that are not your own seem to be flimsy. If they aren't you seem to deliberately misunderstand them to the point of making them seem flimsy. I am not at all opposed to stop signs. I think that for small intersections, they are quite usefu, certainly cheaper than roundabouts. You began this saying that all stop signs and traffic signals could be abolished and replaced with unspecified other things.

[Universe Prince]

As for the discussion about roundabouts vs stop signs, it began with a discussion about health care. I find it impossible to discuss such things with UP, who prefers to muddy the waters more than to agree with anyone about anything.

If you expect my agreement, you need to make an argument worthy of agreement. The "we use stops signs so therefore anything else is impractical" argument is, at best, worthy of scoffing. JS is a socialist and I am a libertarian and a capitalist. Yet JS and I have agreed on a number of things. In point of fact, I agreed with him on something in this very thread. So once again, your argument is so weak as to be practically non-existent.

And as I recall, you're the one who introduced stop signs into the discussion. You were trying to make a point. I made one too. Government control is not necessarily the best solution. My point remains, and you have said nothing substantial to counter it.

For you, all arguments that are not your own seem to be flimsy.

Not at all true. People like JS and Stray Pooch make quite strong arguments with which I still disagree.

If they aren't you seem to deliberately misunderstand them to the point of making them seem flimsy.

I may not always like correction, but I am usually open to it. If I have misunderstood your arguments, feel free at any time to clarify.

I am not at all opposed to stop signs. I think that for small intersections, they are quite usefu, certainly cheaper than roundabouts. You began this saying that all stop signs and traffic signals could be abolished and replaced with unspecified other things.
 

No, you began this by bringing stop signs into the health care discussion as a means to make your point about a need for government control. The problem is, it doesn't make your point at all. It did, however, allow me opportunity to illustrate my point in a way I likely would not have otherwise considered. So thank you for that.

[_JS]

It is typical for an insurance company to deny a claim the first time outright. In fact, it is rare for them to accept it. That's just SOP.

Isn't this also common practice for Social Security to do when an individual files for SSI disability benefits?  How is that any different than what private insurance companies do?  In a way it's worse, because the government mandates removal of funds from my income to pay for it, and then issues an automatic denial when I first file.  If a private insurance company did that there would be howls of protest.

As I recall, according to friends and relatives, the VA also likes to do this, especially for military disability.  Either that or they misrepresent the percentage of disability.

It is common practice for SSDI (disability) to be denied more than once, the same is true for military disability benefits. This comes from the Benthamite school of thought that prevailed in Britain for some time (i.e. poor houses) that Government benefits should be made as humiliating and difficult to receive as possible, which became popular with those on the political right, especially during Ronald Reagan's tenure.

Most nations with national healthcare systems (such as Britain) do not use this theory, or method in their approach to healthcare. I don't know of anyone who would advocate this coupled with a universal healthcare system. It should be acknowledged that NO candidate has proposed anything resembling the NHS.

[_JS]

It is typical for an insurance company to deny a claim the first time outright. In fact, it is rare for them to accept it. That's just SOP.

I don't know what insurance companies you've been dealing with, but in my many years of experience, I've only ever had one claim denied, and that was because the nurse at the doctor's office coded it incorrectly. Every other claim (and that one as well when the nurse refiled the form) has been paid without any delay.

From a provider standpoint, not a payor standpoint.

[Xavier_Onassis]

If you expect my agreement, you need to make an argument worthy of agreement. The "we use stops signs so therefore anything else is impractical" argument is, at best, worthy of scoffing. JS is a socialist and I am a libertarian and a capitalist. Yet JS and I have agreed on a number of things. In point of fact, I agreed with him on something in this very thread. So once again, your argument is so weak as to be practically non-existent.
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Have fun basking in your gynormous ego. You are a waste of time.

[Universe Prince]

Have fun basking in your gynormous ego. You are a waste of time.

Not being intimidated by your intellect doesn't require much ego. If that bothers you, I suggest that you have the ego problem. You're not going to make me feel bad about having enough confidence in my own mind and opinions to not be swayed by your weak arguments. That you think I should, again, speaks to your ego, not mine. If that's not clear enough, go frak yourself.