quote:

ORIGINAL: Lucylastic

You are an immigrant are you not?
I am too....
gone thru the process...check
not illegal, not a drain on welfare and tax money pays for insurance and healthcare...
sorry Im failing to see the problem
Marini has stated illegal immigration is her issue....
big difference
I for one would be happy to have Marini as a neighbour

quote:

ORIGINAL: MariaB

I spent just under a week in a Louisiana hospital. I had insurance but there were some discrepancies and I was warned that this was going to get expensive. Because the treatment was going to be ongoing for some months, I made the decision to leave my home of almost two years and fly back to the UK. I never returned.

That said, anyone who believes our NHS to be safe should read "NHS: SOS" or "The Firm". People in the UK are beginning to see privatisation as a fait accompli, sadly; even sadder, the average English person still has no idea thanks to mainstream media!

I've posted this before but will re-post it for any UK residents who want to understand what is presently happening to our NHS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ultKvnw2h3Q

quote:

ORIGINAL: Marini

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lucylastic

You are an immigrant are you not?
I am too....
gone thru the process...check
not illegal, not a drain on welfare and tax money pays for insurance and healthcare...
sorry Im failing to see the problem
Marini has stated illegal immigration is her issue....
big difference
I for one would be happy to have Marini as a neighbour

Gives Lucy a hug and thanks her.
Thanks for the BIG laugh tj, I never considered attempting to live in Canada illegally.
That is too funny.
ME?

I have read what it takes to apply for citizenship, LEGALLY tj, which is why it would be easier, when I am retired with $$$ and self-sufficient.
I am not moving up there to get on the dole.
**These days, I would love to have dual American/Canadian citizenship.**
If I go through the process, I will GLADLY do and pay what it takes.
Thanks for playing
Anyhoo, thanks again Lucy.
The way people twist your words on here is amazing.

quote:

ORIGINAL: tj444
You are comparing apples to oranges.. the huge difference is that Canada has ways for people to immigrate legally, the US does not.. there are very few ways anyone (except those with $1million dollars) can immigrate to the US.. Canada has a start-up visa where people that want to start a business there can do that, they don't even need to have the money to do it if they can find investors willing to invest in their venture.. The US has nothing like that.. I have read about students that went to college/uni in the US and started a business but then had to leave cuz there is no avenue for them to legally stay.. People that come to the US illegally would much rather do it legally if there was a reasonable way for them to do that, don't you think? Its so easy for you to sit there and wag your finger but the reality is regardless of what you have been told, there is no legal way to immigrate to the US anymore..

• A Conservative interpretation of the US Constitution
  
• Personal Responsibility
  
• Help for the truly needy
  
• Limited Government
  
• Consumption Tax (non-profit charities and food exempt)
  

quote:

ORIGINAL: freedomdwarf1
Went to an all-you-can-eat chinese place at $8 per person. Can't even get a portion of fried rice and main course take-out for that in the UK.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri

quote:

ORIGINAL: tj444
You are comparing apples to oranges.. the huge difference is that Canada has ways for people to immigrate legally, the US does not.. there are very few ways anyone (except those with $1million dollars) can immigrate to the US.. Canada has a start-up visa where people that want to start a business there can do that, they don't even need to have the money to do it if they can find investors willing to invest in their venture.. The US has nothing like that.. I have read about students that went to college/uni in the US and started a business but then had to leave cuz there is no avenue for them to legally stay.. People that come to the US illegally would much rather do it legally if there was a reasonable way for them to do that, don't you think? Its so easy for you to sit there and wag your finger but the reality is regardless of what you have been told, there is no legal way to immigrate to the US anymore..

I just looked at the immigration website and another site that attempted to give a general summary towards the topic of legal immigration to the US. The summary site stated that legal immigration is limited to 750,000 people a year, with exceptions for family-based immigrants (no limit). The Immigration site even stated that no country is allowed to grant more than 7% of all legal immigrants in one year (ie. no more than 7 out of every 100 legal immigrants can be nationals from one country), with some exceptions. That part surprised me.

Do you realize that many of the people who oppose illegal immigration support immigration reform that makes it easier to legally immigrate? The argument (no matter how many times some posters on here post it) isn't for/against immigration and immigrants, but against illegal immigration.

Our system may be junk, but that's why we need reform. The bottom line, though, is that we do have legal ways to immigrate, and those rules need to be followed. Opposition to amnesty isn't about being opposed to immigrants, but being opposed to, in effect, rewarding those who got here illegally. What picture does that paint to those who are attempting to gain immigrant status legally?

You are from Canada. I assume you are here legally. How did you do that, if we don't have a way to do so (unless you;re saying you have $1M)?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Greta75

quote:

ORIGINAL: freedomdwarf1
Went to an all-you-can-eat chinese place at $8 per person. Can't even get a portion of fried rice and main course take-out for that in the UK.

OMG, How long ago was that? I think it has to be at least 16 yrs ago that I ate all you can eat chinese buffet in the US for $7USD. And it's still now only $8?? Wow! No food inflation at all!

Hehe, but I find it funny that you guys don't eat fried rice as the main course as that is our main course! I mean, the whole point of fried rice is that you fry the meat, and the rice and the vegetables all together, so they make one meal!

quote:

ORIGINAL: thishereboi
And it's a great way to use up leftovers.

quote:

ORIGINAL: thishereboi

quote:

ORIGINAL: Greta75

quote:

ORIGINAL: freedomdwarf1
Went to an all-you-can-eat chinese place at $8 per person. Can't even get a portion of fried rice and main course take-out for that in the UK.

OMG, How long ago was that? I think it has to be at least 16 yrs ago that I ate all you can eat chinese buffet in the US for $7USD. And it's still now only $8?? Wow! No food inflation at all!

Hehe, but I find it funny that you guys don't eat fried rice as the main course as that is our main course! I mean, the whole point of fried rice is that you fry the meat, and the rice and the vegetables all together, so they make one meal!

Some of us do. In fact it's one of my favorite things to cook because I can use so many different things to make it. And it's a great way to use up leftovers.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sanity
My girl is part Asian and so naturally I eat a lot of rice as well, therefore I am having a bit of a look into this

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri

quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri
Where did I say anything like that? I started the whole fucking thread to talk about US Health Care Costs. Why? Because I certainly do believe that reductions in the cost of services and products will result in more people being able to afford care and/or health insurance.

Have to say, mate, my experience of the US health care system (1 hospital I should say in order to qualify whether or not this counts for much) is that it was a monumental piss take. The attitude seemed to be charge as much as possible for doing as little as possible.
In the interests of balancing this up, I enjoyed my time in the United States, and not everything is going to be to everyone's liking so you have to give an opinion on balance. My conclusion is that the United States is a great place to visit for many reasons, it just so happens that one of the few downsides was my one and only experience in a hospital in New Orleans where they all really should have been sacked for severe idleness.

I've only had one bad experience in a hospital (outside of why I was there). In the Toledo, Ohio area, I've had dealings (personally, or visiting others who were there) with 5 of the area's 10 hospitals. My one "bad" experience was when I came up to the area for a physical prior to consideration for the US Naval Academy. The Doctor reviewing everything afterwards chewed me out because I was a distance runner and it would end up destroying my knees. I had great measurables, much due to the fact that I was a runner, so this fat, Dr., who was also a smoker, jumping on my case was quite the turn off. On the flip side of that, though, the rest of the staff I came in contact with were very nice.

Every other instance that I had a dealing with a hospital, whether it was for me, or for someone I was visiting, I have never had anything but great experiences. My Aunt and Uncle were visiting the area from across the State (3 hours away) when my Uncle had a heart attack. His surgery went well and he recovered just fine. The surgeon grew up in the same area they were from, and he spent quite a bit of time just talking about people they both knew. He has even contacted them after the surgery just to see how they were doing.

I have Maternity Nurses, non-Maternity Nurses, and a Physician's Assistant (my cousin just got accepted into a PA program, so that will add another when she's done) among my relatives. I know my experiences aren't necessarily representative of all the experiences out there, but, those are the ones I've had. In every case, too, the patient was covered by insurance, so I can't speak towards how experiences are when there isn't insurance coverage.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri

quote:

ORIGINAL: tj444
You are comparing apples to oranges.. the huge difference is that Canada has ways for people to immigrate legally, the US does not.. there are very few ways anyone (except those with $1million dollars) can immigrate to the US.. Canada has a start-up visa where people that want to start a business there can do that, they don't even need to have the money to do it if they can find investors willing to invest in their venture.. The US has nothing like that.. I have read about students that went to college/uni in the US and started a business but then had to leave cuz there is no avenue for them to legally stay.. People that come to the US illegally would much rather do it legally if there was a reasonable way for them to do that, don't you think? Its so easy for you to sit there and wag your finger but the reality is regardless of what you have been told, there is no legal way to immigrate to the US anymore..

I just looked at the immigration website and another site that attempted to give a general summary towards the topic of legal immigration to the US. The summary site stated that legal immigration is limited to 750,000 people a year, with exceptions for family-based immigrants (no limit). The Immigration site even stated that no country is allowed to grant more than 7% of all legal immigrants in one year (ie. no more than 7 out of every 100 legal immigrants can be nationals from one country), with some exceptions. That part surprised me.

Do you realize that many of the people who oppose illegal immigration support immigration reform that makes it easier to legally immigrate? The argument (no matter how many times some posters on here post it) isn't for/against immigration and immigrants, but against illegal immigration.

Our system may be junk, but that's why we need reform. The bottom line, though, is that we do have legal ways to immigrate, and those rules need to be followed. Opposition to amnesty isn't about being opposed to immigrants, but being opposed to, in effect, rewarding those who got here illegally. What picture does that paint to those who are attempting to gain immigrant status legally?

You are from Canada. I assume you are here legally. How did you do that, if we don't have a way to do so (unless you;re saying you have $1M)?

quote:

ORIGINAL: tj444
You are from Canada. I assume you are here legally. How did you do that, if we don't have a way to do so (unless you;re saying you have $1M)?

quote:

With immigration, well, I have read more than enough to know that immigration to the US is complicated with too many roadblocks and gotchas.. and plenty of scammers taking advantage of those wanting to immigrate.. Of course the website you looked at doesn't tell you all that it takes to actually immigrate..

quote:

as far as you being for immigration reform goes,.. don't hold your breath.. the reason this country is stagnant and the middle class is disappearing is cuz of the idiots (both parties) you keep electing... Take the topic of health care costs, in Canada its all pretty simple, you fill out a short form to sign up and that's it, then you just pay a small monthly fee (or nothing if you are low/no income) and you can go to any doctor you want.. here, my gawd, this country has made it so freakin' difficult..
Saverin had the right idea to move to a country where things are easier and he eventually gave up his US citizenship too (his biggest mistake was becoming a US citizen in the first place)..

• A Conservative interpretation of the US Constitution
  
• Personal Responsibility
  
• Help for the truly needy
  
• Limited Government
  
• Consumption Tax (non-profit charities and food exempt)
  

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri

quote:

ORIGINAL: tj444

but this country is such a cesspool of regulations and roadblocks and gotchas that make doing things as difficult as possible (not just immigration).. just the other day I was reading about third party companies that do non-clinical work for dentists (billing, administration, etc) that, with the stroke of a pen, will be put out of business.. The US may have been "can do" at one time but now its all "can't do" this, "can't do that", can't do, can't do, can't dns enforcer"o..

As to the bold and italic portion: You realize that this is one area you are definitely siding with the GOP?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Greta75

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sanity
My girl is part Asian and so naturally I eat a lot of rice as well, therefore I am having a bit of a look into this

I don't think there is much truth because through global disease stats, US is higher for almost everything, like heart attack, and cancer, compared to every country in Asia who eats nothing but rice 3 meals a day. Whereas rice is not a staple everyday food in the West.

quote:

ORIGINAL: freedomdwarf1

quote:

ORIGINAL: Greta75

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sanity
My girl is part Asian and so naturally I eat a lot of rice as well, therefore I am having a bit of a look into this

I don't think there is much truth because through global disease stats, US is higher for almost everything, like heart attack, and cancer, compared to every country in Asia who eats nothing but rice 3 meals a day. Whereas rice is not a staple everyday food in the West.

That would be because the US food chain is loaded with corn syrup, sugars, MSG and GM crops - not the rice.

quote:

ORIGINAL: CreativeDominant

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri

quote:

ORIGINAL: tj444

but this country is such a cesspool of regulations and roadblocks and gotchas that make doing things as difficult as possible (not just immigration).. just the other day I was reading about third party companies that do non-clinical work for dentists (billing, administration, etc) that, with the stroke of a pen, will be put out of business.. The US may have been "can do" at one time but now its all "can't do" this, "can't do that", can't do, can't do, can't dns enforcer"o..

As to the bold and italic portion: You realize that this is one area you are definitely siding with the GOP?

I was just thinking the same thing. A lot of " can-do " went away with the government saysaying " no, you can't...not without a permit/license/overseer/lawyer/regulations enforcer".

quote:

ORIGINAL: thishereboi

quote:

ORIGINAL: freedomdwarf1

quote:

ORIGINAL: Greta75

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sanity
My girl is part Asian and so naturally I eat a lot of rice as well, therefore I am having a bit of a look into this

I don't think there is much truth because through global disease stats, US is higher for almost everything, like heart attack, and cancer, compared to every country in Asia who eats nothing but rice 3 meals a day. Whereas rice is not a staple everyday food in the West.

That would be because the US food chain is loaded with corn syrup, sugars, MSG and GM crops - not the rice.

Sanity posted a link suggesting that rice contained arsenic and might be dangerous. Greta countered that argument with the fact that other countries eat much more rice and don't have the higher stats. Now I understand that you can't pass up the chance to tell everyone how awful the US is, but what the fuck does the amount of garbage we eat have to do with how rice affects people's health in other countries?