So Charles, you are left of Bernie. Lol, you should have moved to Europe, or at least Canada. The US needs a multiparty system to allow for nuance (a dirty word to MSM) and to force compromise and coalitions.
My dad was an old school Republican, but having moved to Europe, and ending up in Scandinavia, I am left of even you Charles. In local and national government, there are 8-11 parties currently, thus a broad range of views and policies. Otherwise,
Imagine, universal health care. Cap on out of pocket for doctor AND essential meds at $300 per year. No panic needing to go to the hospital. Sick leave. Maternity leave, paid, circa a year. Leave for a sick child. Child care at reasonable rates. Low cost university. Mind you, gasoline is circa $8.50/gal, but I've driven electric for 18 years...
Trying to vote from abroad, though, is nerve wracking, getting the ballot, then spending tons on phone calls trying to find out if it was ever received back thru the US postal system...
So VOTE! The US effects the rest of the world. We are interconnected.
I live in a fantasy world. All my good socialists mostly live in my novels, lol.
"then spending tons on phone calls trying to find out if it was ever received back thru the US postal system"
How does that even work? Do you get confirmation? The guy running the U.S. Postal Service these days is not exactly best of breed. I hope your ballot gets here. Every single one helps. And thanks for caring enough to keep voting after your escape! :-)
I’m a Texas voter and mail my vote from the Netherlands. Although the whole voting process is a real nail-biter right up to where they tell you your vote was counted, I’m so grateful to be able to do so. I get a nice, long run at my vote arriving in time to be counted, so I vote and send it immediately upon receipt. Its somewhere in the USA now … which reminds me, need to check and see if they have it.
At least in Texas, these absentee early voting ballots are rife with opportunities to leave off crossing a “t” or dotting an “I” which will mean they toss it out. So … all the more reason to get the process started ASAP in case you have to try to get your vote counted again.
I believe this is done to reduce voters who are probably going to vote Democrat. To offset this, there are organizations to drive voting from abroad because we do represent a sizeable number of votes. Its a whole other world over here.
But, bottom line … wherever you are voting … VOTE!
I’m curious. Do absentee voters typically vote Democrat? Either way, I would expect Republican voters to have a more difficult time with difficult ballots, given their overall cognitive skills. Seems to me that making voting difficult will hurt Republicans this year more than Democrats, because Dems are more likely to do what you are doing: fight through the difficulties and get the ballot out there, whereas Republicans will scratch their heads and say, “Whatever, I’m not bothering.”
A real person on the other end tells me if ballot received.Bur, I voted in the primary, and after I sent the ballot in, I got another- turns out there were printing mistakes on the first, so it didn't count, and there wasn't time to send the next. The ballots are so heavy they cost around $8 just to send from overseas too. One has to be a very committed voter to put up with all the s--t!
I seem to recall that in 2020, then-candidate Trump made damn sure his own signature was on the CARES Act checks for $1,200+ that went out to Americans during the COVID lockdowns.
Excellent piece, Charles. Kamalamania and Biden's canonization both make my eczema worse. For me, there is one very strong reason to vote for Harris/Walz, and that is that they're not Trump/Vance.
I've been thinking all day about "walking malfeasance", a coinage of rare brilliance.
Lol. I'm glad you liked that crazy term. It's amazing, in a sick sort of way, how much that turd inspires us as writers. I'll be glad to move to other sorts of inspiration.
As for the overall qualities of Biden and Kamala, I'm an old, tired progressive who is left of Bernie. I'll never see a presidential candidate that meets my aspirations. I do hope we can at least return to a two party system. Right now, we just have the one, and it's pretty heavily influenced by big money. Sucks that we're always on our heels, but it's just the way it is for now.
But I'll admit it. I like Kamala. She's more fun than I expected, and I like people who laugh and smile a lot.
Your take on this is excellent. Joe Biden is a smart guy. He is doing so much for the country on his way out. Mainstream media should be telling Americans what they need to know, but they're so busy glorifying Dump, they're not doing their jobs.
The orange puff of puke wouldn’t have anywhere near the polling numbers he has if the mainstream media treated him as sick, dying, mentally ill sexual predator that he is.
Thanks for posting that letter from Joe. I am not Medicare age yet, and I'm happy that they're chipping away and making life easier for seniors. For some this cap will be huge, and that's a very good thing. I also like people that laugh and smile a lot! I will be ecstatic when I don't have to look at the orange turd anymore, although I'll gladly tune in for his trials.
Thank you for sharing. Honestly a lot of Medicare recipients might miss this. Let's hope that the people on Medicare, especially in red states read this and vote accordingly.
Im sure this is going to help many, many people, and that is WONDERFUL!
However, I just saw my Medicare Part D go from $6.68/mo to $22.40/mo.
That may not matter to anyone else, but if I opt for the company that offers me a $0 plan, there are no pharmacies locally that plan works with; I would have to wait on the mail, which Dejoy is wrecking, for any prescription I need.
Yes, it didn’t take long for the private insurers to adapt. I’m sure this will be addressed. My preference would be to eliminate private insurers completely.
I too received my very own personal email from Joe regarding Medicare Open Enrollment. Of course I was ecstatic, believing and knowing I am a very special person and only I could have received an email straight from Joe’s keyboard. That Medicare email address must have just been a glitch in the Ethernet.
In all seriousness and after having Charles here bust my special bubble because he too and probably others received an email from Joe pretending to be the Medicare email server, I’m expecting the Part D premium shoe to drop on that too good to be true $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap. I’ve already received notice from my Part D insurance provider in not too opaque code that premiums will be going up. Someone hasn’t to pay for the over $2,000 prescriptions.
So give it a month or two for Seniors with Part D to hear from their insurance provider on premiums and formularies for 2025 and when they see the premium jump and the restricted formulary, there will be screams, which corporate media will certainly carry as “Biden’s Medicare Drug Caps Spikes Premiums” headlines. Only negative spin; but no worries, I’m sure the other guy has a concept of a plan on how to fix that. That rally speech will get big headlines. But at least I don’t get emails from him.
We need to get private insurance companies out of Medicare, but one problem at a time. We can't pressure Kamala Harris to work on that if she doesn't win. :-)
I just got a notice today that my Part D premium is going up from $ .40 to $17.40. Yes, I’m at an unbelievable 40 cents a month this year, and I don’t mind the increase. My meds, except for one, cost me nothing.
I don’t think any of my Part D letter plan choices were ever that cheap. I never reach the deductible. One prescription, it’s generic. Signed up at 65 to avoid later in life late signup penalties. I live in we-can-gouge-you-because-we-can-and-everyone-does-it-too California.
So Charles, you are left of Bernie. Lol, you should have moved to Europe, or at least Canada. The US needs a multiparty system to allow for nuance (a dirty word to MSM) and to force compromise and coalitions.
My dad was an old school Republican, but having moved to Europe, and ending up in Scandinavia, I am left of even you Charles. In local and national government, there are 8-11 parties currently, thus a broad range of views and policies. Otherwise,
Imagine, universal health care. Cap on out of pocket for doctor AND essential meds at $300 per year. No panic needing to go to the hospital. Sick leave. Maternity leave, paid, circa a year. Leave for a sick child. Child care at reasonable rates. Low cost university. Mind you, gasoline is circa $8.50/gal, but I've driven electric for 18 years...
Trying to vote from abroad, though, is nerve wracking, getting the ballot, then spending tons on phone calls trying to find out if it was ever received back thru the US postal system...
So VOTE! The US effects the rest of the world. We are interconnected.
I live in a fantasy world. All my good socialists mostly live in my novels, lol.
"then spending tons on phone calls trying to find out if it was ever received back thru the US postal system"
How does that even work? Do you get confirmation? The guy running the U.S. Postal Service these days is not exactly best of breed. I hope your ballot gets here. Every single one helps. And thanks for caring enough to keep voting after your escape! :-)
I’m a Texas voter and mail my vote from the Netherlands. Although the whole voting process is a real nail-biter right up to where they tell you your vote was counted, I’m so grateful to be able to do so. I get a nice, long run at my vote arriving in time to be counted, so I vote and send it immediately upon receipt. Its somewhere in the USA now … which reminds me, need to check and see if they have it.
At least in Texas, these absentee early voting ballots are rife with opportunities to leave off crossing a “t” or dotting an “I” which will mean they toss it out. So … all the more reason to get the process started ASAP in case you have to try to get your vote counted again.
I believe this is done to reduce voters who are probably going to vote Democrat. To offset this, there are organizations to drive voting from abroad because we do represent a sizeable number of votes. Its a whole other world over here.
But, bottom line … wherever you are voting … VOTE!
I’m curious. Do absentee voters typically vote Democrat? Either way, I would expect Republican voters to have a more difficult time with difficult ballots, given their overall cognitive skills. Seems to me that making voting difficult will hurt Republicans this year more than Democrats, because Dems are more likely to do what you are doing: fight through the difficulties and get the ballot out there, whereas Republicans will scratch their heads and say, “Whatever, I’m not bothering.”
A real person on the other end tells me if ballot received.Bur, I voted in the primary, and after I sent the ballot in, I got another- turns out there were printing mistakes on the first, so it didn't count, and there wasn't time to send the next. The ballots are so heavy they cost around $8 just to send from overseas too. One has to be a very committed voter to put up with all the s--t!
That’s crazy.
I seem to recall that in 2020, then-candidate Trump made damn sure his own signature was on the CARES Act checks for $1,200+ that went out to Americans during the COVID lockdowns.
I believe you are correct, sir!!
Excellent piece, Charles. Kamalamania and Biden's canonization both make my eczema worse. For me, there is one very strong reason to vote for Harris/Walz, and that is that they're not Trump/Vance.
I've been thinking all day about "walking malfeasance", a coinage of rare brilliance.
Lol. I'm glad you liked that crazy term. It's amazing, in a sick sort of way, how much that turd inspires us as writers. I'll be glad to move to other sorts of inspiration.
As for the overall qualities of Biden and Kamala, I'm an old, tired progressive who is left of Bernie. I'll never see a presidential candidate that meets my aspirations. I do hope we can at least return to a two party system. Right now, we just have the one, and it's pretty heavily influenced by big money. Sucks that we're always on our heels, but it's just the way it is for now.
But I'll admit it. I like Kamala. She's more fun than I expected, and I like people who laugh and smile a lot.
Your take on this is excellent. Joe Biden is a smart guy. He is doing so much for the country on his way out. Mainstream media should be telling Americans what they need to know, but they're so busy glorifying Dump, they're not doing their jobs.
The orange puff of puke wouldn’t have anywhere near the polling numbers he has if the mainstream media treated him as sick, dying, mentally ill sexual predator that he is.
Absolutely the truth.
Thanks for posting that letter from Joe. I am not Medicare age yet, and I'm happy that they're chipping away and making life easier for seniors. For some this cap will be huge, and that's a very good thing. I also like people that laugh and smile a lot! I will be ecstatic when I don't have to look at the orange turd anymore, although I'll gladly tune in for his trials.
Thank you for sharing. Honestly a lot of Medicare recipients might miss this. Let's hope that the people on Medicare, especially in red states read this and vote accordingly.
Thanks. Even if a subset do, it helps cut down on the foul one’s numbers. :-)
Im sure this is going to help many, many people, and that is WONDERFUL!
However, I just saw my Medicare Part D go from $6.68/mo to $22.40/mo.
That may not matter to anyone else, but if I opt for the company that offers me a $0 plan, there are no pharmacies locally that plan works with; I would have to wait on the mail, which Dejoy is wrecking, for any prescription I need.
Yes, it didn’t take long for the private insurers to adapt. I’m sure this will be addressed. My preference would be to eliminate private insurers completely.
Thanks for sharing! Brilliant move by our President
I too received my very own personal email from Joe regarding Medicare Open Enrollment. Of course I was ecstatic, believing and knowing I am a very special person and only I could have received an email straight from Joe’s keyboard. That Medicare email address must have just been a glitch in the Ethernet.
In all seriousness and after having Charles here bust my special bubble because he too and probably others received an email from Joe pretending to be the Medicare email server, I’m expecting the Part D premium shoe to drop on that too good to be true $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap. I’ve already received notice from my Part D insurance provider in not too opaque code that premiums will be going up. Someone hasn’t to pay for the over $2,000 prescriptions.
So give it a month or two for Seniors with Part D to hear from their insurance provider on premiums and formularies for 2025 and when they see the premium jump and the restricted formulary, there will be screams, which corporate media will certainly carry as “Biden’s Medicare Drug Caps Spikes Premiums” headlines. Only negative spin; but no worries, I’m sure the other guy has a concept of a plan on how to fix that. That rally speech will get big headlines. But at least I don’t get emails from him.
We need to get private insurance companies out of Medicare, but one problem at a time. We can't pressure Kamala Harris to work on that if she doesn't win. :-)
Start with Part C Medicare Disadvantage Plans. They need to go. Period.
I just got a notice today that my Part D premium is going up from $ .40 to $17.40. Yes, I’m at an unbelievable 40 cents a month this year, and I don’t mind the increase. My meds, except for one, cost me nothing.
I don’t think any of my Part D letter plan choices were ever that cheap. I never reach the deductible. One prescription, it’s generic. Signed up at 65 to avoid later in life late signup penalties. I live in we-can-gouge-you-because-we-can-and-everyone-does-it-too California.
Like I mentioned to Michael above, we do need to get private insurers out of Medicare, IMO. But we need Kamala to win, first.
I haven't received an increase notice yet, but I'm sure I will soon enough.
I agree. I’m for Medicare for All. I would never willingly switch to Medicare Advantage.