Jon Stewart Ashamed of US Congress

[Shofercia]

Got a call from Putin today, and he was all like "Shof, I know you love Jon Stewart, have you seen his latest video? Can you start an NSG thread about it?" And I was like "Sure, just give a small city in Russia or something" - so I got a harem in Nahodka. Joking aside, Jon Stewart ripped the US Congress over failure to provide healthcare to the first responders to 9/11. To those thinking it was just a New York Issue, Stewart said: "Al Qaeda did not shout Death to Tribeca!" Stewart went after both the Democratic House and the Republican Senate. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQkMJgaHAkY

And the coverage that it's getting. Here's Fox: https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/9- ... or-funding

Comedian and advocate Jon Stewart teared into lawmakers of the House Judiciary Committee for skipping the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Opens a New Window. hearing. “As I sit here today, I can’t help but think what an incredible metaphor this room is for the entire process that getting health care and benefits for 9/11 first responders has come to,” Stewart said. “Behind me, a filled room of 9/11 first responders, and in front of me, a nearly empty Congress. Sick and dying, they brought themselves down here to speak to no one.” Several congressional members were no-shows at Tuesday’s hearing to discuss the renewal of funds...

Gerard Fitzgerald, the president of the Uniformed Firefighter Association of Greater New York and a 9/11 first responder, said they were given a five-year projected cost of medical benefits and funds are rapidly running out.

“Unfortunately, because of the amount of victims that have put in for that money, it’s running out quicker than we ever thought would happen,” he said. “We’re a full-- more than a year out from when it’s supposed to expire (in 2020) and they have cut the funding."

Slate: https://slate.com/culture/2019/06/jon-s ... ction.html
PBS: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/w ... responders

So, what does NSG think?

Although I'm no longer a fan of Obamacare, I think that the First Responders to 9/11 should be given free healthcare for life; this is about a country's Soul, and it's not something that should be for sale; Congress disagrees.

[Nakena]

That shows where the priorities of Congress truly are.

[Page]

I think that the First Responders to 9/11 should be given free healthcare for life; this is about a country's Soul, and it's not something that should be for sale; Congress disagrees.

So should everyone else. It's not necessarily wrong to think that heroism ought to be rewarded, but it's problematic when necessities for survival are handed out like rewards instead of being unconditionally guaranteed. Would it not be wrong to say, as gratitude for your selfless actions on 9/11, if your house is ever on fire, the fire department will come. If you ever can't afford to eat, we'll make sure you won't starve. Everyone should have these guarantees regardless of their character and accomplishments.

[Nakena]

I think that the First Responders to 9/11 should be given free healthcare for life; this is about a country's Soul, and it's not something that should be for sale; Congress disagrees.

So should everyone else. It's not necessarily wrong to think that heroism ought to be rewarded, but it's problematic when necessities for survival are handed out like rewards instead of being unconditionally guaranteed. Would it not be wrong to say, as gratitude for your selfless actions on 9/11, if your house is ever on fire, the fire department will come. If you ever can't afford to eat, we'll make sure you won't starve. Everyone should have these guarantees regardless of their character and accomplishments.

I agree there with you the US should have a proper universal health care, like most other civilized nations do already. Up and including their northern canadian neighbours.

But then you got a lot of people with "muh premiums" "muh frees" and "muh bullshit".

[Vassenor]

Got a call from Putin today, and he was all like "Shof, I know you love Jon Stewart, have you seen his latest video? Can you start an NSG thread about it?" And I was like "Sure, just give a small city in Russia or something" - so I got a harem in Nahodka. Joking aside, Jon Stewart ripped the US Congress over failure to provide healthcare to the first responders to 9/11. To those thinking it was just a New York Issue, Stewart said: "Al Qaeda did not shout Death to Tribeca!" Stewart went after both the Democratic House and the Republican Senate. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQkMJgaHAkY

And the coverage that it's getting. Here's Fox: https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/9- ... or-funding

Comedian and advocate Jon Stewart teared into lawmakers of the House Judiciary Committee for skipping the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Opens a New Window. hearing. “As I sit here today, I can’t help but think what an incredible metaphor this room is for the entire process that getting health care and benefits for 9/11 first responders has come to,” Stewart said. “Behind me, a filled room of 9/11 first responders, and in front of me, a nearly empty Congress. Sick and dying, they brought themselves down here to speak to no one.” Several congressional members were no-shows at Tuesday’s hearing to discuss the renewal of funds...

Gerard Fitzgerald, the president of the Uniformed Firefighter Association of Greater New York and a 9/11 first responder, said they were given a five-year projected cost of medical benefits and funds are rapidly running out.

“Unfortunately, because of the amount of victims that have put in for that money, it’s running out quicker than we ever thought would happen,” he said. “We’re a full-- more than a year out from when it’s supposed to expire (in 2020) and they have cut the funding."

Slate: https://slate.com/culture/2019/06/jon-s ... ction.html
PBS: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/w ... responders

So, what does NSG think?

Although I'm no longer a fan of Obamacare, I think that the First Responders to 9/11 should be given free healthcare for life; this is about a country's Soul, and it's not something that should be for sale; Congress disagrees.

Correction: Mitch McConnell disagrees. This matter has broad cross-party support, but he's the one who keeps blocking it from being voted on.

[Saiwania]

Who cares what some liberal comedian wants? Fact is, I don't see US healthcare changing until or when that system collapses. Like government healthcare is going to solve anything asides from changing who pays for it (which will significantly increase taxes), and maybe making it so prices aren't inflated out of thin air, but have some relation to reality.

[Vassenor]

Who cares what some liberal comedian wants? Fact is, I don't see US healthcare changing until or when that system collapses. Like government healthcare is going to solve anything asides from changing who pays for it (which will significantly increase taxes), and maybe making it so prices aren't inflated out of thin air, but have some relation to reality.

Doesn't the US already spend more tax money per capita on healthcare than any other nation? Surely then a proper universal healthcare system, like you said with lower prices, would save money?

[Duhon]

As Vass said, as long as Mitch doesn't give a shit, all of Jon's fulminating will go nowhere. The Richie Riches first, and everyone else fuck them.

[Page]

Who cares what some liberal comedian wants? Fact is, I don't see US healthcare changing until or when that system collapses. Like government healthcare is going to solve anything asides from changing who pays for it (which will significantly increase taxes), and maybe making it so prices aren't inflated out of thin air, but have some relation to reality.

Here's the thing about that tax increase, it doesn't exist in a vacuum.

Every year, Thomas pays $5000 in taxes and $3000 in premiums for his own private health insurance. Then a single payer health care system is established. Thomas must now pay $7500 in taxes. Yes, his taxes have significantly increased, but guess what he is paying in premiums now? Zero. Before, he paid $8000 per year and had access to health care, now he pays $7500 per year and has the same access to health care.

And you may say that Thomas is saving money overall, but someone who earns more income spent no more on health insurance premiums but now must also spend pay more in taxes and overall pays more. Maybe Mark pays $8000 in taxes and $3000 in health insurance, but now he pays $11,500 in taxes to support the single payer system, he's paying $500 more than he used to. Except there's a catch. Under the current system, if Mark gets severely ill, his private health insurance will 'cover' him, but not fully. If his hospital bills go up to $100,000, the insurance pays 90% but Mark will be on the hook for $10,000. But with single payer, copays don't exist, and when you factor in that $10,000 he doesn't have to pay now, he ends up paying less in the long run.

[Ifreann]

Who cares what some liberal comedian wants?

No one. But lots of people are going to hear what he said, because he's famous, and what he said really makes Congress look bad, and Congress can't look bad too much or they'll lose their jobs.

[Rojava Free State]

The people in power view these kinds of folks as resources and not people. They're expendable heroes unfortunately. Just like our troops. Every numbskull in Congress always screams "HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! SUPPORT OUR TROOPS" while searching for a new disastrous foreign war to get into like Iraq or vietnam. You can't say support our troops and then be constantly trying to send them to their deaths, then barely providing healthcare to the ones who manage to survive the melee you put them through which leaves them physically and/or mentally scarred for the rest of their lives. Jon Stewart is right to be mad, the 9/11 responders haven't been treated like the brave men and women they are, and it's a disgrace to this country that the people who are willing to give their lives to protect us are treated like garbage and thrown under the bus when the people on top are too lazy to help or have interests that conflict with keeping these folks alive

[The Holy Therns]

Who cares what some liberal comedian wants? Fact is, I don't see US healthcare changing until or when that system collapses. Like government healthcare is going to solve anything asides from changing who pays for it (which will significantly increase taxes), and maybe making it so prices aren't inflated out of thin air, but have some relation to reality.

As opposed to Saiwania, of course, whose input is crucial.

[Benuty]

Jon Stewart hasn't had any real political clout since he decided to retire from the Daily Show. At least he has kept his integrity which is more than I can say for some of the other former comedy central assets that worked for him.

[Benuty]

Who cares what some liberal comedian wants?

No one. But lots of people are going to hear what he said, because he's famous, and what he said really makes Congress look bad, and Congress can't look bad too much or they'll lose their jobs.

Cockroaches have been more popular than the U.S Congress for years, and it hasn't changed anything yet. I very much doubt without some sort of designated survivor scenario that is likely to change.

For the NSA watching this, I am referencing the show, and not in support of the mass death of government official.

[Aclion]

This bill is projected to pass with overwhelming bipartisan support and be signed by the president; and seems to be sponsored by half of congress. What is there to be ashamed of? Why are people up in arms? Is it just idiots reacting because the funny TV man told them to be angry?

[Benuty]

This bill seems to be sponsored by half of congress and is projected to pass with overwhelming bipartisan support and be signed by the president. What is there to be ashamed of? Why are people up in arms? Is it just idiots reacting because the funny TV man told them to be angry?

The problem being this has been up circling around the hellish landscape of D.C politics since 9/11. Mind you its 2019, and people probably thought cancer would have killed the last of them by now so it might be why people are upset.

[Ifreann]

This bill is projected to pass with overwhelming bipartisan support and be signed by the president; and seems to be sponsored by half of congress. What is there to be ashamed of?

The fact that hardly anyone showed up to the committee hearing to, you know, hear from the people whose health and well-being is on the line here. They kinda have some concerns.

Gerard Fitzgerald, the president of the Uniformed Firefighter Association of Greater New York and a 9/11 first responder, said they were given a five-year projected cost of medical benefits and funds are rapidly running out.

“Unfortunately, because of the amount of victims that have put in for that money, it’s running out quicker than we ever thought would happen,” he said. “We’re a full-- more than a year out from when it’s supposed to expire (in 2020) and they have cut the funding."

[Aclion]

This bill is projected to pass with overwhelming bipartisan support and be signed by the president; and seems to be sponsored by half of congress. What is there to be ashamed of?

The fact that hardly anyone showed up to the committee hearing to, you know, hear from the people whose health and well-being is on the line here. They kinda have some concerns.

Gerard Fitzgerald, the president of the Uniformed Firefighter Association of Greater New York and a 9/11 first responder, said they were given a five-year projected cost of medical benefits and funds are rapidly running out.

“Unfortunately, because of the amount of victims that have put in for that money, it’s running out quicker than we ever thought would happen,” he said. “We’re a full-- more than a year out from when it’s supposed to expire (in 2020) and they have cut the funding."

"Hardly anyone" Two people were absent.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

The fact that hardly anyone showed up to the committee hearing to, you know, hear from the people whose health and well-being is on the line here. They kinda have some concerns.

"Hardly anyone" Two people were absent.

The exact quote was "several" meaning "an indefinite number more than two and fewer than many"

---

Very disappointing to hear about this. Not unexpected sadly from a Republican lead congress.

Giving anyone free healthcare is ebil socialism communism from there perspective.

[Ifreann]

The fact that hardly anyone showed up to the committee hearing to, you know, hear from the people whose health and well-being is on the line here. They kinda have some concerns.

"Hardly anyone" Two people were absent.

13 people were present, and they didn't actually stay through the whole thing.

But sure man, healthcare for American heroes isn't a big deal. Stupid liberal comedian, thinking this is important.

[Saiwania]

As opposed to Saiwania, of course, whose input is crucial.

I can appreciate a good burn, well done.

[Aclion]

"Hardly anyone" Two people were absent.

The exact quote was "several" meaning "an indefinite number more than two and fewer than many"

"only California Rep. Eric Swalwell and Pennsylvania Rep. Guy Reschenthaler were absent according to a spokesman for New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the subcommittee chairman."
Two

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

The exact quote was "several" meaning "an indefinite number more than two and fewer than many"

"only California Rep. Eric Swalwell and Pennsylvania Rep. Guy Reschenthaler were absent according to a spokesman for New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the subcommittee chairman."
Two

Not everyone of the 13 present where still at the whole meeting however.

But technically that means this a grammar mistake on Fox business part.

[The Emerald Legion]

Who cares what some liberal comedian wants? Fact is, I don't see US healthcare changing until or when that system collapses. Like government healthcare is going to solve anything asides from changing who pays for it (which will significantly increase taxes), and maybe making it so prices aren't inflated out of thin air, but have some relation to reality.

Doesn't the US already spend more tax money per capita on healthcare than any other nation? Surely then a proper universal healthcare system, like you said with lower prices, would save money?

They save money because they aren't actually paying for their own healthcare.

[Ifreann]

Doesn't the US already spend more tax money per capita on healthcare than any other nation? Surely then a proper universal healthcare system, like you said with lower prices, would save money?

They save money because they aren't actually paying for their own healthcare.

Other nations don't pay for their own healthcare systems?