He's in the Army now

[Bull]

Kind of lenghty but well worth the read.

Wife’s cancer prompts man to enlist

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/64677772.html

In March, he was laid off from his job as a raw materials coordinator for a plastics company called PolyOne, where he'd worked for 20 years. His severance package had provided several months' salary, but by August the paychecks were winding down. Soon the cost of his family health coverage was going to triple, then a few months after that, nearly triple again. They needed coverage so Mom could fight her cancer.

Dad's solution: a four-year hitch in the Army.

[darroll]

Yes,
You do what it takes.

[larry kremis]

He's serving 2 noble purposes. I read where enlistment is up. There aren't many jobs, especially jobs that pay a living wage and health benefits. A lot of kids who just graduated can't afford college, so they enlist to qualify for the GI Bill when there enlistment is up. You don't suppose this is all a government conspiricy do you?

[kainsworth]

Unfortunately we're not really in peace time now. Sad that he felt that his only choice to save his family is to risk his life.

[Bull]

It just seems to me a shame anyone should feel it necessary to enlist just to receive medical care. This is what federal health care should be for.

[Daniel Blattenbauer]

What a shame that a person has to put his/her life on the line for health care for others. AND, the GOP wants to continue the status quo! So much for "family values". Someone once told me that Republicans are not supportive of abortion but don't give a damn if you starve to death or die later. I used to think that was a joke but now I am beginning to believe it the more I hear about all the suffering in this country and the fight by the GOP to not do anything to protect big insurance companies.

[blondie 11]

To me it shows he had pride. He could gone on welfare and she would have been eligable for medicaid. This guy most likely has a house and money in the bank. As I have said(if anyone reads my post) I see men and women going and coming back from Iraq each week. They have different reasons for accepting the assignment. One was going this week to pay off all his credit card bill. Another to pay for his daughter to go to medical school. We all have choices, that is what life is about. I think this man made a great one.

[Daniel Blattenbauer]

Blondie, I have to respect the guy for making this choice. However, I surely hope he does not return disabled or fail to return. It would be a shame if he had to give up his life just because some greedy insurance executive wants to continue to make record salary and bonuses. That would be disgusting indeed.

[darroll]

What’s greedy about making a good salary?

[Daniel Blattenbauer]

I call it very greedy to make millions in salary and bonuses by denying people health care because of pre-existing conditions or controlling the market so as to charge exorbitant premiums. That is greed to me, at the expense of people's lives. Of course the GOP does not see it that way, naturally.

[darroll]

The government just gave huge bonuses to Freddie Mac.
It’s ok if the government gives bonuses?
Some of those people are losing their jobs in the insurance industry and it’s just a hold over bonus.
As far as insurance, put the people that don’t have it in Medicaid, instead of screwing up the whole insurance structure.