Thread regarding Chevron Corp. layoffs

Let's all agree to come back to this topic after the November 1 ACA open enrollment date. I'll tell you how much my ACA plan premium changed and you all will report how much your Chevron employer or pre-65 retiree premiums have changed.

Well let's all sit around and brag to each other about how much we can take from the government/tax payers that we didn't earn. Stay classy laid off losers! Always a pleasure to visit this site - LOL.

@1nisv, And obviously, since it struck a nerve, you did not. To each his own.

@1niae, "Food stamp lobster". I think you just coined a phrase. #SolidGold. I'm going to steal that one for my standup comedy act. Thanks.

@inlha, So you got yourself an education? Trump University?

"your so worried about" pretty much tells it all. Enjoy your entitlements. I enjoy my job and education.

-1myhc: Well I am one of those lefties your so worried about, but you will have to work harder than that if you want a response... I am just toooo stuffed on all this food stamp lobster to reply to some half hearted trolling attempt.

1lflo, If you have an intelligible comment or point of view, please provide it, or be lumped in with the inbred loser left-wing fascists trying to shut down free speech they don't agree with.

Join the discussion or shut up, 1lflo. Most people just read and move on. Take a cue and do the same.

I am just happy that the moderators have not shut this thread down as they have been on many political oriented discussions such as this in the past. After all, it's just people expressing different opinions. And if it was like many current so-called "free speech" forums around the nation, the political "you-know-whos" would be desperately trying to stifle any such discourse or opposing representation. They must fear that the narrative that they disagree with would be presented in such a common sense and reasonable fashion that they may lose a few sacred votes.

Semantics, nothing more. Stupid words invented to distract and get people riled up, while the government gets closer to another election season where they will distract everyone with more promises and empty words. Haven't you all caught on already?

@1kvgl, All you say it absolutely correct. But I am not referring to the slow downward direction of the United States in economic terms. That is something, as you pointed out can be overcome again and again. I'm talking of the continued eroding of our American traditions, values and morality.

@1krje - The U.S. went through the Great Depression in the 1930s, a downturn that was an order of magnitude worse than anything since. And yet by 1950, we were the leading the world's economy. New York city was a basket case in the 1970s, but by 2000 it was thriving again. If everyone believes things can only go downhill, then they certainly will. If enough people believe things can get better and act to do something about it, then at least there's a chance they will. That's all I'm saying.

@1kgba, God bless you for being more of an optimist than me. I do not see the US heading in any direction but down, slowly, yet downward.

@1kqnb - I guess that depends on where you live. Where I live I feel my local and state elected officials do a pretty good job of trying to fix things and make government work well. I don't always agree with what they do, but for the most part, I understand their reasoning. For me, it's the federal level that's turned its back on the people, though it wasn't always so. It wasn't until the mid to late 90s that things went haywire. Maybe the existential threat of the Soviet Union had kept everyone in line. In any case, people tend to get the government they deserve, so if everyone thinks that all elected officials are worthless scumbags, then only worthless scumbags will run for office. Perhaps hoping otherwise is using rose-colored glasses, but the alternative is to believe that democracy and hence our free society is doomed, and I refuse to give up on it.

@1kqto, you are seeing the world through rise-colored glasses. If there were so many 'potential avenues' to solve our broken systems, why is it that our elected representatives only bicker with each other and among themselves? No one wants anything fixed because things are far more complicated than the average person can imagine. The country is broke in more ways than you know. Keep what you have and take as much as you can. It's a cruel world out there.

I just do not have all this build up hate and pessimism. Like many of you claim, I am also well off...not rolling in the dough ...but enough to buy anything I really need or want, and more than I will spend before I die. The last thing I want to do it spend all my time obsessing about how I can extract a little more from the public coffers slated for the poor and ruminating about how bad it is that they (the poor) get anything at all. I am interested in how to get the system (our government) to work better and more efficiently for everyone (and that includes our health care system). How we get there is worth discussing (lots of potential avenues), in contract to most of the b---s--- hate messages that dominate this thread. That said, that is why I tend toward the current Democratic agenda and you guys, I guess, define the alt right.

@1jemo, you have put into words my exact sentiments.

1jenb and 1jaqx, I can understand both sides but I also find myself many times in the situation where I take whatever I can simply out of spite for the system and it being filthy with fraud, abuse and political vote-buying aspects. It's as if the system of makers and takers have put the honest hard-working people in a position that if they don't behave greedily like the takers and take advantage of every single hand-out, loop-hole, subsidy or whatever than we will continue to be taken advantage of by the liberal democrats who believe that the world(particularly, the conservative working class) owes them a living, And they throw in the poor people as the primary victim/receiver of said entitlements to try to argue their greedy taker case(& get votes), to divert guilt from them and onto you. In the end you understand that you have been played.

-1jenb, not the original poster, but I and many others don't live on those principles. We have everything that we would ever need and don't live our lives around a philosophy of living life as a game of how much you can take from others that you did not earn or do not deserve.

And after all that, and relatively soon for many of us, we will all die. You can measure your life by how much you have taken from others that you did not earn or did not deserve. I am simply not with you on that. I am in a different camp.

Right you are, 1jani. But don't eat yourself up. Life is too short and there is nothing you can do about it singlehandedly. Not even our politicians seem to give a damn. It's like they work to perpetuate the nanny state. Being that is the way the country is heading, why continue to protest and be bitter? Why not realize the direction of society and join in? Take what you can get and try to enjoy life.

@NYl0bIP-1jpzl, You shouldn't be so surprised. Many little millennial douche-bags are all entitled and full of themselves like that, Basically greedy little A-holes who are take take take liberals and think of no one but themselves. It's pretty pathetic but it's sort of like the new-age millennial ideology. They think that everyone, especially the older generations( boomers, silents,etc). owe them a living, just for being born. They will be prepared with a litany of false reasons about how your destroyed their world and environment, seemingly forgetting that you created (by reproduction) THEM too!.

1jwhs, So your answer is that you are not completely happy, but continue to take from others, "whether you need it or not", just because you consider yourself "entitled". Wow. And you admit that? Just wow.

Nice to not be you. JS

1ikbz, Ok, sorry, I get it now. the son is the little imbecile simpleton being taught by someone wiser and with more experience than them, not necessarily older. So in that case, from the incoherence of your posts and you being schooled by others, it is perfectly clear that you 1ikbz, are the "son" son! Thanks for letting us know, child, now run along now, useful idiot!

@1jkqb, my answer to you is "No", not entirely. My path has not led me to the kind of happiness I envisioned having by this time of my life. But, don't misconstrue that I'm unhappy. I have material things others don't Ave and I'm financially secure and expect to be in fine shape the rest of my life. I'm more disappointed in our government and the direction the country is going. I feel that I must center only on my needs, give nothing back and take all that I'm entitled to, whether I need it or not. That's not the happiness I want, but it's the reality of things for me.

-1ixck: Such a patriot! I served when I was young and continue to give when I can and it seems pressing (like now following some significant upheaval here in houston). You take whatever. you can from the common pot and I infer simultaneously speak ill of others in need. I submit Sr. that you are the greater sinner than those recovering from a hit. It is not my place to judge you personally (and note all is anonymous here), but only ask ... does your path lead you to happiness?

"I'm sure you know what is meant when someone is referred to as "son"."...no, no I did not know that. In the context of an anonymous web post I basically assumed the poster was by some Alzheimer ridden old fart that the nurses at the home had forgot to put back in bed... but then to each his own .... ROTFLMAO...crickets...dic---ad.

@1iuja, I'm sure you know what is meant when someone is referred to as "son". Don't be obtuse. Just so you understand, "Son" - a person of lesser learning that is being taught by his elder. Got it, son?

1ixck, You may want to tell that to your actual son, if you have one, no one on this forum is your "son", and many, like me, are old enough to be your daddy, "Son" - lol. No one on this site cares much for the advice of a pathetic parasite who prefers to steal from those less fortunate than them and act smug about it, and that includes democrats and republicans alike, I can assure you.

It seems to me the US government has virtually no will or ability to make real postive change. They have no balls or the inclination to wean its citizens off freebies and dole-outs. I think they have surrendered to the fact that when the public is "given" a benefit of any kind, its political suicide to take it away. We have turned in the direction of socialism and the nanny state after Bush (41) left office. We are at or beyond the point of no return and that's why we see an ineffective government despite a Republican President and Republican controlled House and Senate. If you still stick to your glory days pride of self-reliance and turn down lawful grants, aid and subsidies while you are eligible to receive them, then there's more for me, I say. Lose your pride, son. We have turned a page in this country and not going back. If you are able to gain something from the government, take it quickly and find more ways to get some more. The ones left to give will end up having to give more. I prefer not to be a giver anymore.

-1igbz, Do you mean how much you pay personally or how much that others pay for your health care? Don't bother to post any BS data that you allegedly have obtained word of mouth passed around the grapevine then posted it on this anonymous site, there's no way to confirm it in any event. But feel free to waste your time and give us your opinion and let us know what it's like being on government assistance instead of paying your own way. Many people say they might as well just collect Welfare and Food stamps, there's no reason to work or pay their own way, hence the reduction of the American workforce and decline in "statistical" unemployment. Like a nation of useless parasites, a collection of subsidized bums. Not unlike a zoo. Just keep the animals in cages and feed them. And they all will vote democrat - for more freebees paid for by the responsible class, and not by choice, it is their only sustenance.

Some procedures are "essentially rationed by a prioritized waiting list". Yes. Sounds lovely. Just like Canada. Bring it on liberal socialists!!!! America has been waiting so long for this kind of liberal

compassion!!!

Never heard of a "pun opinion". If you are referencing my earlier post about my experience with Canadian health care, my and my Canadian friends and acquaintance's own personal experiences with it, those are my experiences. Honest truthful experiences, call it and ridicule it all that you like. Cite all the bogus polls and reports that you like also. I rely on my personal experience. How did those polls pan out for you in your last election?

In November, I'll reopen this thread, if it hasn't closed by then to let everyone know how much my ACA Plan has gone up (or down). I'll also be asking both active employees and pre-65 retirees how much their healthcare premiums changed. I have a feeling my ACA plan will have the least percentage change. There's a good chance mine will remain the same.

1itiz: You welcome to your pun opinions, but I do not think they are based on any knowledge of the facts. Many studies have shown little difference in patient outcomes between USA and Canada. The biggest difference is their system is half the cost, they focus more on prevention, some procedures for those need the end of life that a not deemed cost effective are essentially rationed by a prioritized waiting list.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2801918/

"Results

We identified 38 studies comparing populations of patients in Canada and the United States. Studies addressed diverse problems, including cancer, coronary artery disease, chronic medical illnesses and surgical procedures. Of 10 studies that included extensive statistical adjustment and enrolled broad populations, 5 favoured Canada, 2 favoured the United States, and 3 showed equivalent or mixed results. Of 28 studies that failed one of these criteria, 9 favoured Canada, 3 favoured the United States, and 16 showed equivalent or mixed results. Overall, results for mortality favoured Canada (relative risk 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.92-0.98, p= 0.002)"

It is time we wake up in the USA and start spending our health care dollars in smarter ways!

You guys can talk all that you want about Canadian health care and I love Canada, visit there often, but I know very few people, including MANY Canadians, who would choose having a major operation there over the states. Now that's just my experience, of 67 years, which is not much, I realize. Now recently, things have gotten worse, certainly after Obamacare. But there have always been a few oddball types who will invariably raise the flag for socialism, or socialized medicine, regardless of the quality or availability of services and will stretch the truth to make their point. It's like it's in their DNA or something to be dependent, mindless wards of the state and want to force the issue.

Ain't gonna work. This Yankee will use US healthcare no matter what it takes. Unless, or course, it goes pure socialized, or single payer, which pretty much ends up the same in most cases, and in that event, this ol boy is long gerne. Already have a second home. No problemo!

I lived in Calgary in the early 1990s and the Canadian health care system worked great for me. I am in fairly good health mind you, so my issues were all relatively minor, but I had not problem getting a same day appointments and the professionals (Dr and nurses) seemed all engaged and top notch. I may be poorer is you require a higher level of service...I do not know.

'socialized medicine" is bad for everyone involved, is what the prior post should emphasize. The U.S. is much better than that. Please keep it that way.

Thanks.

The ROTFLMAO crickets guys goes get very tiring after a few hundred posts. Accusing everyone else of being low life free loaders so loadly that one can only conclude it is self loathing by a guy on long term disability because he got his thumb stuck up his a$$.

Sorry, @1hmyj, "crickets" is used when no one responses, not as a punctuation at the end of a post. And "LMAO" hasn't been used as an insult (still OK if a friend posts a funny video, for example) by anyone past puberty for about 10 years. Better get your mommy to explain this confusing internet slang to you.