Hello Bob,   
      
    LL>> granting full benefits to same-sex couples, including   
    LL>> TRICARE, housing allowances, subsistence allowances, and   
    LL>> family separation allowances by Sept. 3.   
      
    BK>> Universal health care would make Tricare irrelevant.   
      
    LL>> As it should.  However, the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)   
    LL>> is NOT universal health care.  It is an improvement from   
    LL>> what we had before, but even when fully implemented far   
    LL>> from what Americans need and truly deserve.   
      
   BK>That is true. It's a first step, not a panacea.   
      
   The Affordable Care Act brings us in line as to what Switzerland   
   and the Netherlands have.  Not a perfect system, with a lot of fixing   
   left to be done, but better than what we have now.   
      
    LL>> What exactly do Americans need and truly deserve?  Improved   
    LL>> Medicare for All via single-payer health care.   
      
   BK>It could be done within the same general system we have now.   
   BK>Most other industrialized countries do it, but they regulate it   
   BK>much more.   
      
   More regulation is needed in this country if access to quality   
   health care is to become a reality for all, or even most.   
      
   BK>In this country I believe the republicans are going to force   
   BK>single payer on us, by simply destroying the system we have now.   
   BK>Impoverish too many people, reduce business to the point where   
   BK>few get medical benefits, and you have a failed system.   
      
   For Republicans, it is all about power.  Not healtcare.  IOW,   
   Republicans are willing to do anything and everything to get back   
   into power, even if it means gutting access to quality healthcare.   
   Right now they are threatening to defund the Affordable Care Act.   
   However, that is an empty threat as Democrats continue to control   
   the Senate, as well as the White House.  As such, it is just a   
   stalling tactic, an attempt to make President Obama look bad.   
      
   What is going to happen when people find out they like Obama's   
   health care plan more than what we had before?  Do you think they   
   will want to turn back the clock?  Do you think Republicans can   
   retain the House and take over the Senate by promising to repeal   
   "Obamacare"?  Do you think the Republicans can win the White House   
   in 2016 with that line?   
      
    LL>> Notice I did not say Obamacare, Romneycare or Hillarycare.   
      
   BK>I noticed.   
      
    LL>> Leecare is the solution.  Paid for by Bob K. and US   
    LL>> taxpayers.   
      
   BK>Uhh... wait a minute until I get my boots on.   
      
   The world owes me a living, not the other way around.  :)   
      
    BK>>> Subsistance allowances are granted to all military above   
    BK>>> a certian rank, or were when I was in. I believe it was E3   
    BK>>> or E4. Housing allowances are given when base housing is   
    BK>>> not available.   
      
    LL>> Regardless of rank, our men and women in uniform deserve   
    LL>> better than what they get.  What we have today is a   
      
   BK>Oh is that ever true.   
      
   That is an understatement.   
      
    LL>> mercenary army that has been brainwashed to think that only   
    LL>> they can save the world. The reality is far different, as   
      
   BK>They have learned that. 10 years of foreign wars have taught   
   BK>them that.   
      
   And yet, all too soon we seem to forget.  Look at Syria.   
   Look at warhawks in the Congress.  Look at President Obama.   
   Seems like war has been with us from the time we were born.   
      
    LL>> it is led by a president who is a wimp (re: Syria).   
      
   BK>Bush was the whimp. Obama is trying desperately to keep from   
   BK>getting us into another military trap. Syria? Which side really   
   BK>did use the poison gas?   
      
   Wimps go to war.  Tough guys get bullies to back off without   
   ever having to throw a punch.  That is why Jimmy Carter was such   
   a great president.  I would have been so easy for him to have   
   taken us to war in Iran.  Instead, he chose to get our American   
   diplomats who were held hostage returned to our soil, all safe   
   and sound, using diplomacy as his weapon of choice, without   
   losing any combat troops during his presidency.   
      
   Ronald Reagan would have simply nuked the joint, killing untold   
   numbers of Iranians, as well as all 52 Americans.   
      
   BK>He suffers from the same failing Bush did, the inability to name   
   BK>the real enemy, Saudi Arabia.   
      
   Saudi Arabia is our friend (as long as they keep selling us oil).   
      
    BK>> IOW, BFD.   
      
    LL>> That is exactly what President Assad of Syria said about   
    LL>> President Obama's warning not to cross that red line ...   
      
   BK>He may learn the hard way.   
      
   Oh, come now!  Russians and Iranians are his friends!   
   And with friends like that, who needs enemies?   
      
   The fact of the matter is that Bashar al-Assad has   
   survived in Syria far longer than you or me ever could.   
   The guy lives in a tough neighborhood and knows how   
   to survive.  We might not like the guy, but you do have   
   to give him credit.  He has survived where others have   
   not.   
      
   Will he run away and seek exile in Saudi Arabia (or some   
   other Muslim country) if we invade Syria?  Nah.  He'll   
   stay where he is and let his bodyguards (Iran and Russia)   
   protect him.   
      
   Not that I expect us to invade Syria anytime soon ...   
      
   --Lee   
      
   --- MesNews/1.06.00.00-gb   
    * Origin: news://felten.yi.org (2:203/2)