The Trump Tracker

[vorlon13]

40% annual premium increases will fuck up my ability to maintain the farm in not too many years.

And while my over $12,000 premium did not rise 2016-17. my out of pocket, copay, deductibles will run my cost up to potentially $20,000 in '17 since I had to change health insurance plans since mine was canceled.

I'm in a small minority of farmers who own their land, and equipment free and clear and can self finance next years seed/fertilizer/weed control expenses. I have no idea how operations my size to 5X my size can be financially viable with the increase in health care expense if they don't.

Damn, when I was a kid, within 2 miles of where I grew up, there were over a dozen farmsteads. Now, 2/3 are bulldozed and farmed over, and of the 1/2 that are left, they are just residences for retirees or folks that commute to work and don't farm at all.

How much more decimating of the actual farmers does the US want to do ?

[A Theist]

You know what I'd like to see when he's trying to get congressional term limits? How about making it so that Congress can't stick riders into bills, or remove entire sections. A bill should be passed as it was first presented, and if it doesn't pass, it has to go back to the drawing board.

I feel like too many bills (including Obamacare) were ruined because they were changed too many times before being voted on. It's like asking a really good architect to design a house, and then letting a load of your friends modify sections of the blueprint before building it, and then blaming the architect when parts of the house start collapsing.

It's all about negotiations. Every lawmaker wants something in return for their constituency, (to ensure their reelection, that is). I'm not opposed to the idea of a few relevant riders here and there, if need be. But the way some of this stuff gets either stripped away or loaded down is ridiculous.

[vorlon13]

It just occurs to me, if there is a big drought or other calamity, and I cannot self finance a subsequent years crop inputs, I'm done.

Trying to hold on with a loan would be stupid, I couldn't pay it back. I'd sell out while I could, buy an annuity, and hope the rest of you don't screw the pooch and fuck that up too.


Shit, didn't realize there even is an end game for me, and now in a flash, I can see it.

[Tiberius]

40% annual premium increases will fuck up my ability to maintain the farm in not too many years.

And while my over $12,000 premium did not rise 2016-17. my out of pocket, copay, deductibles will run my cost up to potentially $20,000 in '17 since I had to change health insurance plans since mine was canceled.

I'm in a small minority of farmers who own their land, and equipment free and clear and can self finance next years seed/fertilizer/weed control expenses. I have no idea how operations my size to 5X my size can be financially viable with the increase in health care expense if they don't.

Damn, when I was a kid, within 2 miles of where I grew up, there were over a dozen farmsteads. Now, 2/3 are bulldozed and farmed over, and of the 1/2 that are left, they are just residences for retirees or folks that commute to work and don't farm at all.

How much more decimating of the actual farmers does the US want to do ?

I feel for you. I feel that premiums will continue rising either way, because ultimately insurance companies keep getting what they want. They managed to get Congress to water down Obamacare, and made a profit off it.

If Trump really wants to reduce the costs of healthcare, he needs to reign in insurance companies by setting limits for everything. Or, y'know, by creating a single payer system which would sort this whole mess out.

It's all about negotiations. Every lawmaker wants something in return for their constituency, (to ensure their reelection, that is). I'm not opposed to the idea of a few relevant riders here and there, if need be. But the way some of this stuff gets either stripped away or loaded down is ridiculous.

Relevant riders, maybe. I still think it's a bit ridiculous. A bill is supposed to be well planned to perform a certain action or set of actions. Riders effectively "sneak" legislation into a bill. If you want legislation to pass, put it into the original bill, or create your own.

[Autumnlicious]

The problem with term limits is that it changes the focus of a politician towards fundraising, which is part of how we got into this mess of the diminishing middle class (thus the rise of the angry white voter).

If you're always worrying about re-election to get your whole (short) wad, you're more likely to take money from someone who isn't a politician but can easily finance it.

Term limits are an idea that is elegant, simple and wrong. It's the half solution that is worse than the whole solution or no solution at all.

It would be a blessing for billionaires because they could simply count on an unending stream of people to finance for Congress with the understanding of "Beware of biting the hand that funds you".