[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by The Chipster

If you don't need to drive long distances, owning an EV right now is like putting money in the bank each week. No gas, oil changes, regular service intervals, new brake pads, etc. I bought a used Jaguar I-Pace on autotrader.com, charge it up in my garage about once per week, and pat it on the butt every morning.

If you have to decide between putting gas in your car vs food on the table, how do you suggest one pays for an EV, who's average price is about $56K?

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

National Health Care works fine in ALL other countries, but the US is again the outlier, just like about gun safety. Historically, the US dependence on INSURANCE companies began way back in a Roosevelt Administration that put on wage and salary CONTROLS. To circumvent the requirements and to recruit the best employees, Corporations would entice new employees with company-paid benefits. It was a great CASE of UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
.........And thus began the INSURANCE COMPANIES stranglehold on US healthcare! Which we pay dearly for today.

If you think long waits for surgery and cancer treatment is fine, then yeah, it's great!

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

I hope that those that are AGAINST protecting the environment and believe that Global Warming is a hoax - don't get HEAT stroke from the heat and humidity here lately in TV Land. Enjoy!

Yeah, it's not been hot in FL during the Summer since the dawn of time...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

The majority of the increase in the price of oil is caused by the worldwide RISK of loss of oil SUPPLY triggered by Russia's invasion. The price of ANY commodity or stock depends on the future risk.

Just because you keep saying it doesn't make it any more true...

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

If you think long waits for surgery and cancer treatment is fine, then yeah, it's great!

That seems to be the Canadian way. Wait on surgery for long enough and hope the patient figures out a different way to pass on

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Then please explain the HUGE jump in prices from January 2021 up to "Putins price hike"...

During the Pandemic the oil companies CAPPED off many wells - thus limiting supply. So, prices went up during the summer of 2021. There was a bump up in price at about Jan 2022 because Russia was staging troops for an invasion of the Ukraine. This was due to increased global risk. Then Russia invaded and by March 2022 the world realized that oil supply was at greater risk - and the price SPIKED upward
........Today the WORLD RISK is VERY HIGH. and the US oil companies can NOT react quickly enough to uncap their wells and get MORE oil flowing. Plus US and world DEMAND has increased because of pent-up desire to TRAVEL All those factors contribute to the HIGH price of oil and gas today. Of those factors, The Russian invasion had the greatest effect and lit the spark toward HIGH PRICES of oil. And oil prices are also a BIG factor in US inflation. Thanks for the question
- I hope that helps.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

That seems to be the Canadian way. Wait on surgery for long enough and hope the patient figures out a different way to pass on

That IS just a talking point by the insurance companies that make HIGH profits and are happy that the US is the BACKWARD outlier in the world with respect to National Health Care. Incidentally, Sweden, Canada, and all the others are happy with their National Health Care - they pay LESS and get MORE. US health care is so bad that people visiting from Europe take out health insurance because the US is so BACKWARD. Also, the US VA system is basically National Health Care for veterans, who get better prices on medicine and good care for less money. It just makes sense because the VA system is NOT a for-PROFIT system like the insurance companies, which are inefficient due to too many middle managers and too much advertising and time fighting other competing insurance companies.
........Also just check the world lists for qualities like INFANT MORTALITY and you will find that the US ranks very low compared to the countries with National Health Care. Also average height......again the US is low. That tells you that US health care is very low on world standards. US insurance companies "toot their own horn" and US citizens buy into that fallacy. The US leads the world in Medical Science and research, but it does NOT trickle down to the ordinary citizen!

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Today's inflation has a lot to do with factors that NO ONE in the US had ANY control over - namely the Russian invasion of the Ukraine and China's bad Covid response which shut down its economy and stopped their manufactured goods from being sent to the US - thus hurting the SUPPLY of manufactured products, which drove those prices up.
........The closest thing to US blame is that the FED should have reacted faster. But, historically, the FED has NOT gotten its TIMING PERFECT.

Exactly.

No pipeline was closed, a pipeline expansion was stopped which would not have come online yet anyway. No impact.

Restricting drilling? No, the companies have 1000's of permits they are not using, because the banks that finance new wells don't want to finance drilling right not. (Google it, they took a bath a while back and are Leary that there needs to be more wells)

96% of the world is also experiencing inflation at massive levels, not just the 4% that lives here.

A significant part of Russian invasion and COVID rebound and China lockdown all happening at the same time.

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

During the Pandemic the oil companies CAPPED off many wells - thus limiting supply. So, prices went up during the summer of 2021. There was a bump up in price at about Jan 2022 because Russia was staging troops for an invasion of the Ukraine. This was due to increased global risk. Then Russia invaded and by March 2022 the world realized that oil supply was at greater risk - and the price SPIKED upward
........Today the WORLD RISK is VERY HIGH. and the US oil companies can NOT react quickly enough to uncap their wells and get MORE oil flowing. Plus US and world DEMAND has increased because of pent-up desire to TRAVEL All those factors contribute to the HIGH price of oil and gas today. Of those factors, The Russian invasion had the greatest effect and lit the spark toward HIGH PRICES of oil. And oil prices are also a BIG factor in US inflation. Thanks for the question
- I hope that helps.

And even IF the US oil companies do uncap and start pumping massive amounts of oil, you think they are going to sell it here for cheap or selling it at world market prices? Hmm, I thin oil companies would rather be nice guys than make money, don't you? (Sarcasm)

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

That seems to be the Canadian way. Wait on surgery for long enough and hope the patient figures out a different way to pass on

Have you ever lived in Canada? I have, and even as an American living/working there, I found less wait and more care than anywhere here - until I got into the VA system which is vastly better than our for profit system.

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

If you think long waits for surgery and cancer treatment is fine, then yeah, it's great!

Sorry, this is just wrong, and has been argued AD NAUSEAM. US pays twice what most 1st world countries pay (per capita) and receives worse results. We now rank around 17th in quality of healthcare.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

That IS just a talking point by the insurance companies that make HIGH profits and are happy that the US is the BACKWARD outlier in the world with respect to National Health Care. Incidentally, Sweden, Canada, and all the others are happy with their National Health Care - they pay LESS and get MORE. US health care is so bad that people visiting from Europe take out health insurance because the US is so BACKWARD. Also, the US VA system is basically National Health Care for veterans, who get better prices on medicine and good care for less money. It just makes sense because the VA system is NOT a for-PROFIT system like the insurance companies, which are inefficient due to too many middle managers and too much advertising and time fighting other competing insurance companies.
........Also just check the world lists for qualities like INFANT MORTALITY and you will find that the US ranks very low compared to the countries with National Health Care. Also average height......again the US is low. That tells you that US health care is very low on world standards. US insurance companies "toot their own horn" and US citizens buy into that fallacy. The US leads the world in Medical Science and research, but it does NOT trickle down to the ordinary citizen!

Actually my comment was based on talking to Canadians about their system. Many will come to the US for procedures and pay full price in order to not succomb to their illness.