Oracle_of_Knowledge

We must use the indefinite article "a" dildo. We never say "your" dildo.

The Chrysler headquarters building is like full lockdown. Employee entrances are single-man turnstyles. The guest entrance is full security desk with kiosks where you have to put in your name, get your picture taken, and an employee must have pre-approved your visit. To pick up your printed out badge at security, you have to show photo ID. When you check in your employee contract is emailed and has to come to the front to escort you into the complex. And single-man turnstyles to get past the security desk.

It's pretty insane. No guards to get into the parking garage though.

I think a good way to think about it would be to compare health insurance to car repair.

If I need an oil change, I go to the dealership and they charge me to $35, I pay them $35, and I get an oil change.

If I need a general physical, I go to the doctor and they submit a bill of God Knows What to the insurance company to the tune of $500. Insurance comes back and says "We'll cover $465 of that, after a $35 co-pay." So I end up paying $35 for my checkup, but insurance is paying for "something."

I break my engine. I take it to the dealership and they tell me it'll be $1400 for parts and $800 for labor. They charge me $2200, I pay them $2200.

I go into the hospital for spinal surgery. I get a hospital bill with 30 line items on it, including things like $10,000 for room and board, $5000 for Misc Equipment, and $1300 for EKG. Total bill rolls up to $55,000. Back and forth with insurance, bill comes out to $2300. I pay $2300.

Why can't I just single-payer shit like I do for my car. If back surgery is going to cost me $2300, why don't they just charge me $2300?

The whole system is bananas. Hospitals are forced to order from certain vendors and spend $20 each for little scales (rulers) that are worth a dime.

Funny story on that. When I was a child my grandparents brought me to church because we were staying with them for the weekend. It was a special day and all the children were sitting up on the dais area. Well the Eucharist time came, my brother and I got up and took communion. Oops.

My folks later told us that apparently my grandparents flipped out. We had been baptized but not what one would call a "Catholic in good standing." Certainly less so now. But now I have a funny story to tell any time the Eucharist comes up on conversation, which I'm sure you know is ALL the time.

I fall back to my standard "It's all about the metaphor, man." But if I had to choose because "This is the actual flesh and blood" and "Well, it's bread and wine, but the -essence- of flesh and blood is kinda there too" I'd go with the one where I'm not actually consuming flesh and blood.

But it's all a bit silly to me, so what do I know.