Only if you're born into the top 10%? That's news to me, as I'm from immigrant parents who came with about $200 in their pockets and eventually worked their way up to upper middle class. Stop lying. America IS the land of opportunity for those hard-working and not b**ching about everything all the time. 
Lol, try living in Europe. One story of working class to middle class doesn't make a country socially mobile. America is lagging behind the rest of the world in healthcare and education, because access to the best of it is limited to the rich. And without healthcare and education, life is going to be pretty tough. I have nothing but respect for people who've worked their way up the ladder in the US, because it is extraordinarily difficult over there to do so. Try living in a country where the quality of education and healthcare you receive as a child is almost irrespective of your parents wealth, then go back to the US and proclaim it the land of oppurtunity.
kick, I just got back from another march for health care--my 5th in 12 months. A lot of "health" insurance companies have a big presence in Chicago, so we are the epicenter of the grassroots movement.
Let me lay down some knowledge on you. Try not to piss yourself laughing.
Harvard Medical School
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uninsured have a 40% higher risk of death than the insured -Keep in mind, the Three Stooges here (Dmast, swish, and monstertruck) will have you believe that only deadbeats and derelicts go without health care, probably their own fault, too. But often, their only crime is that they lost their job and had a health condition at the time, known as the pre-existing condition, which precludes them from obtaining health care after having lost their job since health care in the US is employer based. (See how the conservatives keep Americans scared s**tless.) These are the conservative knuckleheads who will be quick to agree that the system is broken, and something must be done, but when they are in control of the congress and presidency, their intentions are clear: F' it, we're making to much money!
Business Week
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Aetna's net income for 2008 was $1.38 billion and for 2009 $1.27 billion-And that's after clearing all their expenses, including the $2.8 million a year they piss away lobbying congress, i.e., paying off congressmen and senators. This is just 1 company, and they're not even the most egregious. I only have their blotter because the march took place in front of their downtown offices. Can you imagine? Making money off selling health care!
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Aetna's CEO made $24.3 million in 2009 and has $194.5 million in options (United Health Group's CEO made $1.6 billion in options in 6 years!); the top 4 executives made $40.5 million*
In 2009, Aetna and the other top 5 insurance companies made $12.2 billion, a 56% increase over 2008*
Aetna announced they will eliminate 350,000 members from national accounts and 300,000 from smaller group accounts-That means, while raking in billions, 650,000 more Americans will be without health care in 2010.
Anyway, it's great to see someone else take an interest in the US Health Care saga, even if you live in the UK.
