newsobserver.com projects - Adam Searing - Comments

Re: How to recognize a double standard, part 1

usafreedom — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:19:58 -0400

Very well said "Double Standard, Part 1"
What a double standard we live with in these times. Everything has to be "politically correct"--what happened to our constitutional right of freedom of speech? What a shame that someone should start such a fuss because someone disagrees with them. Apparently the person that started this is quite feeling his personal and professional "importance." Speaking of how our tax dollars are used, does he have no better thing to do with his time (that, by the way, we as taxpayers are paying him for) than go after a poor individual state worker for having an opposing opinion to his own? I do not know the individuals involved here but it sounds like this poor woman meant no harm to anyone. But let us remember she has a right to free speech, as do we. The fact that it was sent from a state email, I'm sure she now regrets. I am not a state worker; however every place I have worked through the years--everyone I know of has sent personal emails. Whether they are political or something else really is irrelevant. I would imagine everyone on this blog has sent at least one personal email from work at one time or another. Anyone who hasn't let them raise their hand now. All I can say is that if this woman is hurt because of this, what a travesty of justice that would be. I agree with "Double Standard"--grow up people, get over yourselves and your petty differences.

Re: How to recognize a double standard, part 1

czarromulusaugustus — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:40:22 -0400

Well said!

Re: How to recognize a double standard, part 1

_liberty_ — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:33:16 -0400

You are right, both sides do resort to this sort of behavior. I have worked in an agency where tax payers pay the salary of government employees. I have seen the lack of work ethics; cheating on timesheets, not doing an 8 hour work day, taking extra long lunch hours, hall chatting, office chatting, meetings where nothing was accomplished, and so many more things. Each person alive has to live with themselves and will have to answer for themselves. Many times we only hear about government workers, but if I were a betting person, I would say this happens in many work places, not get government places. How about all the time that has been spent in Washington with the HEALTH CARE BILL, and still Congress has not read it. I would have to say there is always two sides to every coin. So how can you judge one individual for sending an email? There is bigger fish to fry than pick on a woman who did not intentionally send the email out to hurt anyone. If someone takes offence about any particular subject, I think it is up to that person to work out their own offenses within themselves instead of using power to get this in the news or their power to publish. Maybe this lady is offended by the article that was written about her. I have family members that fought in the war as well. It was their choice to do this for their country. I have family that were part of the German Jews. I was not offended by the video. But, I am not an Obama fan either. I try to see more than one side to a story...you know the coin that has two sides. Just think what this lady is going through right now after you all went after her; and why go after a person like this over a 'stupid email'? Was this a knee jerk reaction? Was it a cruel moment? So there is two sides to every coin. She must feel very embarrassed by her name being associated to this article. This was something that did not have to happen. It was not newsworthy anyway, and sounded more like a retaliation, or a vindictive act. Does this make you any better than her? Maybe she will be able to keep her job. Do you think? There are too many spoiled rights' groups. Everyone wants to be too sensitive publically these days, always blaming someone else. What has happened to a person who heard or read something just thinking to themselves, 'well I will consider the source'? Think of all the 'rights' groups' and how much division this has caused in this country. I get offended too, but I do not go after someone's jugular to teach a lesson. We handle our disappointments like a grown up, we handle our hurt like a grown up, and we handle our offenses like a grown up. How much better off would this country be if everyone would stop the blame game and just go about their daily business. This also includes all of this racial bias. There is no need in continuing to fuss about who you are and what you think you deserve. The war has been over a long time and people here today are not responsible. Why not bury your hatred? What a great country this would be if people could live in peace instead of living with hatred, jealousy, greed, self indulgence, and not being responsible. And there is a lack of respect in this country for authority. When I was growing up I was taught to respect my parents, my elders, my teachers, the law enforcement, and respect for myself. I know that I have rambled, and I hope that I have made some points that will be well taken. Let's all of us think a little more about humility than self.

Re: Tip: know what you are forwarding

_liberty_ — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:38:06 -0400

Have you ever worked for an agency paid by public dollars? You do not know this lady. She may have been taking a break from her public paid job. Employees are allowed to have a break now and then. I think without any more knowledge than you have of this lady, you are being very cruel.

How to recognize a double standard, part 1

czarromulusaugustus — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:27:24 -0400

I do not think this sort of political propaganda is appropriate nor respectful to the public discourse on the issues...

Nevertheless, the left consistently ridiculed President Bush while he was in office.

Examples:

The I Hate George W. Bush Reader: Why Dubya Is Wrong About Absolutely Everything

Fraud: The Strategy Behind the Bush Lies and Why the Media Didn't Tell You

Thus, it is fair to say that Freedom of Speech is alive and well since both sides resort to these practices...

Sending it from a government computer is neither wise nor encouraged, but have you ever been downtown during work hours. One might notice a handful of employees smoking a cigarette or chatting on their cell phone. Smoking a cigarette increases the cost of healthcare for that employee, plus the wasted five to ten minutes of actually smoking the cigarette or a brief cell phone conversation. An example of government waste!

Some people need to have some tougher skin, partisans always convey a double standard!

But let's continue to build a new pier!

Re: Tip: know what you are forwarding

barbie50 — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:14:01 -0400

This is outrageous. This woman, who is paid with public dollars, forwarded this message on a state computer on state time. Clearly, her head needs to roll.

Re: Tip: know what you are forwarding

mountainman — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:27:14 -0400

when obama stops acting like a nazi, folks will stop relating him to one!!!!!

Re: Tip: know what you are forwarding

rajasblog — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:10:56 -0400

very nice post on youtube....
www.rajasblog.co.cc

Re: NC group in on health debate

BitterEXdemocrat — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:43:41 -0400

and then Parade magazine had the nerve to write that grassroots groups didnt really exist in America...Americans for Prosperity have called their bluff...look for a retraction!

EACH ONE should pay for HIS/HER OWN healthcare. Its NOT a function of our government, NOR a right in our Constitution.

Re: Blue Cross: Audit already underway

robdarich — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:08:30 -0500

Blue Cross should know when to shut up, why the chirping? I should know when to shut up too, but seriously - who talks during an audit when nobody's asked them a question? That's business rule number stupid since everyone knows it, even those who can't count.

Re: Orr: Reduce insurance mandates

FFC1304 — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:32:47 -0500

Wonder when Judge ORR will make an example of State Senator Martin Nesbitt, Democrat- Buncombe county for his blatent conflict of interest with NC BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD? He sits on the NC 'health' committee, yet
courts NCBS to sponsor three wannabee 'racin cars' with BCBS logos on them...when they gonna look into that bit of democrat corruption?

HOW did NC EVER get to be SOOoooo CORRUPT? Think democrat.

Re: Orr: Reduce insurance mandates

JohnHood — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:21:07 -0500

Adam,

I don't understand your rejoinder to Max. Did you read the document Ryan referenced here? It appears to list 47 health-insurance mandates in NC, including benefits, providers, and covered persons. Perhaps I am missing something.

As to your broader point, I would argue that there is really no difference between the two mandate issues. Forcing everyone to purchase health insurance necessarily means defining what "health insurance" is at a minimum, which brings us back to mandates on covered treatments, providers, and persons.

Re: Orr: Reduce insurance mandates

adamsearing — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:09:53 -0500

Max - Glass houses and all that. You cited "47 odd mandates" when you wrote about this issue.

Looks like you might want to do a little source checking yourself.

Re: Orr: Reduce insurance mandates

MaxB — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:54:01 -0500

It might be old school to you, Adam, but it's not old school to the people who can't afford to get insurance because the government forces them to buy marriage counselors, chiropractic, and mental health coverage they neither want nor need. We can argue about what's 'essential,' but are you seriously arguing all these NC mandates are essential?

Well, I have an idea: why not allow people to buy coverage in other states? Why is it that North Carolina's suite of mandates is perfect as-is and other states' suite of mandates, somehow, are not? Or, why not introduce "mandate lite" legislation like other states such as Connecticut, New York and Arizona have? That would mean that the insurers have to offer such coverage, but at least that savvy consumers would have the option of not buying certain elements. I can think of about 10 I wouldn't get straight away -- and I'd love to see my premiums go down because of it. I'm sure a lot of other people would, as well.

Perhaps you should go back and do a little more research on the issue, too, Adam. Seems like your mind is made up that we should all have to pay for chiropractors whether we want to or not.

Re: Orr: Reduce insurance mandates

adamsearing — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:16:48 -0500

That's one thing I really like about Bob Orr - he actually thinks hard about policy questions, even if you might disagree with him.

Actually, I think the mandate debate is pretty old-school, at least if you are talking about requiring insurance companies to do the right thing. Insurance companies learned over the last decade that taking actions like kicking new moms out of the hospital after 24 hours wasn't doing anything for their already battered images - whether it was legal or not.

The more pressing mandate debate is about whether requiring people to buy health insurance coverage should be a part of health reform.

Putting the Obama/Clinton sniping on this issue aside - in my view, their health plans are pretty similar - this really is an important question. In my view, eventually you do have to require everyone to buy insurance because you don't want someone taking a free ride until they get old, or sick, enough to actually want coverage. However, it's just a penalty on lower income workers if you aren't offering health plans that they can actually afford.

To mandate or not to mandate will be one of the big questions come next year if we do actually start talking about national reform.