1 00:00:04,879 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: What's going on? Thank you so much for listening to 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:09,640 this podcast. It is heard live every day from noon 3 00:00:09,679 --> 00:00:12,480 to three on WBT Radio in Charlotte. And if you 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,719 want exclusive content like invitations to events, the weekly live stream, 5 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,239 my daily show prep with all the links, become a patron, 6 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,600 go to thepeteclendershow dot com. Make sure you hit the 7 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,160 subscribe button. Get every episode for free right to your 8 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,679 smartphone or tablet. And again, thank you so much for 9 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:30,879 your support. I want to welcome back to the program 10 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:36,159 artist Watkins, who is the executive director of the se 11 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,200 A n C, which is the State employees Association in 12 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:41,960 North Carolina. Welcome back, artists. How are you? 13 00:00:43,119 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 2: I'm doing well. I hope you are. 14 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:48,840 Speaker 1: I'm doing well as well. So you've got the legislative 15 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:53,200 session kicking off in Raleigh, and so I guess the 16 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:56,320 first thing, what is the the se A n C. 17 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,880 What are you guys looking at for like legislative priority 18 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:01,520 going into the session? 19 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:06,719 Speaker 2: Sure we and we pronounce it SCENIC for whatever reason. 20 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:09,799 Over the years, for whatever the reason, the group has 21 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:15,120 pronounced that Scenic and Scenic's goals are always to make 22 00:01:15,159 --> 00:01:18,719 sure pay healthcare benefits, the things that matter to every 23 00:01:18,719 --> 00:01:22,040 other working person out there are the things that matter 24 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:23,799 to our members. 25 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: And so one of those are our legislative I'm. 26 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 2: Sorry, said, so those are always going to be our 27 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:29,920 legislative goals. 28 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 1: Gotcha. And so what's the landscape look like going into 29 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:36,599 the session regarding those goals. 30 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:40,599 Speaker 2: Well, I'll tell you, you know, it's going to be a 31 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:44,879 difficult year for everyone. And part of that is obviously 32 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:49,560 the tragedy we had with Helene is affecting, you know, 33 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,879 not just all of our citizens out there and trying 34 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,599 to make sure their lives get put back together to 35 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:00,680 the best degree we can. But there's also a lot 36 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:02,959 of revenue that's not going to come in from those 37 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:07,359 counties that they lost because they lost everything. So that's 38 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,039 going to have a lingering effect on the budget. But 39 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:12,199 there are things that can be done and that's what 40 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:15,800 we're very focused on, and healthcare is where we think 41 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:16,840 a lot of those things are. 42 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:23,159 Speaker 1: So the other day I saw WRL had the report. 43 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:25,560 I guess it came out of the State Board of Education. 44 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,199 One of the members on the State Board of Education 45 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:32,919 is the state Treasurer, Brad Briner, who said that the 46 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:37,240 state health Plan, which is overseen by the Treasurer's office 47 00:02:37,759 --> 00:02:41,280 is looking at a half a billion dollar deficit, and 48 00:02:41,319 --> 00:02:44,560 that is even after there was money put into it 49 00:02:45,039 --> 00:02:47,280 by the General Assembly to help shore it up. But 50 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,120 that's not going to be enough going forward. And his predecessor, 51 00:02:51,199 --> 00:02:54,960 Dale Folwell talked about this as well. And so Briner 52 00:02:55,039 --> 00:02:58,840 has floated this idea essentially a means test, right that 53 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,800 the more you make, uh, then the more you would 54 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:07,199 pay for your health benefits. Is that is that? Am 55 00:03:07,199 --> 00:03:08,280 I understanding that correctly? 56 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 2: That's that's what I understood from the article. And certainly 57 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,000 you know, Treasure Brinner has been good enough to be 58 00:03:17,039 --> 00:03:20,840 in communication with us, and he seems like a nice man. 59 00:03:21,199 --> 00:03:24,759 But I will say this is this is kind of 60 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,919 a usual exp what I would expect someone to do. 61 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,560 Things are. You know, there's a deficit that we need 62 00:03:32,599 --> 00:03:34,400 to fix, so we're going to go to working people 63 00:03:34,599 --> 00:03:38,520 to fix it and not go to secret contracts corporations have. 64 00:03:39,639 --> 00:03:41,759 And that's that's the situation with the health plan. That's 65 00:03:41,759 --> 00:03:45,240 what Treasure of Fallwell had tried to highlight, right with. 66 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: His clear pricing, uh, his clear pricing initiative. Yeah, that 67 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,719 got a lot of pushback from the hospital industry. So 68 00:03:51,759 --> 00:03:54,039 when you're when you're when you say secret contracts, you're 69 00:03:54,039 --> 00:03:56,840 talking about like the blue Cross Blue Shield stuff that 70 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:02,840 like uh, Fallwell couldn't get prices is for various surgeries 71 00:04:02,879 --> 00:04:05,159 and treatments at various places around the state. 72 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 2: Right, and again, I think Treasure Briner seems like a 73 00:04:09,319 --> 00:04:13,560 nice man. However, if he's not insisting to see what 74 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:19,959 he's paying with taxpayer money to healthcare providers, because that's 75 00:04:19,959 --> 00:04:23,720 being negotiated by an insurance company, but it's taxpayer money 76 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:26,720 being spent. If he can't see where he's spending it, 77 00:04:26,959 --> 00:04:28,519 how in the world does he know he needs to 78 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,240 jack up premiums on working people. And so we got 79 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,439 a problem with that. This isn't a state employee issue. 80 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,560 This is an American issue. You know, we talk about 81 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:42,639 the swamp in DC and healthcare spending on federal lobbyists 82 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:47,959 grew seventy percent over the last twenty years. And part 83 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:52,959 of what's been delivered is there is complete secrecy over 84 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:55,639 most of this pricing. And as Treasure of Fallwell used 85 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:57,720 to point out, we would never accept that if we 86 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:01,480 went to the grocery store cash register having no idea 87 00:05:01,759 --> 00:05:03,160 what the groceries were going to cost. 88 00:05:03,759 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 1: So according to this article, though, it says that state 89 00:05:06,519 --> 00:05:09,959 workers who ensure only themselves can pay as little as 90 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:14,360 twenty five dollars a month for healthcare. Is that is 91 00:05:14,399 --> 00:05:18,240 how accurate? Is that is that figure? And who does 92 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:23,360 that cover? Because twenty I think to a lot of listeners, 93 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,600 they may hear twenty five dollars a month for your 94 00:05:26,639 --> 00:05:30,439 health insurance. That's really a great deal. 95 00:05:31,639 --> 00:05:35,519 Speaker 2: So two things about that. Yeah, number one is true. 96 00:05:35,639 --> 00:05:39,199 Number one, and the reason it historically was true. It 97 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:41,920 used to be premium free for years and years, and 98 00:05:41,959 --> 00:05:44,879 the goal was because we pay so much less to 99 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,079 state employees than they would make in the same job 100 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:50,240 in the private sector. The way you kind of sold 101 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:53,519 people on state government was pays not great, You're never 102 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,000 going to get rich, but your benefits will be decent. 103 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:01,600 And over the years that has diminished, managed diminished. But 104 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,279 that's true for the state employee. What the state doesn't 105 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:11,040 do is pay anything on the dependent coverage. So people's children, 106 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:14,800 you know, are costing them sometimes seven and eighty dollars 107 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,319 a month. So if you're talking about someone in law enforcement, 108 00:06:17,439 --> 00:06:22,279 somebody teaching, somebody you know working on school buses, that 109 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,519 might be one week's pay of the month to cover 110 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:28,480 their dependent coverage. And that's that's not sustainable. But that's 111 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:32,079 the reality we're in North Carolina. For everybody in the state. 112 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,319 We're ranked highest in the nation in terms of her 113 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:39,279 health care costs, but we're ranked third from worst in 114 00:06:39,319 --> 00:06:41,600 health care outcomes. We have a problem. 115 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:46,079 Speaker 1: Yeah, look, yeah, I agree with you. The health insurance system, 116 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:47,839 the way it's set up in this state is it 117 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:50,519 is not optimal, to say the. 118 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 2: Least, right, But so the reason the premium is relatively 119 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,839 low is that there is nothing towards the dependent coverage 120 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:01,600 and the soal are so much lower than they would 121 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,000 make in the private sector. So it's a it's not 122 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:07,600 a gift, it's a benefit of employment to try to 123 00:07:07,639 --> 00:07:11,079 get people and we are in a staffing vacancy crisis 124 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:11,600 right now. 125 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: Well look, yeah, I've said the same that you just 126 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:18,120 laid out that that has always been sort of the 127 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,319 deal that if you go to work in the public sector, 128 00:07:20,319 --> 00:07:22,480 the painting is not as high as the private sector, 129 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:24,480 but you get the better benefits, you get the pension, 130 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:28,240 you get an earlier retirement, and it's secure. I can 131 00:07:28,279 --> 00:07:32,519 tell you just from a personal experience like the pension 132 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:36,480 program when I first started working for a company, Jefferson Pilot. 133 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,399 They no longer exist. Neither does the pension right, so 134 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:42,839 that that went away. The private sector pensions, they're all 135 00:07:42,879 --> 00:07:47,079 gone and you don't get those nowadays. And health insurance 136 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:51,319 for just me is about what what the dependent coverage 137 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:53,959 would be under that seven hundred eighty dollars a month. 138 00:07:54,079 --> 00:07:57,120 That's what I'm paying just for me, so right, And 139 00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:00,920 I don't make a ton more than, like than an 140 00:08:00,959 --> 00:08:03,560 average state employee. So when I hear means. 141 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,279 Speaker 2: It's your company, but your company probably doesn't have ten 142 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,439 percent of the market of healthcare. 143 00:08:08,519 --> 00:08:10,839 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, yeah, No, absolutely no. And I'm not saying 144 00:08:10,879 --> 00:08:13,959 that that that the public sector should get that same 145 00:08:14,399 --> 00:08:16,399 high rate. I'm not saying that at all. I definitely 146 00:08:16,439 --> 00:08:18,839 agree that there should be a trade off if the 147 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:22,399 pay is generally lower. That's why so I'm asking about 148 00:08:22,399 --> 00:08:25,040 the means test as a general concept, because you and 149 00:08:25,079 --> 00:08:26,800 I both know there are people that work in state 150 00:08:26,839 --> 00:08:29,800 government that get paid a lot of money right at 151 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:32,519 the upper end, and so should they not be paying 152 00:08:32,519 --> 00:08:35,639 more than twenty five dollars a month if it's just them. 153 00:08:37,039 --> 00:08:40,399 Speaker 2: Here's my response to that, yeah, we only know. Again, 154 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:42,600 these are secret contracts. The only thing we do know 155 00:08:42,759 --> 00:08:45,720 is the range of what people get paid. Some hospitals 156 00:08:45,759 --> 00:08:50,759 are making eight hundred percent plus reimbursement compared to Medicare. 157 00:08:51,159 --> 00:08:55,000 Some are making as low as ninety percent. So why 158 00:08:55,039 --> 00:08:58,399 are we not worried that we're paying some eight hundred 159 00:08:58,399 --> 00:09:02,320 percent and some ninety percent? We're worried about a state employee. 160 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 1: No, I can be worried about both. Yeah, I don't 161 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:08,480 see it as a choice. I can be worried about 162 00:09:08,519 --> 00:09:09,879 both because a lot of times we're not. 163 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 2: Right now, we're not worried about. 164 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 1: Both because I agree, Yeah, I agree. That's why I was. 165 00:09:14,519 --> 00:09:17,399 I was a backer of Folwell's clear pricing plan. I 166 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:19,919 picked my own doctors based on the fact that they 167 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:22,200 were on board with that. With that plan too, I 168 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:24,120 want all of that as well. But I see that 169 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:26,679 as yes, related, But I don't have to pick one 170 00:09:26,879 --> 00:09:32,200 or the other issue. Yeah, right, so the concept, Yeah. 171 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 2: But see, the political game is to get us to say, yeah, 172 00:09:35,879 --> 00:09:39,960 that makes sense. Nothing makes sense right now. Increasing anything 173 00:09:40,039 --> 00:09:43,360 for anyone does not make sense until you put all 174 00:09:43,399 --> 00:09:45,919 the facts on the table. And I know the state 175 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,399 auditor was on your show not long as ye. Yeah, 176 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:51,080 talking about hey, we need to know what we're paying. 177 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:52,879 Speaker 1: Yeah, you is to look at. 178 00:09:52,799 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 2: These state contracts, And I thought, well, good, and I 179 00:09:55,639 --> 00:09:59,159 really hope not only that he looks at these contracts, 180 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,559 but that the public then we can get the law 181 00:10:01,639 --> 00:10:04,879 change where the public chan because it is my sincere 182 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:08,519 belief you don't have to jack up prices on anybody 183 00:10:08,639 --> 00:10:10,320 if you get that under control. 184 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, look, and on that, I agree, because the 185 00:10:13,279 --> 00:10:16,639 private sector payers have been getting it jacked up every 186 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:19,600 single year because we can't we don't know the prices 187 00:10:19,639 --> 00:10:23,080 either because all of the subsidization that's occurring, a lot 188 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,000 of it is occurring in the private sector. They're they're 189 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:30,360 they're juicing us to pay for expansion of various programs. 190 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:32,440 So look, I'm with you on that. Yeah, I'm with 191 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,879 you on that, Artist Watkins. I do appreciate your time today. 192 00:10:36,799 --> 00:10:40,080 You're welcome back anytime. Artist Watkins is the executive director 193 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:43,440 of SCENIC, the State Employees Association of North Carolina. Thanks 194 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:44,159 so much for your time. 195 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:45,639 Speaker 2: Thank you, Pete. 196 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:48,759 Speaker 1: All right, take care. Here's a great idea. How about 197 00:10:48,799 --> 00:10:52,039 making an escape to a really special and secluded getaway 198 00:10:52,039 --> 00:10:54,480 in Western North Carolina. Just a quick drive up the 199 00:10:54,519 --> 00:10:57,799 mountain and Cabins of Asheville is your connection. Whether you're 200 00:10:57,799 --> 00:11:00,639 celebrating an anniversary, a honeymoon, maybe you want to plan 201 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:03,440 a memorable proposal, or get family and friends together for 202 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:06,679 a big old reunion, Cabins of Ashville has the ideal 203 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:09,279 spot for you where you can reconnect with your loved 204 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,360 ones and the things that truly matter. Nestled within the 205 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:15,840 breath taking fourteen thousand acres of the Pisga National Forest, 206 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,879 their cabins offer a serene escape in the heart of 207 00:11:18,919 --> 00:11:21,919 the Blue Ridge Mountains. Centrally located between Asheville and the 208 00:11:22,039 --> 00:11:24,799 entrance of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It's the 209 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:28,919 perfect balance of seclusion and proximity to all the local 210 00:11:28,919 --> 00:11:34,360 attractions with hot tubs, fireplaces, air conditioning, smart TVs, Wi Fi, grills, 211 00:11:34,519 --> 00:11:37,759 outdoor tables, and your own private covered porch. Choose from 212 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:42,000 thirteen cabins, six cottages, two villas, and a great lodge 213 00:11:42,039 --> 00:11:45,679 with eleven king sized bedrooms. Cabins of Ashville has the 214 00:11:45,759 --> 00:11:49,039 ideal spot for you for any occasion, and they have 215 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:52,720 pet friendly accommodations. Call or text eight two eight, three 216 00:11:52,799 --> 00:11:55,879 six seven seventy sixty eight, or check out all there 217 00:11:55,919 --> 00:11:58,799 is to offer at cabins Offashville dot com and make 218 00:11:58,879 --> 00:12:03,399 memories that'll last a lifetime. Let us Ham and Tomato 219 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,519 go to the phones. Here is Chris, Welcome to the program. 220 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 3: Hello Chris, Hello Skinny Pete, what's up buddy? 221 00:12:09,399 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 1: Hey Man? Oh you know it's Friday. That's half the battle. 222 00:12:12,759 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 3: Amen, Sarah, it's been a great week. Been really enjoying 223 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:18,799 the Spotify podcast version of your show. I hate to 224 00:12:18,799 --> 00:12:20,919 blow that up for the radio people, but man, it's 225 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:23,200 really clean. Nice way to listen to you. Thank you, 226 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:24,159 miss show. 227 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:26,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, no, I appreciate it. We do a lot. John 228 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:29,039 Moore does a lot of work to edit that stuff 229 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:32,159 down and just give you the best of me, which 230 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,159 is basically the whole show minus commercials. 231 00:12:34,279 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 3: It's great. It's great, it's great stuff. I'm a fan. So, dude, 232 00:12:38,159 --> 00:12:42,039 I am beside myself with health coverage this year. My 233 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:45,559 wife and I have finally decided they were going to 234 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:48,360 go up on us another thirty percent. Between my wife 235 00:12:48,399 --> 00:12:51,399 and I were both fairly healthy people. I don't have 236 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,480 any of these prescriptions that costs like godly amounts of 237 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:57,679 month every month or any of these no like known illnesses, 238 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,759 and between the two of us are playing of thousand 239 00:13:00,759 --> 00:13:03,919 dollars a month with a fifteen thousand dollars deductible. So 240 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:08,600 we're spending twenty five thirty thousand dollars a year for 241 00:13:09,759 --> 00:13:14,000 insurance before we're actually getting insurance. And what we have. 242 00:13:14,039 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 1: This same what is your well, I'm sorry, what was 243 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:17,720 your deductible? 244 00:13:18,639 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 3: Fifteen thousand dollars. 245 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 1: And that's for both of you combined, So you're responsible 246 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:25,240 for the first first fifteen. 247 00:13:24,879 --> 00:13:28,519 Speaker 3: K and one thousand dollars a month payment and that 248 00:13:28,639 --> 00:13:32,120 was with CBS Etna. Yeah, that was the plan provider. 249 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,679 So we're just like beside ourselves, going, what do we get, Like, 250 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:39,039 why don't we just send that much money to our 251 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:41,360 doctor and dentist every month and we'll just get this 252 00:13:41,519 --> 00:13:44,360 big giant pile of cash built up and then at 253 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:45,519 the end of the year, what we do know we 254 00:13:45,519 --> 00:13:47,600 can get back what we don't use or and we've 255 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:52,039 talked to our agents and and because this isn't insurance anymore, 256 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:54,799 I mean we keep calling it insurance, it's not. It's 257 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:58,600 pre pre existing conditions don't matter, so you can get 258 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:01,879 into your accident and then get insurance afterwards. And that's 259 00:14:01,919 --> 00:14:04,039 exactly how the system set up. They have an emergency 260 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:07,200 plan that they can get inacted within either twelve or 261 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:09,720 twenty hours or something. So we're going to roll the 262 00:14:09,759 --> 00:14:12,679 dice and hope that, you know, we don't get a 263 00:14:12,759 --> 00:14:15,399 leg cut off or something crazy. That the first initial 264 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:17,559 surgery had to be done right away and it costs 265 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:19,600 a ton of money. But we can just get up 266 00:14:19,639 --> 00:14:21,879 on a plan as soon as one of us gets 267 00:14:21,919 --> 00:14:25,799 diagnosed with our cancer or you know whatever illness, and okay, 268 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,159 it looks like we need to go get insurance now. 269 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:30,879 So that's how we're going to be doing this, pushing forward. 270 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:33,360 I would love to have somebody that works if I'm 271 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:35,840 paying all these people's salaries to go and lobby for 272 00:14:35,919 --> 00:14:39,399 better insurance for state employee government. And it's like, where's 273 00:14:39,399 --> 00:14:42,120 the lobbyists for the individuals that are just like me 274 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,000 who have been self employed their entire life, never got 275 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,440 to pay day off, never got to debate doctor visit 276 00:14:47,759 --> 00:14:50,360 all these benefits. And I'm tired of being told that 277 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:53,639 the government sector is getting less salary than the private 278 00:14:53,919 --> 00:14:56,000 It's just not true anymore. I mean, you have to 279 00:14:56,039 --> 00:14:59,159 go down to the most lowest level jobs to even 280 00:14:59,159 --> 00:15:02,320 fight any truth to But we just fired the county 281 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:06,440 manager here in North on Concord and he was at 282 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:09,279 five hundred thousand dollars a year with five hundred thousand 283 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:12,879 dollars severance packages and bonuses of thirty thousand dollars. And 284 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:15,039 I mean, the list just goes on and on and on, 285 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:16,960 and they get all of these paid days off and 286 00:15:17,039 --> 00:15:21,159 seventh bereavement, two weeks, paid day, personal holiday, your birthday, 287 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:23,759 just pick a day. It's Chris Cranston holiday. You know. 288 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,919 It's just I can't take it anymore. I need somebody 289 00:15:26,919 --> 00:15:27,600 to fight for me. 290 00:15:28,039 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: Those are supposed to be the elected representatives, right, That's 291 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,120 who is supposed to be our voice. And so what 292 00:15:36,159 --> 00:15:38,799 people need to do is to outline that case that 293 00:15:38,879 --> 00:15:42,279 you just made to the elected representatives yourself. That's and 294 00:15:42,279 --> 00:15:44,919 I know that's difficult. It takes time. You got a 295 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:46,679 volunteer to do the work. You're not going to get 296 00:15:46,679 --> 00:15:48,279 paid for it. I get it. I know it's tough. 297 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:50,279 That's why I bring the issues up, and that's why 298 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:54,120 I pushed back on artist Watkins there about this the 299 00:15:54,159 --> 00:15:57,120 concept of means testing because I don't have to pick 300 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:00,600 one or the other, like clear pricing. Yeah, I want 301 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:02,840 to know what the state health plan is covering for 302 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:07,600 with these hospitals, what the procedures are. We need to 303 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:10,159 know what those prices are. And the treasurer, as the 304 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:13,559 one who administers the program, the health plan, he needs 305 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:17,799 to know too. That being said, I find it difficult 306 00:16:17,799 --> 00:16:20,879 to justify if I am a single guy and I 307 00:16:20,919 --> 00:16:23,080 am a county manager somewhere, or I work for the 308 00:16:23,159 --> 00:16:25,320 state and I'm a state employee. I'm on the state 309 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:28,679 health plan. I'm single and I have no kids, no dependents, 310 00:16:28,919 --> 00:16:31,200 and I am making half a million dollars a year. 311 00:16:31,639 --> 00:16:33,840 Why I'm only paying twenty five dollars a month for 312 00:16:33,919 --> 00:16:37,039 my health insurance? That to me is a different question 313 00:16:37,639 --> 00:16:40,559 than the state health plan. But Chris, I appreciate the call, buddy, 314 00:16:40,559 --> 00:16:40,919 Thank you. 315 00:16:41,799 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 3: Thank you, sir. 316 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:44,679 Speaker 1: I'm man take it easy, all right. I hope you 317 00:16:44,759 --> 00:16:47,480 had a happy holiday season. But tell me if something 318 00:16:47,559 --> 00:16:50,159 like this happened at your house. Your family and friends 319 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,519 are gathered around, Maybe y'all are in the living room, 320 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:57,120 You're laughing, swapping stories, reminiscing, and then somebody says, hey, Dad, 321 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,879 remember those old VHS tapes did you ever get transferred? 322 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:03,919 And then the room gets all quiet. All eyes are 323 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:06,720 on Dad, who says, oh, you know, well, I've been 324 00:17:06,759 --> 00:17:09,599 meaning to but I just having gotten around to it. Look, 325 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,920 don't let those priceless memories sit in a box for 326 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,720 another year, all right. Create a Video has been helping 327 00:17:15,759 --> 00:17:19,000 families in the Charlotte area preserve their history since nineteen 328 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:22,319 ninety seven. Simply bring in your old camquarder tapes and 329 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:26,119 Creative Video will transfer them to a USB flash drive 330 00:17:26,319 --> 00:17:28,480 for just fourteen ninety five per tape. You have a 331 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:31,839 big collection, They've got a discount for you. And next year, 332 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:36,160 instead of talking about those memories, imagine gathering the family 333 00:17:36,279 --> 00:17:39,799 to watch them together. Talk about a memorable gift. So 334 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:42,680 do what I did. Trust the experts at Creative Video, 335 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:45,720 conveniently located in mint Hill right off I four eighty 336 00:17:45,799 --> 00:17:49,839 five and online at create avideo dot com. Got a 337 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:54,200 couple of emails here regarding the topic we were covering 338 00:17:54,279 --> 00:17:58,000 with the executive director of the State Employees Association of 339 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:01,519 North Carolina, which is basically the union, but don't call 340 00:18:01,559 --> 00:18:03,400 it a union because we don't have unions. We don't 341 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:08,680 have collective bargaining rights. In North Carolina, but there are unions, Okay, 342 00:18:10,279 --> 00:18:16,880 So she was talking about how there's this proposal, and 343 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:19,880 first let me start it with the right up here 344 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:23,279 at wr L. Brad Briner, who is the new state treasurer, 345 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:27,319 took over after Dale Folwell ran for governor lost in 346 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:30,640 the primary. So Dale is no longer there. Brad Briner 347 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:36,000 has taken over and he told the state Board of 348 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:40,880 Education last week that there is a half a billion 349 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:46,079 dollar deficit in the state health plan and one of 350 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:50,119 the things that he has proposed, but he says in 351 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:53,640 this article that he said it's a you know, the 352 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:57,119 issue is very important and he wants suggestions on what 353 00:18:57,279 --> 00:19:01,920 to do. Right, So that's the point of raising this issue. 354 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:05,599 He says, it's not imperative for twenty five, but looking 355 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,400 forward to twenty twenty six, this is something that's got 356 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:12,039 to be addressed. So what are people's ideas on how 357 00:19:12,039 --> 00:19:15,319 to address it? And artist Watkins, you know, pointed out 358 00:19:15,319 --> 00:19:19,319 that you've got these you got the health industry, the 359 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:25,160 healthcare industry that contray that negotiates basically with the hospitals 360 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:30,519 right through this insurance middleman. The state is hiring the middleman, 361 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:33,720 but the middleman won't tell the state what the prices are, 362 00:19:34,079 --> 00:19:36,960 and the state can't get the prices from the healthcare 363 00:19:37,079 --> 00:19:40,160 industry either. So that's why Dale Folwell was like, you 364 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:42,319 would not buy your service if you don't know what 365 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:44,920 the price is, and so I want to know what 366 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:47,039 the prices are, and they were like no, And then 367 00:19:47,079 --> 00:19:50,200 he did a Freedom of Information Act request, got that 368 00:19:50,279 --> 00:19:54,359 information from finally got it from him from the industry 369 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:57,079 and it was all redacted. They'd blacked out, like all 370 00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:00,880 of the pages of their prices. They refuse to tell 371 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:07,359 people what they are charging for these various procedures you 372 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:09,720 could get. I remember Dale saying like, if you go 373 00:20:09,759 --> 00:20:11,799 and get a knee replacement and you get it done 374 00:20:11,799 --> 00:20:16,480 in Charlotte versus Ashville versus Wilmington versus Raleigh, it's going 375 00:20:16,559 --> 00:20:20,319 to cost different no matter where you go, and there's 376 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:24,359 no rationale for it, and the prices are wildly different. 377 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:28,279 So why are they charging the prices that they're charging 378 00:20:29,079 --> 00:20:32,000 and what are those prices? We don't know. I agree 379 00:20:33,079 --> 00:20:37,279 with all of that effort. It is it is corrupt, Okay, 380 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:41,559 it is completely corrupt. The fact that I, as a 381 00:20:41,599 --> 00:20:46,480 client don't know what I'm paying for is corrupt. This 382 00:20:46,559 --> 00:20:49,480 became very clear to me long before Obamacare came in 383 00:20:49,519 --> 00:20:52,440 and threw all the markets out of whack. And that's 384 00:20:52,559 --> 00:20:55,519 what we're still dealing with. Thanks again, John McCain, keeping 385 00:20:55,559 --> 00:21:02,480 this Leviathan in place entrenched. Right, the system has been 386 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:08,039 corrupted and broken, and it has been that has been 387 00:21:08,039 --> 00:21:12,160 done on purpose. The point is to break it. The 388 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,079 point is to break it because if you break it, 389 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,920 then you can offer quote the solution, and the solution 390 00:21:17,319 --> 00:21:20,640 much like the Aztec analogy I gave the other day, 391 00:21:20,799 --> 00:21:23,200 where you know, you sacrifice twenty five babies to make 392 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:25,440 it rain and it doesn't rain. And rather than saying, hey, 393 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:28,799 maybe we shouldn't be sacrificing babies because it's not related. No, no, 394 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:32,680 they say, let's sacrifice more babies. We didn't do enough. Right, 395 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:37,160 that's the solution that will be offered. More government, more 396 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:41,119 of the things that are breaking the system and creating 397 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:44,240 this middleman between you and your doctor. And I became 398 00:21:44,279 --> 00:21:46,880 aware of this when I first got my very first HSA, 399 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:50,160 when we were allowed to finally have an HSA, I 400 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:53,759 got one. I go into the doctor's office and the 401 00:21:53,839 --> 00:21:59,920 first experience was about a tetnis shot, and he offers, 402 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:02,240 you want to get a tennis shot? And I said, well, 403 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:03,960 how much is it? And he said, I don't know. 404 00:22:04,799 --> 00:22:08,079 Like that's a problem. That is a huge problem. You're 405 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,079 selling me something and you don't even know what the 406 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:12,359 price is. Well, your insurance will cover it. I said, well, 407 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:14,559 I have an HSA, so I'm paying for it, so 408 00:22:14,599 --> 00:22:16,279 I want to know what the price is. And when 409 00:22:16,279 --> 00:22:18,240 he came back and told me, and this was twenty 410 00:22:18,319 --> 00:22:20,440 years ago, he comes back and says the price is 411 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:23,039 like almost eighty dollars. And he's like, yeah, just wait 412 00:22:23,039 --> 00:22:27,279 till you step on a rusty nail or something. It's 413 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:32,359 not required, but when something is quote free, then people 414 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:35,359 will do it. So was that tennis shot actually worth 415 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:38,559 eighty dollars or is that just something that the doctors 416 00:22:38,599 --> 00:22:40,799 throw out there. They don't know the price of it. 417 00:22:41,519 --> 00:22:43,519 They ask you if you want it, you say, sure, 418 00:22:43,559 --> 00:22:45,680 I'll get it, just to be safe. Can't be too safe, 419 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:49,559 of course, and then the insurance company and the provider 420 00:22:50,079 --> 00:22:53,039 they hammer out whatever money needs to be paid for that, 421 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:57,599 and they're charging the insurance company eighty dollars and the 422 00:22:57,599 --> 00:22:59,759 insurance company will say, oh, we're not paying that we'll 423 00:22:59,799 --> 00:23:02,000 only pay you seventy Okay, fine, and the SHOT's only 424 00:23:02,079 --> 00:23:07,720 like ten. That is not clear pricing. But again that 425 00:23:07,839 --> 00:23:10,839 is a separate issue than the health plan and what 426 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:15,920 employees are being charged the health plan. If you are 427 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:18,160 a worker right now and you don't have any dependence, 428 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:22,039 you could be paying twenty five dollars a month. That's 429 00:23:22,079 --> 00:23:24,400 a great deal. And this is one of the things 430 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:26,960 that I just caution people who work for the state 431 00:23:27,319 --> 00:23:29,799 or on the state health plan or advocates for it, 432 00:23:30,519 --> 00:23:34,640 you have to understand who you're talking to that if 433 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:37,720 you're talking to people in the private sector, a twenty 434 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:42,960 five dollars a month health insurance premium is like a 435 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:48,119 freaking unicorn. They have never had that. We have never 436 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:51,079 had it, never seen it. Wouldn't know what to do 437 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:55,640 with all that extra money every single month. So that's 438 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:59,599 all I'm saying is, please be aware that that is 439 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:02,759 a really great deal. And if you are making a 440 00:24:02,839 --> 00:24:06,759 quarter of a million dollars working for the state, you 441 00:24:06,839 --> 00:24:10,039 getting a twenty five dollars health insurance premium is a 442 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:12,799 kind of bitter pill to swallow as the one who's 443 00:24:12,839 --> 00:24:16,759 paying for that, Because I am right, there are taxpayers 444 00:24:16,799 --> 00:24:21,640 and tax consumers. People who work for government in the 445 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,920 public sector, that is a consumption of the tax dollar. 446 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:27,240 The people who are in the private sector are the 447 00:24:27,319 --> 00:24:30,200 creators of it. I'm not saying I'm not denigrading anybody 448 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:32,319 for it. I am a believer in the need for 449 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:36,839 these services and people to perform them. But when I'm 450 00:24:36,839 --> 00:24:39,359 the one that's paying into the system, paying the money 451 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:42,240 that's then getting deducted out of the paycheck, you know, 452 00:24:42,319 --> 00:24:44,799 for the health the state health plan, Like I'm the 453 00:24:44,799 --> 00:24:47,319 one paying that, you're taking the money home what's left 454 00:24:47,319 --> 00:24:50,240 over after the premiums. But I'm the one paying that. 455 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:52,920 The private sector is the one paying that. So just 456 00:24:53,039 --> 00:24:56,720 keep that in mind when making these arguments. It may 457 00:24:56,759 --> 00:24:59,920 be more successful. All Right. If you're listening to this show, 458 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:01,519 you know I try to keep up with all sorts 459 00:25:01,559 --> 00:25:03,559 of current events, and I know you do too, And 460 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:08,440 you've probably heard me say get your news from multiple sources. Why. Well, 461 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:11,200 because it's how you detect media bias, which is why 462 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:14,440 I've been so impressed with ground News. It's an app 463 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:17,839 and it's a website, and it combines news from around 464 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:20,279 the world in one place, so you can compare coverage 465 00:25:20,519 --> 00:25:23,240 and verify information. You can check it out at check 466 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:27,720 dot ground, dot news, slash pete. I put the link 467 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:30,839 in the podcast description too. I started using ground News 468 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,559 a few months ago and more recently chose to work 469 00:25:33,599 --> 00:25:35,640 with them as an affiliate because it lets me see 470 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:39,519 clearly how stories get covered and by whom. The blind 471 00:25:39,519 --> 00:25:42,319 spot feature shows you which stories get ignored by the 472 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:46,119 left and the right. See for yourself check dot ground, 473 00:25:46,319 --> 00:25:50,000 dot news, slash pete. Subscribe through that link and you'll 474 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:53,200 get fifteen percent off any subscription. I use the Vantage 475 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:56,680 plan to get unlimited access to every feature. Your subscription 476 00:25:56,799 --> 00:25:59,480 then not only helps my podcast, but it also supports 477 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:03,759 Groundnews as they make the media landscape more transparent. President 478 00:26:03,799 --> 00:26:07,920 Donald Trump is in Swanna, Noah, which is a town 479 00:26:08,039 --> 00:26:11,960 just outside of Ashville, right off I forty when you're 480 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:14,519 going up from Charlotte, you'll pass it on the on 481 00:26:14,559 --> 00:26:21,119 the right basically past old Ford and so it's going 482 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:24,799 on now live. He's got some people that are that were, 483 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:29,160 you know, victims of the of the flooding from Swana Noah. 484 00:26:29,759 --> 00:26:32,400 And it looks like he's engaging in like a Q 485 00:26:32,559 --> 00:26:37,160 and A with them at a microphone. I do have 486 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:42,119 a feed of this, but we've missed Trump's actual opening comments, 487 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:44,240 and so what I think I'm gonna do is in 488 00:26:44,279 --> 00:26:47,880 the next hour, I think I'm going to go back 489 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:50,000 to the c Span feed and I'm just going to 490 00:26:50,079 --> 00:26:52,480 start it from the beginning, so we can hear Trump's 491 00:26:53,079 --> 00:26:56,720 comments from the beginning. I believe he is now because 492 00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:58,920 at the beginning, I believe he said something on the 493 00:26:59,039 --> 00:27:05,599 order of looking to overhaul or scrap FEMA in some way. 494 00:27:07,039 --> 00:27:09,759 So all right, we'll get to that in the next hour. 495 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:11,599 Let me get to the emails that I said I 496 00:27:11,599 --> 00:27:14,079 would read and then I didn't because apparently I am 497 00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:17,599 a liar. I will no sae. I'm reading them now, 498 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:23,079 so I wasn't lying. This is from Tim. Tim says, 499 00:27:23,559 --> 00:27:27,079 I'm sick and tired of public sector employees whining about 500 00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:30,200 having to pay for their families portion of so called 501 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:33,720 health insurance quote unquote. Join the rest of the real world, 502 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:36,559 and you will see exactly what things really cost. Like 503 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:40,880 my family of two has a you know, quote insurance policy, 504 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:44,279 and that policy costs twenty two thousand dollars a year 505 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:50,359 with a nine thousand dollars deductible. But you mostly won't 506 00:27:50,519 --> 00:27:53,720 because you the public sector are just spoiled, Brad to 507 00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:58,559 bring on the blowback. Okay, so right, Tim, Look, this 508 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:01,759 is like anything else. Nobody wants their costs to go 509 00:28:01,839 --> 00:28:08,880 up on anything, on anything, rent groceries, right, this is 510 00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:14,640 health insurance, auto insurance, home insurance. Nobody wants their cost 511 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:19,960 to go up. But this is something that has been 512 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:24,920 occurring in the private sector for my entire life. And 513 00:28:25,039 --> 00:28:27,279 you know, you can trace it back to government policies 514 00:28:27,319 --> 00:28:29,559 and spending and inflation. Right. There are a lot of 515 00:28:29,599 --> 00:28:35,160 different factors involved here. You know, the the intervention of 516 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:39,640 the government into the medical marketplace, and then you've got 517 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:45,839 the you know, monopolistic health providers, healthcare providers that enjoy 518 00:28:46,519 --> 00:28:53,559 these you know, privileged positions protected by the government. It's 519 00:28:53,599 --> 00:28:57,119 a cartel. And no better example of it is than 520 00:28:57,160 --> 00:29:00,599 North Carolina's own Certificate of Need program, right where the 521 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:06,160 government decides based on basically existing healthcare lobbyist pressure as 522 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:09,880 to whether or not another facility can open near some 523 00:29:10,079 --> 00:29:14,240 population center. And so the government has to write up 524 00:29:14,279 --> 00:29:16,960 a certificate of need because the government's going to decide 525 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:19,599 whether there's a need for this or not. Get the 526 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:23,720 hell out of the way. If a health company wants 527 00:29:23,759 --> 00:29:27,640 to open up an MRI center someplace, or a colonoscopy 528 00:29:27,759 --> 00:29:31,039 center and they go out of business because there wasn't 529 00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:33,359 enough demand in that area. Then let them go out 530 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:37,200 of business. It's their decision to do it. They shouldn't 531 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:39,079 have to go to the government. And then the government 532 00:29:39,119 --> 00:29:41,880 say we think there's enough of a demand here, after 533 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:45,640 we've held public hearings and randos show up to say 534 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:48,599 I don't think we need colonoscopies here. Well, what the 535 00:29:48,599 --> 00:29:51,319 hell do you know. You don't know anything, you're not 536 00:29:51,359 --> 00:29:54,119 an expert, you haven't done any kind of market research. Please, 537 00:29:55,240 --> 00:30:01,759 it's all just covered to stifle competition. It needs to go. 538 00:30:01,880 --> 00:30:05,559 That's one element of this. The other element is the 539 00:30:05,559 --> 00:30:12,599 pricing secrecy that these health insurance companies and the healthcare 540 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:16,119 providers they will not give the pricing on this stuff, 541 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:18,720 and then they argue back and forth. I went over 542 00:30:18,799 --> 00:30:20,519 all of this already, so I won't revisit it. But 543 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:23,519 let me go over here to Phillip, who says, Happy Friday. 544 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:28,720 Oh wait, oh, sorry, that's that's about the Trump visit. 545 00:30:29,119 --> 00:30:35,640 I'll read that next hour. Matthew says, Charlotte did away 546 00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:39,799 with all health care for anybody who retires from employment. 547 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:43,720 As of two thousand and nine, that's your police, fire, 548 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:47,000 water department, and so on. Recently, the state did away 549 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:51,039 with their health care for their retirees. Also, well, there 550 00:30:51,079 --> 00:30:54,240 is healthcare. It's Medicare like everybody else. So once again, 551 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:59,240 like you're that's the pension that you're talking about, right, 552 00:30:59,279 --> 00:31:02,440 It's essentially a pension. It's not like payment for salary, 553 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:05,079 but it you have this health insurance that lasts through 554 00:31:05,119 --> 00:31:10,920 your entire retirement. But Medicare is already there. Medicare is 555 00:31:11,319 --> 00:31:14,160 people are forced into the Medicare system when they turn 556 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:18,920 fifty five. And so I don't know, shouldn't give you 557 00:31:19,079 --> 00:31:21,559 Does that makes sense that everybody goes into Medicare. We're 558 00:31:21,559 --> 00:31:26,079 all in the same boat now, troopers, teachers, and so on. 559 00:31:26,119 --> 00:31:28,599 That's why the state and city are in an employment crisis. 560 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:30,960 No money, no benefits at the end. Why not work 561 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:33,680 for the private sector at this point? No, it's a 562 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:36,440 good question. Why not work for the private sector? All right, 563 00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:38,799 that'll do it for this episode. Thank you so much 564 00:31:38,839 --> 00:31:40,880 for listening. I could not do the show without your 565 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:43,680 support and the support of the businesses that advertise on 566 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:46,519 the podcast. So if you'd like, please support them too 567 00:31:46,559 --> 00:31:48,200 and tell them you heard it here. You can also 568 00:31:48,279 --> 00:31:50,880 become a patron at my patreon page or go to 569 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:54,720 thepetecleanershow dot com. Again, thank you so much for listening, 570 00:31:54,799 --> 00:32:04,160 and don't break anything while I'm gone.