Election day -- let's get riled up!

[RogueDadMD]

I've got a feeling that the readership of this website is a little ... Red in the face, perhaps preferring elephants to donkeys.

I'll put it out there, just for the fun of it -- what's your political leaning and does your role in healthcare influence that in any way?

I'm a pediatrician (and peds ED doc) and will be voting blue.  Someone awhile back posted a link to the recent journal article looking at how medical specialty and political party were correlated, and pediatricians definitely fall into the blue group. I think when you spend all day working with kids (particularly sick ones) you end up viewing politics/life from a little bit of a different perspective -- I know there are plenty of Republican pediatricians out there, but it's a different dynamic than in other specialties.

I loved the concept of Obamacare when it was passed, though the shine has worn off and it does need to be repaired (I'm sure many people here will say harsher things than that).  I am for universal healthcare in some form (though I don't necessarily want Medicaid/Medicare or government run programs for all).

I would likely have voted for Kasich over HRC, however the inmates now appear to be running the asylum and I think the GOP has gone crazy.  The concept of keeping the Supreme Court spots vacant indefinitely just cemented the fact that even GOP politicians I respected, like McCain, who are endorsing such policies, have left the reservation.

This isn't really a finance thread (assuming WCI even lets this live), but if Trump is elected the market is going to tank over the next several days, so Tax Loss Harvest away!  I knew there was a way to make a connection.

[conniebird]

I voted blue a month ago via mail in ballot. Derm.

[RogueDadMD]

Missouri doesn't allow early voting.  Through a cumbersome process it allows absentee voting, though I don't think I would have been eligible.

I went to my polling place at 0630 today (30 min after opening) and faced a 1 hr line (not to mention no parking -- I parked illegally next to a handicap spot) and had to leave.  I'll be voting after work, probably in another long line...

[conniebird]

PEMDoc wrote:

Missouri doesn’t allow early voting.  Through a cumbersome process it allows absentee voting, though I don’t think I would have been eligible.

I went to my polling place at 0630 today (30 min after opening) and faced a 1 hr line (not to mention no parking — I parked illegally next to a handicap spot) and had to leave.  I’ll be voting after work, probably in another long line…

Click to expand...

Yes I heard - an old med school friend is in St Louis and lamented about it today on facebook. He waited in line for over 2 hours to vote...

[Josh0731]

conniebird wrote:

PEMDoc wrote:

Missouri doesn’t allow early voting.  Through a cumbersome process it allows absentee voting, though I don’t think I would have been eligible.

I went to my polling place at 0630 today (30 min after opening) and faced a 1 hr line (not to mention no parking — I parked illegally next to a handicap spot) and had to leave.  I’ll be voting after work, probably in another long line…

Click to expand…

Yes I heard – an old med school friend is in St Louis and lamented about it today on facebook. He waited in line for over 2 hours to vote…

Click to expand...

Mind-boggling to me how we can pride ourselves on our traditions of democracy but then never take any actions to strengthen it by really ensure people can vote.  These lines should never happen.  Voting should be easy.  How early voting isn't even permitted in some states is baffling.  And you shouldn't be able to hear public officials (NC) patting each other on the back for successfully disenfranchising people.  Fitting that authoritarianism has sadly been a meme of this whole messy year.

(Now look what you've made me do by starting this thread...)

[Zaphod]

I dont think I fit into a category as they stand today since they are both so caricatured and taken up with issues that move the ever polarized bases.

I consider myself very liberal socially, just because you're finance astute and concerned doesnt mean youre automatically a repub, I guess I'd say im independent but dont really feel theres an actual good group of a party that is close to representing me (since its politically not exciting enough). I consider hrc a slightly left of center republican really.

Voted by mail, our system is archaic and thats generous.

 

Obamacare was basically doomed with the state non participation from the beginning, which was the whole point. Its been alright but not the best solution.

[DMFA]

ACA is rubbish; anyone with any political leaning should come to that conclusion.  It could have had the best parts of privatization (high quality, low cost) and public programs (uniformity, availability), and instead had the worst of both (profiteering, lack of regard for the consumer, an unfunded mandate, and bureaucracy).  When the government attempted to placate the insurance companies enough to keep them in the loop instead of turning it into a government program (Medicare is far from perfect, but I think to say objectively that it's an absolute shambles is probably inaccurate), they ended up with a compromise in which no one was happy instead of a collaboration which protected the possible positives.  The question is to try to fix it (Clinton) or throw it away altogether (Trump), and not knowing enough about how it's actually run at the administrative level, I don't know the answer to it.

I feel so disenfranchised in this country by the dichotomy (never lived anywhere else, though).  I don't want to vote for party A because they've nailed themselves to the cross for issue X which I oppose, and I don't want to vote for party B because they're vehemently opposed to issue Y which I support.  Obviously I can't find a candidate who sees everything the way I do, but when I entrust my best interest to any official who represents me in any way (local judges, through reps and senators, through President), I don't want to throw away that much of how I feel.  I like the idea of multi-party systems who, since they don't have a majority, are pushed to form ruling coalitions in other countries, and you would think our diversity which far exceeds other countries (probably Britain and Germany are the closest) would have more than two political parties.  Our vast geography and diversity can be very strong strengths for this country, but it makes forming uniform policies for us next to impossible to do correctly.

I was really hoping 2016 would be the collapse of the two-party system, given the number of Democrats who hated Clinton (mostly Bernie supporters) and the number of Republicans who hated Trump (mostly Cruz supporters).  I thought you'd see a socialist faction led by Bernie, moderate liberal faction led by Clinton, conservative faction led by Cruz (or Kasich or Ryan, whoever), and an, um, indescribable faction led by Trump.  At least then a voter would be more likely to be able to find someone who more accurately reflects their opinions on how a country ought to be run.

I voted two weeks ago on a Saturday morning.  Waited an hour.  I had to read a book since they have a no electronics within 100 ft rule.  I haven't done that in years, and I don't miss it.

[ACN]

Lot's of red out there!  

[DarrVao777]

Can't believe he is going to win

[RogueDadMD]

[Profanity removed.-WCI]

[Zaphod]

Rex wrote:

Obamacare is a real headache. I don’t mind the reduced pay that much. What I mind is that people purchase it only once they have a serious problem and don’t get the idea of deductibles. So how that plays out for me is they all come with very advanced high risk situations. Often I really need additional specialties involved but none take it including university based hospitals so I’m stuck in a situation where I’ve taken on a lot of risk and no assistance. I actually prefer doing cases for free since those people are grateful as opposed to people who think I need to get others to take their insurance.

Click to expand...

They somehow underestimated the gaming of the system and it has been crushing to all those involved, exactly as you are experiencing. It was never a great piece of legislation.

[amphora]

Hillary supporter here.

I think Obamacare has generally worked better in states with Democratic governors who want it to work while Republicans at the state and federal level are trying to make sure reform fails.

[The White Coat Investor]

I voted a mixed ballot, including Independents, Democrats, and Republicans. Flabbergasted at the results and still trying to mentally make the jump from what I thought was going to happen to what actually did happen. I'm sure there will be both good and bad that comes out of these unexpected results, but I have great confidence in the American people. Usually when they feel a change needs to be made, it really does need to be made. As an avowed #nevertrumper I would have taken any of the candidates from the main two parties in the last 5 elections over either of the candidates this time though.

I hope we all remember that we're citizens of the world first, Americans second, and members of a party (and race and gender) third. Our commonalities are far greater than our differences.

[Zaphod]

The White Coat Investor wrote:

I voted a mixed ballot, including Independents, Democrats, and Republicans. Flabbergasted at the results and still trying to mentally make the jump from what I thought was going to happen to what actually did happen. I’m sure there will be both good and bad that comes out of these unexpected results, but I have great confidence in the American people. Usually when they feel a change needs to be made, it really does need to be made. As an avowed #nevertrumper I would have taken any of the candidates from the main two parties in the last 5 elections over either of the candidates this time though.

I hope we all remember that we’re citizens of the world first, Americans second, and members of a party (and race and gender) third. Our commonalities are far greater than our differences.

Click to expand...

Agree, and the american people seemed to agree as well as he had the least votes of any of them, hillary as well had less than all but trump.

Hopefully checks and balances do their job and make it work. However, if there is a silver lining its that there will no longer be gridlock on important things and legislation will get done. Infrastructure and other important things that wouldnt get voted on out of "principle" can now pass. That would be great. Filibusters and changes to bills that arent good work against the crazy stuff. America honestly couldnt take another 4 years of zero progress out of spite, you just cant get that lost production back.

It will an interesting 4 years. I hope he does an excellent job, hes there and hoping otherwise is an explicit even if ignorant hope that america doesnt do well, which I cant do even as a pretty progressive independent person.

[RogueDadMD]

Zaphod wrote:

The White Coat Investor wrote:

I voted a mixed ballot, including Independents, Democrats, and Republicans. Flabbergasted at the results and still trying to mentally make the jump from what I thought was going to happen to what actually did happen. I’m sure there will be both good and bad that comes out of these unexpected results, but I have great confidence in the American people. Usually when they feel a change needs to be made, it really does need to be made. As an avowed #nevertrumper I would have taken any of the candidates from the main two parties in the last 5 elections over either of the candidates this time though.

I hope we all remember that we’re citizens of the world first, Americans second, and members of a party (and race and gender) third. Our commonalities are far greater than our differences.

Click to expand…

Agree, and the american people seemed to agree as well as he had the least votes of any of them, hillary as well had less than all but trump.

Hopefully checks and balances do their job and make it work. However, if there is a silver lining its that there will no longer be gridlock on important things and legislation will get done. Infrastructure and other important things that wouldnt get voted on out of “principle” can now pass. That would be great. Filibusters and changes to bills that arent good work against the crazy stuff. America honestly couldnt take another 4 years of zero progress out of spite, you just cant get that lost production back.

It will an interesting 4 years. I hope he does an excellent job, hes there and hoping otherwise is an explicit even if ignorant hope that america doesnt do well, which I cant do even as a pretty progressive independent person.

Click to expand...

There won't be much in the way of checks and balances when the circuit courts and SC are going to go Republican along with Congress and the White House.  I fully agree that an HRC election would have been gridlock since the Democrats would not have had the House (or Senate I guess).  Obstruction was quite literally the GOP platform the last 6 years and for the next 4 if HRC won.  However just because they will have an easier time passing legislation doesn't mean we will see true progress.

As much as I hate Trump, the biggest thing that will help prevent the GOP from going crazy is that Trump is a bit crazy also and isn't really a true conservative.  He isn't going to push forward the same platform that someone like Cruz would have done as President.  However as a racial/religious minority with an immigrant background, Trump and the GOP are pushing policies that are personally abhorrent to me, and it makes me nervous about what could happen to my family should some of these policies come to fruition.