A common interviewing question that is difficult for many people to answer is, "You appear to be overqualified." Most of the outplacement candidates I counseled were overqualified by virtue of their experience or previous salary or both. One of the best ways to answer the "You appear to be overqualified" question is to take the offensive. You can answer, "Yes, absolutely! And isn't that to your benefit?"
That gives you the opportunity to reiterate why you would be such an asset to the company: your experience bringing in revenue, new customers, research, whatever is pertinent to the position you're seeking. Don't apologize for your age, experience or pay grade. Use them as assets. Emphasize your energy, enthusiasm and desire to learn. For more dynamic answers to tough interview questions, check out: http://interview-doctor.blogspot.com. Make a comment if you need the answer to other tough, tricky or sneaky interview questions.
I personally take offense so someone who hasn't experienced losing their job in this current economy judging those who have.
It's easy to tell who still has their job and who has lost theirs by the opinions.
You think it's wrong to take COBRA and try to retain your savings and collect unemployment compensation? You think it's a good idea to spend down any savings and then when you're broke and can no longer pay for health benefits for your family, then to apply for unemployment? Isn't having some kind of cushion of savings preferable, in case, for example, you have to travel to try to find a job in a different area, or if you have some large medical expense?
I should add that none of us pay into unemployment; it is paid by the employers.
I should also add that those low paying jobs that the unemployed people ought to accept don't really exist anymore. For instance I know of a schoolteacher who lost his job and has applied to be a bartender, a night club bouncer, you name it. Nothing.
If I tried to get the Wal-Mart job I'm fairly sure I would be passed over in favor of one of the multitude of laid off retail workers who already have experience in that field.
I think it's a crock that many people are just waiting to find a job; basically THERE ARE NO JOBS. You can keep looking but it's like doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. No one is hiring.
Remember when the L.A. Dodgers were hiring for ball park staff and 10,000 applicants showed up for 500 positions; everyone from homeless people to unemployed lawyers.
BTW my savings went away in 2007 when I was first laid off; I found a job and how I'm unemployed again. Now I have no savings, I have no health insurance, I am glad I have 79 weeks to find a job, maybe by the end of this year (hopefully sooner) things will start to turn around.
My suggestion to those of you who are fortunate to be working is to quit your whining; it looks different from this side.
if you had read the post, you'd have seen that the battery in the video is NOT a "AA" battery, but a 12 volt battery like the kinds used in some digital cameras.
I went to a community college, and it was the best option for me at the time. I didn't really know what I wanted to study, and I was apprehensive about going to college. The hardest step is the first one, and community college was a good first step. It was inexpensive, close to home, and helped me narrow my focus on my future career.
Only if you want to ruin the car battery itself. lol
Putting a metal bar across the battery terminals will heat the bar red-hot and if you do it for 10 mins it will not only drain your battery, but probably melt it as well.
and LOL at the claw hammer. Why would anyone do that. You're not only going to have a mess, but a mess of chemicals that are corrosive all over your driveway.
I hope no one took that comment seriously, or they're in for a real disappointment and a real headache.
Thanks for sharing experiences, good and not so good. My experiences (and those of people I know) have been at multiple colleges but all in North Carolina, which apparently has a top-ranked program. The online course I took was offered through the college but was really a packaged class with an instructor available by email but not anywhere nearby.
And, glad for the mention Coupon Artist. The one thing that I have liked about my college instructors is that not only did they have professional credentials, they also had hands-on experience -- my tax instructor was a CPA with a local accounting firm, my CPR instructor was a highway patrolmen, etc. -- so they could help with the practical application of course content and not just the theory.
I go to a family doctor also known as a family physician. I have a high deductible plan, meaning that I pay for nearly everything (though I do receive plan-negotiated discounts). I am often annoyed at the lack of understanding of some, not all, practices in regard to treatment costs and practices. My family practice is hospital/corporate owned and I doubt they'd consider a price break for upfront cash (though I would love for healthcare organizations to learn more about cash flow); however, I haven't tried (I figure it's just as easy to wait the several months it takes to process invoices and then pay) -- but privately run practices (there are just a few of these in my area) may be more likely to take cash upfront as they do understand cash flow principles.
Speaking of places to get inexpensive healthcare, I was just talking to a FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner) who volunteers at a faith-based clinic that provides discounted services to the working uninsured.
One problem that is prevalent in Queen Creek (I am a resident) is the Home owners associations in the neighborhoods with lots of foreclosures. Many of them are struggling too, making the entire neighborhood look bad because they don't maintain the common areas or pay for what is needed. They are also trying to raise the rates for those of us who still live in the neighborhood. When we bought our house 5 years ago we paid $30/month in fees which included basic cable. Last year they raised the monthly fee to $40 and this year they raised it another $10 AND quit paying for our cable. They are trying to make up for all the empty homes. So not only do we have vacant homes as neighbors, we are saddled with run down parks, green pools and HOA companies puting liens on our homes for not paying the exhuberant HOA fees. Who would want to move into a neighborhood like that?
This is a great post- all too often, there is a stigma attached to community colleges that is undeserved. As an adjunct professor at a community college, I can tell you that the hiring standards were fairly rigorous and that I had to really demonstrate my qualifications to get the position. And, most of my colleagues are there because they really want to teach- there is very little reason to look for an adjunct position otherwise.
i have yet to have a positive experience with a community college. the teachers i've encountered don't treat students with respect, and half the time don't even bother coming to class. how are students to learn if the teacher isn't there to instruct them?
then there's the snafu of teachers who teach online classes but cannot figure out how to use their email or the classroom software...or their own computers.
maybe it's just a Baltimore thing, but i'm certainly burned on the whole community college "thing."
Community colleges are great resources that can easily be forgotten. When I changed jobs about four years ago, I took several accounting courses at our community college to help with my new work. The teaching was great, and the cost was very reasonable.
The single biggest drag for me are the crowds. I can't take it, so I shop at night or in the AM. Personally, I like the late night best, but it's a pain to get out after a long day, so I've been a morning person. Other than that, I kinda enjoy shopping for food.
Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts. Nate, I can relate. I'm also a poet and I don't even know it. I used to obsess over my site meter but after months of getting zero hits, I finally gave up. At some point I had to move on with my life.
Kenneth, I didn't mean to imply that I don't like online correspondence... actually, that's not true. I don't get the whole IM thing and as you recommend, I don't use it. But to each his or her own.
And Kate, I am with you on this one. Any meaningful relationship in your life requires time together in person, even engaging in small talk, which I abhor. Even talking on the phone falls short of time spent face to face.
We were in a very similar situation about 2 months ago with Marty and would be more than happy to join your law suite against him. We can provide any documentation necessary to help out the case. PLEASE contact us at this email.
Hi Fred, Great post! I wanted to let you know that we gave it some love in a BlogHer Productions video: http://www.blogher.com/thejuice/. Let me know if you have any questions! -- Julie Godar, Managing Editor, BlogHer.com
As you mentioned, industrial organic is not all it's cracked up to be. According to my research, two brands of organic milk that are also grass-fed are Organic Valley and Natural by Nature. Organic Valley cows must be pastured 120 days a year. Natural by Nature sounds even better, but seems less widely available. Hope this helps!
I personally take offense to paying into your unemployment fund if you insist on carrying COBRA AND retaining your savings. As one poster stated, we are entitled to the pursuit of happiness but not everyone will reach it. This is so true. Life deals EVERYONE all kinds of blows. We are a country of whiners who feel they are 'entitled' to everyone. No, you aren't entitled to wait to find a job that you want. You go get a job that comes as close to paying your bills. You downsize. You tap into your savings. AFTER you have exhausted those avenues, THEN you should file for UI.
I have noticed a very intentional directing of people to the most processed (and expensive) options. Our local grocery chain is so over populated with processed food it is like a scavenger hunt to find basic things like rice, beans, vinegar, sugar. Everything is on the bottom shelf. My back ends up tortured by the time I am done stooping to get things from 6 inches off the floor.
Looking only for basics makes you realize how much of the contents of the store you really don't need.
Manufacturers and retailers must be aware that more people are making things from scratch. I have seen an organized effort to market those pre-made products more than usual lately.
I have more than a couple of acquintances in California who laugh at me when I ask how their job search is going. One in particular is degreed, capable of making 30-40k if she looked for a real job (yes, they exist where we live). She had a series of interviews with the IRS. She decided not to take the job because it paid only 10 dollars an hour and she was making more than that on unemployment. She is praying for the extension so she can sit on her butt more. She's not even looking! I wish she was the only one I knew, but I know many people who aren't interested in finding a job until the benefits have expired. Do I believe in assistance? Yes. However, there MUST be better controls in place if they are going to provide this benefit for any duration of time, say over 3 months. I'll admit, it upsets me that I work my butt off (I own my own business but pay myself a salary) while she sits home and does nothing.
I admit, I've succumbed to the addictive properties of the internet-- particularly sites like Facebook and Twitter. But, even while I enjoy them, I never forget the importance of spending real time with family and friends. As this amazing clip on youtube expresses, you just can't underestimate the importance of small talk! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7FtxRhkNTU
I usually shop at 10:00 pm on Thursday, right after my dance class which is practically adjacent to the store. While it's true that the store isn't all that crowded with customers, it is often jam-packed with gigantic loads of boxes waiting to be stocked. For some reason instead of pulling out a huge load of stuff from the store room and then stocking it, my store has its staff pull everything in the universe out of the store room and pile it in all the aisles and in front of the end caps before they start putting anything on the shelves.
Plus although the store is officially open, many parts of it are closed. You can't get anything from behind the deli counter or bakery counter and the salad bar is closed.
I used to go at 4:00 am sometimes when I was a student teacher, which was great for the complete lack traffic on the roadways, but even with virtually no customers at all, there was also only a single cashier, so you could still wait in line for some time.
FYI: Most people who don't have insurance or money for doctors do not even have a "family" doctor (and one assumes you mean a GP?).
Getting a referral from a friend to a physician may get them a name and a visit, but it's still the exception for physician to negotiate down their fees--cash or not. If you're lucky, they will treat you and let you pay as you go. Or give you an extended payment plan.
In many places, many physicians are already NOT taking any kind of insurance (government or private)--and require cash or credit card payment at the time of visit. These folks tend to have more reasonable fees (but not always), but again you need to pay up front.
You need to bring up the money issue with a physician because he has to understand that you may not be able to afford followup visits, tests or meds he would routinely order. My sister in law is going thru this now in Florida.
Her doctor has driven her to tears in his office by ignoring her and writing up tons of tests and meds --plus dragging out office visits instead of consolidating---and making it seem as if my sister in law is NOT choosing to get treatment--like she has the money but can't spend it. Hardly the case.
If you want to negotiate, you need to talk to the office or practice manager. The doctors themselves rarely get involved in this (maybe in a very small community). Being calm, polite and honest about your situation can help. Don't panic, don't pressure, don't beg and do not demand. The payment issue affects treatment options and timing, so it is part of the whole medical service.
I once had to have emergency surgery. I met the doctor who would ultimately perform it less than 24 hours before I ended up having surgery. As I waited in his office afterwards (his nurse had to get me into a hospital), I explained the situation to the office manager (no insurance, would have to pay myself, self-employed). She told me what she thought the hospital bills might be (Huge and out of her hands. The cost of my two-day stay for minor surgery? I could have stayed at a five-star spa for maybe a month!)
Then she told me the doctor's fee. It wasn't cheap, but it was reasonable, especially in comparison to the other costs involved.
I'm fairly certain that the surgeon's fees, which included weekly visits for four months and twice a week visits for two post surgery, were greatly reduced as they were only slightly more than the anesthesiologists (for 15 minutes work!).
It never hurts to ask. And it never hurts to reiterate: How can we combine visits, tests? How can we schedule treatments to be sure it's the most cost effective.
As a last resort, you can ask for any other local resources or physicians who might help.
As for the store clinics you mention, their quality varies greatly and they really are only good for small, not serious stuff. They're not going to be the folks who really check you out and can identify serious concerns you may not even be aware of.
It's a sad thing in our country today where people cannot afford either preventative care or even emergency care.
The system is set up to charge more to those who can least afford it. (And for those folks who pay insurance and are so annoyed because they feel they are "subsidizing" the healthcare of others? Wake up. That's not the case. You should be more upset in the inequality of what people are charged for the same level of care in the same facility based on WHO their insurer is or whether they have them. There are plenty of people without insurance who are in debt, have been forced to sell their homes, etc. to pay bills for services that are billed to them many times over what YOU pay. THEY are often subsidizing YOUR healthcare!)
A common interviewing question that is difficult for many people to answer is, "You appear to be overqualified." Most of the outplacement candidates I counseled were overqualified by virtue of their experience or previous salary or both. One of the best ways to answer the "You appear to be overqualified" question is to take the offensive. You can answer, "Yes, absolutely! And isn't that to your benefit?"
That gives you the opportunity to reiterate why you would be such an asset to the company: your experience bringing in revenue, new customers, research, whatever is pertinent to the position you're seeking. Don't apologize for your age, experience or pay grade. Use them as assets. Emphasize your energy, enthusiasm and desire to learn. For more dynamic answers to tough interview questions, check out: http://interview-doctor.blogspot.com. Make a comment if you need the answer to other tough, tricky or sneaky interview questions.
I personally take offense so someone who hasn't experienced losing their job in this current economy judging those who have.
It's easy to tell who still has their job and who has lost theirs by the opinions.
You think it's wrong to take COBRA and try to retain your savings and collect unemployment compensation? You think it's a good idea to spend down any savings and then when you're broke and can no longer pay for health benefits for your family, then to apply for unemployment? Isn't having some kind of cushion of savings preferable, in case, for example, you have to travel to try to find a job in a different area, or if you have some large medical expense?
I should add that none of us pay into unemployment; it is paid by the employers.
I should also add that those low paying jobs that the unemployed people ought to accept don't really exist anymore. For instance I know of a schoolteacher who lost his job and has applied to be a bartender, a night club bouncer, you name it. Nothing.
If I tried to get the Wal-Mart job I'm fairly sure I would be passed over in favor of one of the multitude of laid off retail workers who already have experience in that field.
I think it's a crock that many people are just waiting to find a job; basically THERE ARE NO JOBS. You can keep looking but it's like doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. No one is hiring.
Remember when the L.A. Dodgers were hiring for ball park staff and 10,000 applicants showed up for 500 positions; everyone from homeless people to unemployed lawyers.
BTW my savings went away in 2007 when I was first laid off; I found a job and how I'm unemployed again. Now I have no savings, I have no health insurance, I am glad I have 79 weeks to find a job, maybe by the end of this year (hopefully sooner) things will start to turn around.
My suggestion to those of you who are fortunate to be working is to quit your whining; it looks different from this side.
exactly what we did, very little mess!!!
if you had read the post, you'd have seen that the battery in the video is NOT a "AA" battery, but a 12 volt battery like the kinds used in some digital cameras.
Congratulations at failing.
I went to a community college, and it was the best option for me at the time. I didn't really know what I wanted to study, and I was apprehensive about going to college. The hardest step is the first one, and community college was a good first step. It was inexpensive, close to home, and helped me narrow my focus on my future career.
Only if you want to ruin the car battery itself. lol
Putting a metal bar across the battery terminals will heat the bar red-hot and if you do it for 10 mins it will not only drain your battery, but probably melt it as well.
and LOL at the claw hammer. Why would anyone do that. You're not only going to have a mess, but a mess of chemicals that are corrosive all over your driveway.
I hope no one took that comment seriously, or they're in for a real disappointment and a real headache.
Thanks for sharing experiences, good and not so good. My experiences (and those of people I know) have been at multiple colleges but all in North Carolina, which apparently has a top-ranked program. The online course I took was offered through the college but was really a packaged class with an instructor available by email but not anywhere nearby.
And, glad for the mention Coupon Artist. The one thing that I have liked about my college instructors is that not only did they have professional credentials, they also had hands-on experience -- my tax instructor was a CPA with a local accounting firm, my CPR instructor was a highway patrolmen, etc. -- so they could help with the practical application of course content and not just the theory.
I go to a family doctor also known as a family physician. I have a high deductible plan, meaning that I pay for nearly everything (though I do receive plan-negotiated discounts). I am often annoyed at the lack of understanding of some, not all, practices in regard to treatment costs and practices. My family practice is hospital/corporate owned and I doubt they'd consider a price break for upfront cash (though I would love for healthcare organizations to learn more about cash flow); however, I haven't tried (I figure it's just as easy to wait the several months it takes to process invoices and then pay) -- but privately run practices (there are just a few of these in my area) may be more likely to take cash upfront as they do understand cash flow principles.
Speaking of places to get inexpensive healthcare, I was just talking to a FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner) who volunteers at a faith-based clinic that provides discounted services to the working uninsured.
One problem that is prevalent in Queen Creek (I am a resident) is the Home owners associations in the neighborhoods with lots of foreclosures. Many of them are struggling too, making the entire neighborhood look bad because they don't maintain the common areas or pay for what is needed. They are also trying to raise the rates for those of us who still live in the neighborhood. When we bought our house 5 years ago we paid $30/month in fees which included basic cable. Last year they raised the monthly fee to $40 and this year they raised it another $10 AND quit paying for our cable. They are trying to make up for all the empty homes. So not only do we have vacant homes as neighbors, we are saddled with run down parks, green pools and HOA companies puting liens on our homes for not paying the exhuberant HOA fees. Who would want to move into a neighborhood like that?
This is a great post- all too often, there is a stigma attached to community colleges that is undeserved. As an adjunct professor at a community college, I can tell you that the hiring standards were fairly rigorous and that I had to really demonstrate my qualifications to get the position. And, most of my colleagues are there because they really want to teach- there is very little reason to look for an adjunct position otherwise.
i have yet to have a positive experience with a community college. the teachers i've encountered don't treat students with respect, and half the time don't even bother coming to class. how are students to learn if the teacher isn't there to instruct them?
then there's the snafu of teachers who teach online classes but cannot figure out how to use their email or the classroom software...or their own computers.
maybe it's just a Baltimore thing, but i'm certainly burned on the whole community college "thing."
Community colleges are great resources that can easily be forgotten. When I changed jobs about four years ago, I took several accounting courses at our community college to help with my new work. The teaching was great, and the cost was very reasonable.
I got a discount dental plan in 1997 and our family has saved thousands. We also make money referring others.
Bill Simms
BillSimms.biz
The single biggest drag for me are the crowds. I can't take it, so I shop at night or in the AM. Personally, I like the late night best, but it's a pain to get out after a long day, so I've been a morning person. Other than that, I kinda enjoy shopping for food.
Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts. Nate, I can relate. I'm also a poet and I don't even know it. I used to obsess over my site meter but after months of getting zero hits, I finally gave up. At some point I had to move on with my life.
Kenneth, I didn't mean to imply that I don't like online correspondence... actually, that's not true. I don't get the whole IM thing and as you recommend, I don't use it. But to each his or her own.
And Kate, I am with you on this one. Any meaningful relationship in your life requires time together in person, even engaging in small talk, which I abhor. Even talking on the phone falls short of time spent face to face.
I agree--I can't stand when grocery stores play music or sports games. It's so annoying. I just want to get in and get out.
There are a couple of articles here and here that have some really great tips (more "secrets") to save money at the grocery.
We were in a very similar situation about 2 months ago with Marty and would be more than happy to join your law suite against him. We can provide any documentation necessary to help out the case. PLEASE contact us at this email.
Hi Fred, Great post! I wanted to let you know that we gave it some love in a BlogHer Productions video: http://www.blogher.com/thejuice/. Let me know if you have any questions! -- Julie Godar, Managing Editor, BlogHer.com
As you mentioned, industrial organic is not all it's cracked up to be. According to my research, two brands of organic milk that are also grass-fed are Organic Valley and Natural by Nature. Organic Valley cows must be pastured 120 days a year. Natural by Nature sounds even better, but seems less widely available. Hope this helps!
I personally take offense to paying into your unemployment fund if you insist on carrying COBRA AND retaining your savings. As one poster stated, we are entitled to the pursuit of happiness but not everyone will reach it. This is so true. Life deals EVERYONE all kinds of blows. We are a country of whiners who feel they are 'entitled' to everyone. No, you aren't entitled to wait to find a job that you want. You go get a job that comes as close to paying your bills. You downsize. You tap into your savings. AFTER you have exhausted those avenues, THEN you should file for UI.
I have noticed a very intentional directing of people to the most processed (and expensive) options. Our local grocery chain is so over populated with processed food it is like a scavenger hunt to find basic things like rice, beans, vinegar, sugar. Everything is on the bottom shelf. My back ends up tortured by the time I am done stooping to get things from 6 inches off the floor.
Looking only for basics makes you realize how much of the contents of the store you really don't need.
Manufacturers and retailers must be aware that more people are making things from scratch. I have seen an organized effort to market those pre-made products more than usual lately.
I have more than a couple of acquintances in California who laugh at me when I ask how their job search is going. One in particular is degreed, capable of making 30-40k if she looked for a real job (yes, they exist where we live). She had a series of interviews with the IRS. She decided not to take the job because it paid only 10 dollars an hour and she was making more than that on unemployment. She is praying for the extension so she can sit on her butt more. She's not even looking! I wish she was the only one I knew, but I know many people who aren't interested in finding a job until the benefits have expired. Do I believe in assistance? Yes. However, there MUST be better controls in place if they are going to provide this benefit for any duration of time, say over 3 months. I'll admit, it upsets me that I work my butt off (I own my own business but pay myself a salary) while she sits home and does nothing.
I admit, I've succumbed to the addictive properties of the internet-- particularly sites like Facebook and Twitter. But, even while I enjoy them, I never forget the importance of spending real time with family and friends. As this amazing clip on youtube expresses, you just can't underestimate the importance of small talk! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7FtxRhkNTU
I usually shop at 10:00 pm on Thursday, right after my dance class which is practically adjacent to the store. While it's true that the store isn't all that crowded with customers, it is often jam-packed with gigantic loads of boxes waiting to be stocked. For some reason instead of pulling out a huge load of stuff from the store room and then stocking it, my store has its staff pull everything in the universe out of the store room and pile it in all the aisles and in front of the end caps before they start putting anything on the shelves.
Plus although the store is officially open, many parts of it are closed. You can't get anything from behind the deli counter or bakery counter and the salad bar is closed.
I used to go at 4:00 am sometimes when I was a student teacher, which was great for the complete lack traffic on the roadways, but even with virtually no customers at all, there was also only a single cashier, so you could still wait in line for some time.
FYI: Most people who don't have insurance or money for doctors do not even have a "family" doctor (and one assumes you mean a GP?).
Getting a referral from a friend to a physician may get them a name and a visit, but it's still the exception for physician to negotiate down their fees--cash or not. If you're lucky, they will treat you and let you pay as you go. Or give you an extended payment plan.
In many places, many physicians are already NOT taking any kind of insurance (government or private)--and require cash or credit card payment at the time of visit. These folks tend to have more reasonable fees (but not always), but again you need to pay up front.
You need to bring up the money issue with a physician because he has to understand that you may not be able to afford followup visits, tests or meds he would routinely order. My sister in law is going thru this now in Florida.
Her doctor has driven her to tears in his office by ignoring her and writing up tons of tests and meds --plus dragging out office visits instead of consolidating---and making it seem as if my sister in law is NOT choosing to get treatment--like she has the money but can't spend it. Hardly the case.
If you want to negotiate, you need to talk to the office or practice manager. The doctors themselves rarely get involved in this (maybe in a very small community). Being calm, polite and honest about your situation can help. Don't panic, don't pressure, don't beg and do not demand. The payment issue affects treatment options and timing, so it is part of the whole medical service.
I once had to have emergency surgery. I met the doctor who would ultimately perform it less than 24 hours before I ended up having surgery. As I waited in his office afterwards (his nurse had to get me into a hospital), I explained the situation to the office manager (no insurance, would have to pay myself, self-employed). She told me what she thought the hospital bills might be (Huge and out of her hands. The cost of my two-day stay for minor surgery? I could have stayed at a five-star spa for maybe a month!)
Then she told me the doctor's fee. It wasn't cheap, but it was reasonable, especially in comparison to the other costs involved.
I'm fairly certain that the surgeon's fees, which included weekly visits for four months and twice a week visits for two post surgery, were greatly reduced as they were only slightly more than the anesthesiologists (for 15 minutes work!).
It never hurts to ask. And it never hurts to reiterate: How can we combine visits, tests? How can we schedule treatments to be sure it's the most cost effective.
As a last resort, you can ask for any other local resources or physicians who might help.
As for the store clinics you mention, their quality varies greatly and they really are only good for small, not serious stuff. They're not going to be the folks who really check you out and can identify serious concerns you may not even be aware of.
It's a sad thing in our country today where people cannot afford either preventative care or even emergency care.
The system is set up to charge more to those who can least afford it. (And for those folks who pay insurance and are so annoyed because they feel they are "subsidizing" the healthcare of others? Wake up. That's not the case. You should be more upset in the inequality of what people are charged for the same level of care in the same facility based on WHO their insurer is or whether they have them. There are plenty of people without insurance who are in debt, have been forced to sell their homes, etc. to pay bills for services that are billed to them many times over what YOU pay. THEY are often subsidizing YOUR healthcare!)