What's the difference between paying corporate insurance premiums and paying Mafia protection $$ ?

[Land Shark]

QUESTION: What's the difference between paying corporate insurance premiums and paying Mafia protection $$ ?

ANSWER:
If you pay the mafia protection money, they don't hurt you and do what they say.
If you pay health care insurance premiums, they STILL hurt you and rarely do what they promise.

[Raine]

1. On point nt

[debbierlus]

2. True. The mafia has a higher code of conduct and ethics then private insurance

Sad, but true.

[villager]

3. +1

n/t

[Goldstein1984]

4. AND

If you pay insurance premiums, some of it ends up in the hands of elected officials, but

If you pay mafia protection money...

Never mind.

[2 Much Tribulation]

7. Wait, you might want to continue this line of analysis, er, "profitably". nt

[truedelphi]

5. I have said that same thing before.

At least when you deal with the Mafia, they will keep their word on what the deal is.

They know if they don't keep their word, the community will go for a new Godfather and that their power structure will be turned upside down.

Now in the USA, under the reign of the Politico/Corporate Industrialists, most people do not have any hope or any help, but they still have the expense!

[Gregorian]

6. One protects you against accidents. The other protects you against "accidents".

:)


Edit- Seriously though. I do like the line of thought behind your post.

[2 Much Tribulation]

10. But, not sure which is which since "accident" is defined by the policy fine print and by law....

Perhaps "qualified accident" would do, but only for the legally or tax-trained person who knows that the addition of the word "qualified" in front of anything means that a gauntlet of restrictions have to be met to meet the definition of the general term, in this case being "accident."

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. ..as opposed to an "on purpose"

[2 Much Tribulation]

13. Nothing is MORE intentional than the lawyered fine print of insurance contracts. nt

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. True dat.

[valerief]

8. I thought the Mafia ran the health insurance companies. nt

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. At least the Mafia pats you on the back and thanks you....

...before they kneecap you.

[Land Shark]

33. But Ins. cos. like Allsnake say "you're in good hands, with Allsnake" then cut coverage at knees. nt

[roamer65]

12. Insurance is legalized extortion, the mafia isn't.

That is the only difference.

It is basically the same difference for banking and loan sharking.

[2 Much Tribulation]

14. And legality only involves control of apparatus of government. Biggest mafias therefore "legal." nt

[Orsino]

15. Mafia probably won't kill you before you can pay up. n/t

[dysfunctional press]

17. but if you don't pay the mafia-

you're more likely to end up in a hospital room than if you don't pay the insurance company.

[Land Shark]

18. Yeah, because not paying the insurance company = NO HOSPITAL.

(just the ER at best)

[Land Shark]

19. ALTHOUGH.... another diff: you usually know where you stand with mafia, but usually guessing w/ ins

[Land Shark]

20. Another link from me today on why health "insurance" is a Fraud with a capital F

Only 2 Kinds of People" The Uninsured and those who Falsely Believe they're Insured":
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7280857

[QC]

21. The Mafia want you to remain alive.

The other guys, not so much.

[Land Shark]

22. OUCH. It stings, (and pleases) but u took this to next level...!! Recall Dead Peasant Insurance?

Dead Peasant Insurance was something totally new yet thoroughly documented in Michael Moore's latest film: "Capitalism: A Love Story."

[Sarah Ibarruri]

23. ABSOLUTELY! nt

[midnight]

24. That is why this bill is so wrong......

[stray cat]

25. Why don't you play with the Mafia and see?

[Land Shark]

30. I dunno, mafia vs Criminal "justice" system & IRS apparatus, which one is worse?

At least one has recourse potentially via a witness protection program or victim protection program with the mafia, but when the mafia type insurance racket becomes govt-compelled and Law itself, from that kind of oppression there's no legitimate escape (from the standpoint of the system/status quo).

Assuming the prosecutorial power of the government is invoked (one might be too small a fish to matter to them...) the government/insurance/law complex is, now that I think, about it, more fearsome overall. This is not to say the mafia is inconsequential, it's just a relative comparison between, say, a nationwide manhunt by the police/feds vs a nationwide manhunt by the mafia. If I had to choose, though neither is good, I'd rather take my chances with the mafia, thank you very much. (Ugh. Please don't reply as though I don't appreciate the downside of the mafia...) Keep in mind the present context here is criminalizing and IRS-penalizing those who don't purchase corporate "health" insurance.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

26. The Mafia, like the insurance companies, have politicians on the payroll. K&R

[marybourg]

27. We don't get to vote for the Mafia. nt.

[Land Shark]

29. On the other hand, WHO ever voted for the kind of govt-mafia we've got? Certainly not majorities nt

[leftstreet]

28. Mafie dudes tend to be more attractive than corporate CEOs

K&R

[dmr]

34. Didn't expect that!

:rofl:

[2 Much Tribulation]

35. yeah, ROFL.... nt

[Vidar]

31. The Mafia's protection is actually worth something.

[Land Shark]

32. You may be more informed on that point than I? :)

[shadowknows69]

36. At least the mob will kill you fairly quickly and painlessly.

Insurance companies, not so much.

[2 Much Tribulation]

37. Yup. nt

[dmr]

38. Hell, they may even bury you for free

or send you off to sea!

[Land Shark]

39. Anchors aweigh! nt

[newspeak]

40. this thread reminds me of what my FIL told me

about the old days in Vegas. He remembered going in a casino (back in the fifties) and the owner was walking along side of him and the owner asked him how he was doing and did he need anything? The owner told him you tell me if they don't treat you right. My FIL was just a laborer and had gone in with other friends. Also, he told me that if someone lost their shirt in Vegas, that the casino would put you up for a night and give you a ticket home.

He thinks that Vegas ran better under the mob and treated working folks better than they do now.

[2 Much Tribulation]

41. Interesting anecdote here. nt

[glitch]

42. The only way out of a protection racket is if everyone refuses to pay it.

Or at least a large majority refuse.

[FiveGoodMen]

43. One is defended by the president and the other one isn't

[treestar]

44. the mafia comes after you when you're healthy

OMG why bother? The hyperbole!