
Comrade Anklebiter |

Take this fun and informative quiz!
In case anyone is interested, I am smarter and more informed than 3/4ths of you.
[Ahem]
You answered 7 out of 10 questions correctly, better than 76% of Americans.
For Workers Revolution and Free Health Care!!
Vive le Galt!

The Thing from Beyond the Edge |

I got 9 out of 10. I answered "don't know" to number 3. Kind of a cheap quiz cause it broadly asked questions that leave out all the nuances of import.
***
5. Will the health reform law provide financial help to low and moderate income Americans who don't get insurance through their jobs to help them purchase coverage?
Yes, the law will do this.
You answered this correctly.
Yes. Individuals without access to affordable coverage who purchase coverage through the new insurance Exchanges and have incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level will be eligible for premium tax credits based on their income.
***
If your employer provides affordable insurance (no more than 9.5% of your income according to the calculator) you do not qualify for subsidies and I don't think you are eligible for the exchange.
A note on question 5:
This bit "who don't get insurance through their jobs" can be read as having access to but not buying the plan.
In that case, one would meet the criteria of the question but not the criteria of the answer. Very badly worded and cheap to make into a quiz about what people "know".
Another example, number 3.
"3. Will the health reform law cut benefits that were previously provided to all people on Medicare?"
The answer is "No. The law reduces payments to the privately administered Medicare Advantage plans, but they will still be required to provide all benefits that are covered by traditional Medicare."
But, this makes the idea sound good but fails to address what has actually been the argued complaint regarding this bit. The complaint is that since the plans will be required to give the same coverage but receive less from the government, the plans will either fold up or charge more.
Here is a link regarding medicare and advantage plans. I believe the description of how the advantage plans work shows how reducing their compensation can (will most likely, IMO) lead to increased costs.

Kirth Gersen |

Thanks! I've been hearing about these drone strikes and the modern way that U.S. presidents wage war without officially declaring war, but Kirth made it sound like Obama might be on Google Earth right now scoping out my house. Yeah, killing U.S. citizens is a dangerous precedent, but context matters.
According to the precedent and the stated scope -- which is now de facto law since neither party bothered to contest it -- the president has the authority to declare someone an "enemy combatant" and target a drone strike on said person, without being subject to any sort of oversight or review. That means that if Obama wakes up on the wrong side of the bed tomorrow, he has complete authority to Google your house and kill you by remote control, just because he feels like it, and the entire country will assume you were actually a dangerous terrorist who has just been stopped by the brave actions of our intrepid leader.
Granting powers is funny like that. It's not just what they're used for right now that counts, but what they can be used for in the future, at will.

thejeff |
Tequila Sunrise wrote:Thanks! I've been hearing about these drone strikes and the modern way that U.S. presidents wage war without officially declaring war, but Kirth made it sound like Obama might be on Google Earth right now scoping out my house. Yeah, killing U.S. citizens is a dangerous precedent, but context matters.According to the precedent and the stated scope -- which is now de facto law since neither party bothered to contest it -- the president has the authority to declare someone an "enemy combatant" and target a drone strike on said person, without being subject to any sort of oversight or review. That means that if Obama wakes up on the wrong side of the bed tomorrow, he has complete authority to Google your house and kill you by remote control, just because he feels like it, and the entire country will assume you were actually a dangerous terrorist who has just been stopped by the brave actions of our intrepid leader.
Granting powers is funny like that. It's not just what they're used for right now that counts, but what they can be used for in the future, at will.
Do you really think it works like that? Either legally or politically?
That because no legal challenge was made when the President ordered drone strikes overseas, no challenge can be made if he decided to target some suburban American house?

thejeff |
Obviously it wouldn't bring the victim back to life, but I don't think that precedent has been set, regardless of the legal claims.
Sure it may be de facto law, but that doesn't mean it can't be challenged. In fact, under our legal system, the president's authority to order a drone strike on your house can't be legally challenged until he tries to do it. No one has the standing to do so. No one is harmed by the legal theory, only by the actual actions.
If any president attempts to do it legally and openly, I guarantee legal challenges. If he tries to do it covertly, it's not like the CIA hasn't disappeared people before, so there's no real change there.

Tequila Sunrise |

Tequila Sunrise wrote:Thanks! I've been hearing about these drone strikes and the modern way that U.S. presidents wage war without officially declaring war, but Kirth made it sound like Obama might be on Google Earth right now scoping out my house. Yeah, killing U.S. citizens is a dangerous precedent, but context matters.According to the precedent and the stated scope -- which is now de facto law since neither party bothered to contest it -- the president has the authority to declare someone an "enemy combatant" and target a drone strike on said person, without being subject to any sort of oversight or review. That means that if Obama wakes up on the wrong side of the bed tomorrow, he has complete authority to Google your house and kill you by remote control, just because he feels like it, and the entire country will assume you were actually a dangerous terrorist who has just been stopped by the brave actions of our intrepid leader.
Granting powers is funny like that. It's not just what they're used for right now that counts, but what they can be used for in the future, at will.
Relax dude, you might be hyperventilating. Also, I'm on your side.

meatrace |

I'd like to see some oversight re: drone strikes. But I think they're an important tool at our disposal. They exist in a grey area between extrajudicial executions and asymmetrical warfare. Where do international laws regarding war end and laws regarding crimes end? It's an issue that needs to be addressed, to be sure.
But I guess I'm a pragmatist in this matter. If someone like, for example, Osama Bin Laden is hiding in Afghanistan circa 2000, and there are terrorist training camps with a few hundred Al Qaeda members being trained. What's worse, sending a drone in and performing a few surgical strikes to eliminate your target? Or prosecuting a ground war that will cost the lives of tens of thousands, many of whom will be US citizens?
I'd rather neither, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather just go in and wack Hussein than invade the country, if those are the only two choices presented.

TheWhiteknife |

Seriously, I would much much rather that we always go the invasion route. The easier we make it to kill those that we dont like (rather than learn to coexist with them), the more that we will. Having to actually stage an invasion would mean that we only try to kill those worth killing, rather than 16 year old teenage citizens.
Edit-added link

meatrace |

Seriously, I would much much rather that we always go the invasion route. The easier we make it to kill those that we dont like (rather than learn to coexist with them), the more that we will. Having to actually stage an invasion would mean that we only try to kill those worth killing, rather than 16 year old teenage citizens.
Edit-added link
Are you seriously suggesting that there is no collateral damage in war? What about the battle of Fallujah? There have been over 100,000 civilian deaths from violence in Iraq alone since 2003.
Really?
Are you REALLY saying that?
Really?
You're REALLY saying you'd rather have hundreds of thousands of innocents die, and TRILLIONS spent on invading a country, than allow drone strikes?
Preventing drone strikes doesn't force people to coexist with people they don't like, in any way shape or form. Even with the most cynical view, that the US military is just a puppet of a military-industrial-corporate complex, it only makes it more EXPENSIVE for us to kill people we don't like. And since the bill is footed by us, the taxpayer, not the corporate oligarchs who really profit from it, how is that an incentive not to invade countries at all?

Midnight_Angel |

In case anyone is interested, I am smarter and more informed than 3/4ths of you.
[Ahem]
You answered 7 out of 10 questions correctly, better than 76% of Americans.
Your numbers are based on the assumption that this is an all-american forum.
Which, I can assure you, is patently untrue.On a side note: Wasn't this thread about the Texan Republican Party and their stance on education, rather than Obamacare?

Comrade Anklebiter |

Well, it is true that I was leaving myself open to charges of American chauvinism, Citizen Angel, but let me assure you that it's not true.
First, I wouldn't expect non-Americans to know the ins and outs of Obamacare and, thusly, I wouldn't expect their scores on Comrade Expert's fun awesome quiz to mean anything. I could have explained all that in my quoted post, but it seemed long and cumbersome, so I didn't.
Second, I took another quiz and it said that I am only smarter than 68% of Germans. Roll percentile die.

Hitdice |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |

I got 9 out of 10. I answered "don't know" to number 3. Kind of a cheap quiz cause it broadly asked questions that leave out all the nuances of import.
** spoiler omitted **...
I enjoy any quiz that offers "I don't know," as a possible answer. To quote Calvin, "That's a even a true answer! I can write that down for all of these!"

Brox RedGloves |

Moro wrote:That's because this stance is as easily dismissed
Show. Don't tell. Don't tell me how much smarter you are then I am, SHOW ME. Don't tell me how ludicrous my position is, SHOW it. Otherwise you're just another schmuck on the internet making an appeal to the awesome that is you thinking that should be enough to convince anyone else.
Quote:as that of your counterpart who thinks that all Democrats are evil, cackling communists who are out to steal their paychecks, and liberals are lazy slackers hoping to ride coattails to a free lunch.This is assuming that the two sides are the same. Its entirely POSSIBLE that one side is right and the other side is wrong. Just because two sides are bickering doesn't mean they're both equally at fault.
Quote:One position is every bit as ludicrous and unhelpful as the other.Only because you put "all" in there, which i did not. Its disingenuous of you to judge my position based on a deliberate falsification.
There is genuine objection to many of the democrats plans: i know, I've given some of it. Democrats say they're going to use taxes to try to help people, and they do. Republicans say they want low taxes and no government programs... but still want a large military and won't lower taxes that matter to most people. Obama VS Ron Paul would be an actual Choice: they're both legitimate, honest disagreements about what the best course for the country is, and where we strike the balance between an individuals right to act freely (which does include having the money to act) vs the need for people to act together in concert ( i cannot stop a russian invasion with my hunting rifle)
The republicans however are not Ron Paul. They ARE for big government: big government that benefits large corporations. They are not for lower taxes: they are only for lower capital gains and federal income taxes.
Quote:...
Voting third party would not be anywhere near as useless as abstaining from voting at all if enough people
That's an HUGE amount of hubris thinking so many people are answerable to you.

Midnight_Angel |

First, I wouldn't expect non-Americans to know the ins and outs of Obamacare and, thusly, I wouldn't expect their scores on Comrade Expert's fun awesome quiz to mean anything. I could have explained all that in my quoted post, but it seemed long and cumbersome, so I didn't.
Hmm... interesting (though useless fact): I scored the exact same result you did on that test: 7 right (1 wrong, 2x don't know)
Second, I took another quiz and it said that I am only smarter than 68% of Germans. Roll percentile die.
*grins* I have another proposal: Link me to the test, Citizen Anklebiter.

cranewings |
A highly regarded expert wrote:Take this fun and informative quiz!In case anyone is interested, I am smarter and more informed than 3/4ths of you.
[Ahem]
You answered 7 out of 10 questions correctly, better than 76% of Americans.
For Workers Revolution and Free Health Care!!
Vive le Galt!
Woo hoo. I got the same result.
What's sad is that I've never gone out of my way to learn about the ACA. I just watch the news and scored higher than 75% of people. I feel like that should just be more than 50%, sense my behavior should be typical.

GentleGiant |

Comrade Anklebiter wrote:First, I wouldn't expect non-Americans to know the ins and outs of Obamacare and, thusly, I wouldn't expect their scores on Comrade Expert's fun awesome quiz to mean anything. I could have explained all that in my quoted post, but it seemed long and cumbersome, so I didn't.Hmm... interesting (though useless fact): I scored the exact same result you did on that test: 7 right (1 wrong, 2x don't know)
Comrade Anklebiter wrote:Second, I took another quiz and it said that I am only smarter than 68% of Germans. Roll percentile die.*grins* I have another proposal: Link me to the test, Citizen Anklebiter.
9/10 and the one I flubbed was a "D'oh" moment afterwards, because I knew it but had forgotten about the business size limit.
So, since a stinkin' socialist from far away Denmark can answer this many questions right, it's a sad fact that the ignorance or misinformation in the law's own country is so great.No wonder you're falling so behind in everything. ;-)

Hitdice |

Midnight_Angel wrote:Comrade Anklebiter wrote:First, I wouldn't expect non-Americans to know the ins and outs of Obamacare and, thusly, I wouldn't expect their scores on Comrade Expert's fun awesome quiz to mean anything. I could have explained all that in my quoted post, but it seemed long and cumbersome, so I didn't.Hmm... interesting (though useless fact): I scored the exact same result you did on that test: 7 right (1 wrong, 2x don't know)
Comrade Anklebiter wrote:Second, I took another quiz and it said that I am only smarter than 68% of Germans. Roll percentile die.*grins* I have another proposal: Link me to the test, Citizen Anklebiter.9/10 and the one I flubbed was a "D'oh" moment afterwards, because I knew it but had forgotten about the business size limit.
So, since a stinkin' socialist from far away Denmark can answer this many questions right, it's a sad fact that the ignorance or misinformation in the law's own country is so great.
No wonder you're falling so behind in everything. ;-)
Look dude, I'm a native born US citizen and I got 1 wrong and 1 "I don't know" which, however the grading system qualifies it, is a correct answer.
Seriously, if they're going to offer "I Don't Know" as a choice, it shouldn't count as a wrong answer, right? (Yes, this is exactly why I took my courses pass/fail anytime I had the option...)

The Thing from Beyond the Edge |

Midnight_Angel wrote:Comrade Anklebiter wrote:First, I wouldn't expect non-Americans to know the ins and outs of Obamacare and, thusly, I wouldn't expect their scores on Comrade Expert's fun awesome quiz to mean anything. I could have explained all that in my quoted post, but it seemed long and cumbersome, so I didn't.Hmm... interesting (though useless fact): I scored the exact same result you did on that test: 7 right (1 wrong, 2x don't know)
Comrade Anklebiter wrote:Second, I took another quiz and it said that I am only smarter than 68% of Germans. Roll percentile die.*grins* I have another proposal: Link me to the test, Citizen Anklebiter.9/10 and the one I flubbed was a "D'oh" moment afterwards, because I knew it but had forgotten about the business size limit.
So, since a stinkin' socialist from far away Denmark can answer this many questions right, it's a sad fact that the ignorance or misinformation in the law's own country is so great.
No wonder you're falling so behind in everything. ;-)
The test had (mis)leading questions. I explicitly pointed that out with regard to question 5 (because it was relevant to an earlier conversation) and 3 (which I missed by choosing "don't know" due to the question's attempt to circumnavigate the legitimate problem). The point being that if you tried to answer in a benevolent fashion regarding the ACA and ignored the problems generated by the ACA which the questions tried to steer around confronting, then you would score great.
So, anyone completely oblivious to the plan that thought well of it, will score well. But, people who know something about it but don't pay attention to attempts to be (carefully) steered around the problems by the quiz won't.
So, that "sad fact" stuff is just a bunch of malarkey.

Hitdice |

[
The test had (mis)leading questions. I explicitly pointed that out with regard to question 5 (because it was relevant to an earlier conversation) and 3 (which I missed by choosing "don't know" due to the question's attempt to circumnavigate the legitimate problem). The point being that if you tried to answer in a benevolent fashion regarding the ACA and ignored the problems generated by the ACA which the questions tried to steer around confronting, then you would score great.So, anyone completely oblivious to the plan that thought well of it, will score well. But, people who know something about it but don't pay attention to attempts to be (carefully) steered around the problems by the quiz.
So, that "sad fact" stuff is just a bunch of malarkey.
I edited your post for the sake of space, but here's the thing:
Actually, if I Don't Know was a neutral answer what you say would be correct. As is, I think we're dealing with a third party survey measuring how educated the millennials are on the subject. My best guess? Not very...

GentleGiant |

Look dude, I'm a native born US citizen and I got 1 wrong and 1 "I don't know" which, however the grading system qualifies it, is a correct answer.
Seriously, if they're going to offer "I Don't Know" as a choice, it shouldn't count as a wrong answer, right? (Yes, this is exactly why I took my courses pass/fail anytime I had the option...)
I didn't answer any of them "I don't know" if that's what you're hinting at.
But seeing how 7/10 gave a better result than 76% of Americans, it's obvious that most of those taking the test don't really know what the law is and are getting their information from the "usual suspects" (Fox News anyone?).Just the fact that they had a "Death Panel" question in there should be a dead give away that they're testing if people listen to other sources than Fox News and all the GOP talking heads who have been spreading that particular lie.

Hitdice |

Hitdice wrote:Look dude, I'm a native born US citizen and I got 1 wrong and 1 "I don't know" which, however the grading system qualifies it, is a correct answer.
Seriously, if they're going to offer "I Don't Know" as a choice, it shouldn't count as a wrong answer, right? (Yes, this is exactly why I took my courses pass/fail anytime I had the option...)
I didn't answer any of them "I don't know" if that's what you're hinting at.
But seeing how 7/10 gave a better result than 76% of Americans, it's obvious that most of those taking the test don't really know what the law is and are getting their information from the "usual suspects" (Fox News anyone?).
Just the fact that they had a "Death Panel" question in there should be a dead give away that they're testing if people listen to other sources than Fox News and all the GOP talking heads who have been spreading that particular lie.
Nono, I was saying I myself did answer "I don't know" and it counted as incorrect when it shouldn't have, you dig?
If I realize I haven't been educated on the issue, I'm more informed than some who loves/hates big/small government and gives their answers with a political bias. I don't think the survey was built to measure that.

The Thing from Beyond the Edge |

The Thing from Beyond the Edge wrote:[
The test had (mis)leading questions. I explicitly pointed that out with regard to question 5 (because it was relevant to an earlier conversation) and 3 (which I missed by choosing "don't know" due to the question's attempt to circumnavigate the legitimate problem). The point being that if you tried to answer in a benevolent fashion regarding the ACA and ignored the problems generated by the ACA which the questions tried to steer around confronting, then you would score great.So, anyone completely oblivious to the plan that thought well of it, will score well. But, people who know something about it but don't pay attention to attempts to be (carefully) steered around the problems by the quiz.
So, that "sad fact" stuff is just a bunch of malarkey.
I edited your post for the sake of space, but here's the thing:
Actually, if I Don't Know was a neutral answer what you say would be correct. As is, I think we're dealing with a third party survey measuring how educated the millennials are on the subject. My best guess? Not very...
My point is that it stays close to but steers around the actual problems with carefully chosen words. That leads people with a complaint regarding a to thing think he discussion is about a when it is actually about a' ("a prime"). That makes a garbage test, IMO. Note that I concur with your feelings regarding their use of "don't know" although it could have been used to measure lack of knowledge to keep people from guessing the correct answer.

GentleGiant |

Nono, I was saying I myself did answer "I don't know" and it counted as incorrect when it shouldn't have, you dig?
If I realize I haven't been educated on the issue, I'm more informed than some who loves/hates big/small government and gives their answers with a political bias. I don't think the survey was built to measure that.
I clicked away from the results page again, so I didn't see if there was any extra information. You're right, if you find out that you have a lot of the questions wrong, it would be helpful, at least for some who are interested in learning more, to have links to where they can find more information about the issues.
As for the "I don't know" - when it's a binary grading system it's difficult to put the third answer into any of the other answers.Of course, it could be combined with the above, so if you had 3 "I don't know" answers, you'd score e.g. 5/7 right answers and here's the info on the ones you didn't know (plus the one(s) you got wrong).
It would be hard to measure an average with that, though.