# Sarah Palin proven right! Government tricks beautiful young mom; imposes 1st Death Panel Verdict **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 12, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888 "2010-04-12T22:18:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/141 "2010-04-13T13:20:41Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I second the awesomeness that is this word, and move that it be entered into the Straight Dope lexicon immediately, if not sooner. [Here is the picture which originally spawned the word.](http://pw0nd.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/wharrgarbl-500x400.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/142 "2010-04-13T13:30:16Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > A couple of expressions come to mind. “_When in Rome…_” “…_vaffanculo_!”\* - Linguistic suggestion presented for informational purposes only. Phrase not directed toward or intended for any specific person within or without this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/143 "2010-04-13T13:33:22Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > [Here is the picture which originally spawned the word.](http://pw0nd.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/wharrgarbl-500x400.jpg) Not working for me. Is it [this one](http://ihasahotdog.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/funny-dog-pictures-loldogs-wharrgarbl.jpg)? Also, [Urban Dictionary](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=wharrgarbl) has a surprisingly coherent definition: > [@](#): > > 1. The caption of a popular “loldog” (dog version of lolcat) showing a dog attempting to drink from a lawn sprinkler. Word refers to the sound the dog presumably is making as it angrily (and pointlessly) attempts to subdue the water stream. > > 2. A one-word stand-in for any angry, incoherent, pointless reaction, comment, or attack. In online forums, the loldog referenced in (1) is often used to make the point that someone’s position is incoherent, illogical, and or pointless. Simply writing ‘WHARRGARBL’ is also sufficient to make the point, and is especially effective if the target of your insult is one of the few people unfamiliar with the loldog. > > Note that incoherence or pointlessness is required for a proper WHARRGARBL reference. An angry, but otherwise logical, argument is not a WHARRGARBL. An argument that takes a reasonable (or at least arguable) position, but does so with an incoherent rant IS a valid WHARRGARBL. > > Coherence and logic (or the lack thereof) is in the eye of the beholder, of course. On the internets, any argument that disagrees with yours may be a valid WHARRGARBL. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/144 "2010-04-13T13:34:47Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I would have no objection to a dual standard from of health care where everyone who wants socialized medicine can participate in and finance it, and a separate system for people who want to pay for their own private insurance. But of course **that won’t work** … Actually, in some other countries that have UHC, [it](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHI) [does](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bupa). Glad to hear you’re on board with UHC. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/145 "2010-04-13T13:49:51Z")
I don’t think BUPA counts, exactly, since BUPA patients still help finance the NHS via general tax contributions. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/146 "2010-04-13T13:50:33Z")
> [@Fuji](#): > > Actually, in some other countries that have UHC, [it](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHI) [does](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bupa). > > Glad to hear you’re on board with UHC. **SA** will almost certainly point out that in such a system he is effectively paying twice, since there is no opt-out for UHC, which is an important distinction. That said, I had BUPA for a while. The bureaucracy wasn’t worth it, but if you are likely to need it for those rare medical situations which 1) are not actual emergencies but 2) you would like to have addressed quickly and 3) are covered by your policy, it’s not bad. Under certain circumstances you can “upgrade” to private medical facilities as well. Plus BUPA covers health assessments and other preventative care, unlike (as I understand it) most US health insurance companies. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/147 "2010-04-13T14:31:57Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > WARNING: PERSONAL ANECDOTE FOLLOWS: > > When I was nine years old I happend upon a collection of explicit pornography. I showed it to my father, who came home the next day with several books on sex he had checked out of the library for me to read in order to learn how babies were made. > > Two days later I was trying to get it on with the little eight-year-old girl down the block. It was only the fact that fifties-era sex books were so vague in detail regarding penetration that not much happened. Still, I had become sexualized by these images and that information, and over the next few years I tried whatever I could get away with, with whoever would allow me to try it. > > Now, contrary to what seems to be the general belief around here, I don’t think my own reaction was all that unique. Uh - yes it was. Anyway take some damn responsibility for your actions. ‘Books made me do it’ is probably not as strong a defence as you imagine. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/148 "2010-04-13T14:37:00Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I don’t think BUPA counts, exactly, since BUPA patients still help finance the NHS via general tax contributions. And BUPA use NHS facilities and NHS financed and trained staff. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/149 "2010-04-13T14:37:41Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Well, as disturbing as this story is, **SA** , you do realize that it happened before any of the new HCR provisions kicked in. Right? So, if this is a “death panel”, then we’ve had them all along. Can you explain how these types of things will be more likely happen with the new HCR law? I just came in to post this very thought, and I think it bears repeating now that **SA** is back from his important work. Well **SA**? How come these horrible things have happened to this lady BEFORE any of the provisions of the new HCR have kicked in? It seems that you have just proved to yourself that “death panels” exist NOW. (even though it seems you want to stretch the definition beyond belief to include miscommunication between different branches of government) How does this make Palin “right”? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/150 "2010-04-13T14:39:39Z")
Honest hard-working Americans don’t care about calendars, despite what marxist community organizers want! ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/151 "2010-04-13T14:53:14Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > **SA** will almost certainly point out that in such a system he is effectively paying twice, since there is no opt-out for UHC, which is an important distinction. I realize that there is no opt-out for UHC, but I don’t think it’s an important distinction in practice. **SA** seems to think that in such a two-tier system, he would have to pay for the _full_ cost of the private care he is presumably already paying for, in addition to the tax burden necessary to fund UHC.\* I am not aware of the exact details of how Bupa works in the UK, but I am a former Vhi customer here in Ireland, and I can tell you that my _yearly_ premium in 2006 was about €500. So about €40/month to get private insurance. Thus, I see it as a disticntion without a difference. \*(I can perhaps see why he might assume as much, given that the dysfunctional US educational system does have those parents sending kids to private schools paying the full costs for both the private & public options. Here in Ireland, private secondary education works like private health insurance, where private tuition is a [negligible](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_ireland#Secondary_education) family expense.) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/152 "2010-04-13T14:53:37Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I don’t think BUPA counts, exactly, since BUPA patients still help finance the NHS via general tax contributions. I protest the fact that I must pay for the federal highway system, even if I provide my own helicopter for transportation. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/153 "2010-04-13T15:05:52Z")
> [@Fuji](#): > > I am not aware of the exact details of how Bupa works in the UK, but I am a former Vhi customer here in Ireland, and I can tell you that my _yearly_ premium in 2006 was about €500. So about €40/month to get private insurance. Thus, I see it as a disticntion without a difference. BUPA is effectively subsidised by the NHS who train the staff (and employ them in their day job). They use NHS facilities to perform procedures and the NHS for any complications that develop so it is only right and fair that BUPA patients pay their NHS share. Just like, as been pointed out, the childless pay for schools etc etc etc. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/154 "2010-04-13T15:07:01Z")
> [@Fuji](#): > > Actually, in some other countries that have UHC, [it](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHI) [does](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bupa). > > Glad to hear you’re on board with UHC. Stop confusing him with facts. His head will explode and we’ll have to clean up the mess. 😃 Besides it’s not as if people in such countries live [longer.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy) ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/155 "2010-04-13T15:12:41Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Not working for me. Is it [this one](http://ihasahotdog.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/funny-dog-pictures-loldogs-wharrgarbl.jpg)? Yep, that’s the one. Weird that it didn’t work for you- I pulled up that link both at home and at work. Strange. That definition pretty much describes the anti-healthcare-reform arguments we’ve been hearing for the last year, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/156 "2010-04-13T15:27:19Z")
**Starving** thinks Sarah has been proven right. And you thought there wasn’t enough stupid to go around. There is clearly an infinite supply, and this thread proves it. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/157 "2010-04-13T15:40:08Z")
Wow, I am confused, because it seems to me that SA is upset that the Government ISN’T paying for this woman’s coverage. So I presume that SA solution to this is expanded governement aid and coverage. Otherwise I am at a loss as to what he feels would be the alternative here. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/158 "2010-04-13T16:04:50Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Wow, I am confused, because it seems to me that SA is upset that the Government ISN’T paying for this woman’s coverage. So I presume that SA solution to this is expanded governement aid and coverage. Otherwise I am at a loss as to what he feels would be the alternative here. Apparently, this has little to do with whether the (beautiful!) woman gets her procedure paid for or not. What he seems to be trying to claim is that the recently-passed health care legislation is a Really Bad Idea because one incident, involving two agencies that are generally unrelated to any notional universal health care program (which the new legislation doesn’t address anyway) somehow shows what a universal health care system would be like. If there actually was one in the USA. Which there isn’t. Of course, that’s just his position now. His original claim, now comprensively debunked, was that the incident in question somehow proved that Sarah Palin’s blathering about ‘death panels’ had some distant relation to reality. OK, I’m not sure that’s any clearer. Let’s try this: Government bad, change nothing anyway. Also, please remember that if you don’t happen to understand what exactly **S\_A** is going on about, it’s always your failure of comprehension rather than his failure to be concise, on topic and avoid shifting the goalposts mid-thread. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/159 "2010-04-13T16:11:33Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Also, please remember that if you don’t happen to understand what exactly **S\_A** is going on about, it’s always your failure of comprehension rather than his failure to be concise, on topic and avoid shifting the goalposts mid-thread. Wow! He can do _that_? I mean, doesn’t it hurt? Ohhhhh. “shifting”. My bad. [Emily Litella] Never mind. [/Emily Litella] ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888/160 "2010-04-13T16:15:05Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Two days later I was trying to get it on with the little eight-year-old girl down the block. What has your being a child molester got to do with the USA’s not having universal health care resulting in an American woman not receiving medical care? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-proven-right-government-tricks-beautiful-young-mom-imposes-1st-death-panel-verdict/535888.md?page=9)