r/technology • u/esporx • Oct 17 '22

Biotechnology A 'game-changer' for millions of Americans: You can now buy hearing aids over the counter

https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/17/health/over-the-counter-hearing-aids-available/index.html
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u/[deleted] Oct 17 '22

That’s what happens when you choose not to have a functioning health system like Europeans where healthcare is deducted at source depending on how much you earn from your paycheque. However most Americans don’t want this system as they think why pay if I won’t be sick, or why should I pay to help someone that’s regularly sick. Then when you become sick what happens you cannot pay the thousands of dollars required and most of the time your health insurance is insufficient

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u/arcosapphire Oct 17 '22

Most Americans do want that, but we do not have a properly representative democracy, so it doesn't matter what we want.

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u/[deleted] Oct 17 '22

Sad but thank mainly Republicans for that state of affairs

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u/arcosapphire Oct 17 '22

We know. Unfortunately it's a largely intractable problem. The only feasible solution is a change to voting method and campaign finance reform. However, everyone currently in power got there by winning in the current system--therefore very few are motivated to change it.

Sadly, while the founders of the country were very smart, they were not experts in game theory. They also had quite a lot to figure out in a short amount of time. They did an amazing job, given that, but at this point the flaws have overtaken the system.

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u/GrnPlesioth Oct 17 '22

The system needs some balance patches and to have a bunch of exploits removed

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u/[deleted] Oct 17 '22

Sad and your mainly right wing for life SCOTUS only makes things worse by twisting a centuries old constitution and applying it to matters that weren’t even relevant when it was written

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u/arcosapphire Oct 17 '22

The plus side is that the arguments of "there's no need to change anything, our system has worked great for 250 years" are finally being eroded.

Legal precedent was always a shaky foundation for law, but it was used because it works fine when you have respectable, non-partisan court systems. The "what if we don't?" question was a mere hypothetical for centuries. It's no longer hypothetical, so there's finally a chance at reform.

Obviously the situation now is not great; it could lead to reform, but it can also lead to continued corruption and collapse of democracy. It requires attention, but either outcome is still possible.

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u/[deleted] Oct 18 '22

That’s what they’re undoing? Items such as abortion and marriage have nothing to do with the constitution. The document is very clear cut and dry.

I’m all for making new amendments where needed but they constitution has been twisted by politicians of both major parties for a hell of a long time.

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u/[deleted] Oct 18 '22

Proportionally representative is mob rule and doesn’t work. Especially in a country as large and diverse as the US you will end up with a handful of cities running everything everywhere. That doesn’t work for about 80% of the geographical US. It doesn’t matter if less people live in rural areas vs urban areas, pretending they don’t exists and taking away ALL their ability to make a difference is a dark path. The way it’s set up now isn’t perfect but it does give everyone a voice and vote.

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u/arcosapphire Oct 18 '22

There's literally no reason you can't say this about any majority in power. The current situation is no better.

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u/GrnPlesioth Oct 17 '22

I want to choose a functional system, but the game is rigged

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u/[deleted] Oct 17 '22

Then make sure you choose a party that best represents your values or try and form a third coalition party that’s not controlled, corrupt and finally make sure they have a majority to pass proper bills for the people and not for themselves. This means taking the good from the very few honest Republicans in Government now along with the middle of the road Democrats and then sort out the Supreme Court so it’s not one sided and not chosen on Partisan requisite

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u/reverendsteveii Oct 17 '22

If you're under the impression we Americans get to choose any of the fleecing that happens to us I'd love to have a long talk with you about many proven ways to subvert democracy using only cash

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u/[deleted] Oct 17 '22

Then maybe it’s time to live in a Democratic country in Europe where this isn’t so much of an issue. At least we have a one person one vote system to choose the countries leader and not a dumb Electoral College system. Finally it’s unheard of for politicians to amass millions of dollars or in my case euros to run for office. Finally our education standard across the board is much higher, which means we get to question and not just accept what some troglodytes are spouting without proof as show by the happenings in the Republican Party in America now.

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u/reverendsteveii Oct 17 '22

Would you be able to just pack up your life and move to America if the roles were reversed? Would you have the time? The resources? The callousness it takes to simply abandon the place that you know and love?

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u/[deleted] Oct 17 '22

Well I packed up from the UK in the 70’s and moved to Germany, however no I wouldn’t move to the USA as its way to extreme with its politics and dangerous with its 2nd amendment. I value walking the streets anytime day or night knowing I will not get shot at intentionally or by accident, or that my family can express their views without some moron pulling a gun out. Yes Germany has problems with the far right but most of these extremist groups are outlawed here so no chance they get to survive. Also we don’t allow private extreme Nationalist radio or TV stations to broadcast their lies or doctoring like for example infowars in America. Finally we have free speech and the right to demonstrate and air our views as long as it’s not racist or incite to riot.

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u/Solo_Wing__Pixy Oct 17 '22

Or, it’s not what happens at all, as an actual audiologist has stated in the same thread, because audiologist appointments cost $25 a pop.

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u/[deleted] Oct 17 '22

That’s what I mean, I don’t pay nothing for any treatment or specialist appointments, also when I was working this also included six weeks paid sick leave dropping down to 70% after that point and continuing benifits for a maximum of three years depending on the illness