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So I don't see how you can make the statement "the government doesn't understand that affordable health care is the main priority for startups" Haha, I didn't
by bhousel 16y ago
So I don't see how you can make the statement "the government doesn't understand that affordable health care is the main priority for startups"
Haha, I didn't make that statement.. But you put quotes around it anyway? I was just speaking about my own situation and why I agree that Startup America is DOA.
Edit: Ok, forget about the quotes -- they're irrelevant. I do feel that you are misparaphrasing me, but I don't care. If you want to know what I really believe:
* Of course the current government has made health care reform a priority for everyone, not just startups. Nobody would say otherwise.
* I agree with the goals of the recent health care reform law. I think health insurance reform would have been a better way to approach the problem.
* It's a shame that the democrats lost the PR battle and as a result half the country wants the law repealed. Overall I think the law could be a good thing.
* I agree with the goals of Startup America, to use government influence to remove barriers to entrepreneurship
* Affordable health care for small business owners is a huge barrier. You can't hire most people unless you can afford to pay for their health care or a group plan.
* I predict that this won't be addressed at all by Startup America, because health care reform has become such a heated issue. People are losing elections because of it.
* By addressed I mean, where is it mentioned on their website? What experts do they have advising them? What insurers are they partnering with to provide breaks for small business owners?
I do welcome discussion about this stuff, but let's try not to misrepresent each other..
- tptacek 16y agoWhat is it with Hacker News and quotation marks? I got called out for doing it a couple years ago by some famous guy on the site, and as a result, being careful with punctuation is the one thing I do differently when writing here (I slipped upthread, as you can see). But I don't get it. Your initial comment (which I totally agree with) is right there. It is plainly obvious what you wrote and plainly obvious that the response is a paraphrase. You clearly disagree with that paraphrase, but that to me seems like an essential issue in the discussion, not a pointless tangent: "do I correctly understand you to be saying...", "no!", "oh, then...".
- bhousel 16y agoYeah, I agree that this place feels too formal at times, and I hate feeling like I have to be a master of rhetoric just to comment here. In fact just yesterday I got sucked into another thread that went the same way. I've come to the conclusion that that some people take counter points and play Devil's Advocate just because the enjoy argument and debate. Personally it's not my thing. I'd rather dash off a quick comment and get back to work. This thread has gone crazy, hasn't it?
- rbarooah 16y agoSometimes it's because you are encountering someone with a cognitive style that is oriented towards precision of expression. This is an admirable trait that can expose hidden assumptions and lead to valuable insights. Unfortunately, attacking the form rather than the content of a position can also be an effective tactic for undermining an opposing view without having to risk justifying oneself. It consumes energy without contributing anything constructive. If there's a genuine ambiguity and a desire to work together to learn something, there are usually ways to clarify your opponent's position that help both people reach understanding.