thehoff

I'd be curious as to how much the executives at these firms earn (whether it be through salary or equity or whatever else).

Yeah I guess poor wording on my part. It does matter. My point was even if its a lot less than other industries that doesn't negate what's happening here.

It almost doesn't matter? If it was less than other industries doesn't make it okay. I like any/all callouts of industries and their political "donations". Its all so ridiculous.

Genuine question.

Isn't this statement aimed at citizenship tourism or whatever its called?

I used to live in a state where some new friends had told us about places that facilitated pregnant women's trips to the US solely for the purpose of staying and giving birth in the US so the child could become citizens. They then head home. I have no idea how prevalent this is.

Sure maybe they weren't perfect in the past but were they this expensive (compared to income)? In the Cy videos I can't believe how much some of the homes cost and the things he finds wrong.

I do agree its expensive but so many point to just the cost being the big issue.

How is it (on an international stage) our US women's national team is consistently good? The teams/clubs in our region charge the same for boys/girls. Related, I know the two biggest clubs by us do offer some financial aid (50% to 100% off).

Then there are clubs that don't charge as much. From our kid's team its the end of the season and we have 4 families leaving to another club that is easily 8x cheaper. So those types of teams/clubs do exist. Not to mention school teams don't charge to play.

What about baseball travel teams? Our kid plays travel soccer and it is expensive no doubt but our baseball parent friends pay more. I don't hear anyone complaining that baseball is pay to play.

Also, from what I hear hockey is also extremely expensive. I've heard that you can't leave a sporting goods store without spending at least $1,000 on gear alone for a season. I've yet to hear anyone complain that hockey is pay to play.

I think the other commenter has it right, most kids just gravitate towards American Football, Baseball, or Basketball.

And in the state I live in, of probably the top five soccer teams, one is a private school, the rest are public.

Edit: I don't know if other sports are like this but so many soccer parents are just extremely unrealistic/toxic. So many think they have the next superstar, questioning the coach on their child's play time, whey their kids didn't get placed on higher leveled teams, questioning why a coach is running practices certain ways.

My family has moved around quite a bit from small to large cities. I have never been able to make a same or next day appointment. Sick or not. Where I'm at now (NOT a major city) it was over 6 months to get the next appointment. For our child we had to call around to 4 pediatric practices before we found one open to new patients. And even then it was still over 4 months before they had an opening. Urgent care is an option but there is still a wait and from my experience they are kind of a joke as to what they provide.

Updated.

I’m in the US and definitely have heard these in similar situations.

Another I don’t think was listed is a way to blunt an aggressive statement just in case there may be a misunderstanding.

“WTF did you just say to me?”

Might be “Sorry, but WTF did you just say to me?” would imply some anger that could lead to a fight but hey, sorry maybe I misheard you?

Which could funny enough lead to more sorries “oh, sorry I thought you said something else”.

I’ve never had anything that available (outside of urgent care which imo is not very good). None of this had an immediate need.

MRI a few years ago had a month and a half wait (not urgent but recommended).

Pediatrician? At least 3 months and thats IF they take new patients.

Allergist, 6 month waiting list.

My last PCP I had to book out 2 months in advance (the practice I wanted to go to was booked 6 months out).

We are also suburbs of a big city.

For my family, annual screenings are around a $40 copay (no other bills after). I think I paid that for some age related screenings.