71 replies to this topic

[Joker]

GASTON, N.C -- A North Carolina man suffering from an undiagnosed growth on his chest and two ruptured disks walked into an RBC bank and handed a note to a teller demanding $1. He then sat by the door and waited for police to arrive.

Richard James Verone says he needs medical attention and hoped that by getting arrested, he would have access to health care in prison.

"I'm sort of a logical person and that was my logic, what I came up with," Verone told WCNC. "If it is called manipulation, then out of necessity because I need medical care, then I guess I am manipulating the courts to get medical care."



Three years ago, Verone was laid off from Coca-Cola after 17 years on the job. He says he has had part-time work since then, but nothing with health insurance.

He is hoping for a three-year sentence, enough time to collect social security and obtain the medical help he requires, Verone says.

"If you don't have your health, you don't have anything," he says.

The 59-year-old was unarmed at the time of the incident.

He is being charged with larceny and is held on a $2,000 bond. He will appear in court June 28.

http://www.wtop.com/...209&sid=2431332

[gdradio]

yeah he's a logical person, alright

[TakeAStepBack]

makes sense to me. If you need medical care and your choices have been reduced to such. Then seemingly logic dictates to perform accodingly for self preservation. A shame it has to be that way in the "greatest" western society......

[unbroken_chain]

It is refreshing to see someone not driven by greed... some might have said:

OK... I'm gonna rob this bank and see how much I can get... and in the event I get pinched... at least I will then have health care.

His focus was on the health care...

[halfstar]

How many cigarettes did he have whilst waiting on the po-po? And how many pounds overweight is he?

[TakeAStepBack]

How many cigarettes did he have whilst waiting on the po-po? And how many pounds overweight is he?

You'll get no argument out of me on what you're trying to say. However, if it was Lance Armstrong, would your view change on the actions?

[unbroken_chain]

he should request they take a look at his nose, while they are at it.

[melissa.phish]

Yes, but universal health care is BAD, m'kay?

[Dr. Lostreality]

when things have gotten so bad that jail is a better alternative you know things are bad.

[TakeAStepBack]

Been that way for a lot of people for along time........

[halfstar]

Seriously. Probably would have taken him less than 3 years to find a job with benefits or enough income to pay for insurance. Of course, it would take effort. So that is probably out.

[TakeAStepBack]

Once he takes a trip through the justice system and gets convixted, he will be able to immediately gain access to healthcare. My take is that his condition, after probably seeking a consultation, results in 3 years worth of medical procedure/rehabilitation.

[halfstar]

If he would rather do that, good for him. I like not being in prison so I'd find a different solution.

[TheDHJ]

Seriously. Probably would have taken him less than 3 years to find a job with benefits or enough income to pay for insurance. Of course, it would take effort. So that is probably out.

At 59?

[halfstar]

Whats your point?

[TheDHJ]

It's markedly more difficult to find a decent job with benefits at that age. A lot of companies will shy away from hiring an older person because the benefit costs are astronomical. Sure it's wrong, but that's corporate America.

[Rionach aka Spec K]

wha ?
He handed the teller a note that "demanded" $1 and the teller didn't just throw the note out and tell him to get lost?

[MeOmYo]

Isn't this what welfare is for?

[TakeAStepBack]

Not everyone is eligible for welfare. I dont know all of this man's position in life, but I do know that even if I had no job, I would not be eligible for welfare.

[halfstar]

I wouldn't hire someone this dumb either. But that has nothing to do with age. Please. This guy is a moron who is most likely dumb, lazy, fat and a smoker. Hope he has fun in prison.

[Goose]

A few weeks ago I was joking that we'd have to do this in retirement since they are trying to take away some benefits.

My girlfriend is a teacher and they've been saying they can't afford teachers and layoffs are coming, bigger classes, half day kindergarten. Why don't they repeatedly come on the news and say they can't afford to pay $30,000 a year to keep thousands of people in jail under mandatory minimum laws?

[MeOmYo]

Not everyone is eligible for welfare. I dont know all of this man's position in life, but I do know that even if I had no job, I would not be eligible for welfare.

yeah, not sure either. I thougth it was based on income but perhaps assets play into it too. I know you can give most of your liquid assets away tax free so you can make yourself pretty poor pretty fast if needed.

Either way, I think this dude is a blithering idiot. If he thinks it's hard to find work now, wait 'till he gets out of the joint with a record. There must have been a different way other than going to jail.

[Rionach aka Spec K]

so how is handing a teller a note larceny?

[robberry]

wha ?
He handed the teller a note that "demanded" $1 and the teller didn't just throw the note out and tell him to get lost?

The note said he had a gun.

It's a crazy plan, but it just might work. Or the judge might throw it out since he made his plan VERY obvious to the public. One drawback on this plan is that if he does get time, he now has a criminal background. Probably won't be a felony (usually $250+), but it definitely won't help his future employment status. His potential employer will find out that he's a "scammer" when they google his name.

[TakeAStepBack]

yeah, not sure either. I thougth it was based on income but perhaps assets play into it too. I know you can give most of your liquid assets away tax free so you can make yourself pretty poor pretty fast if needed.

Either way, I think this dude is a blithering idiot. If he thinks it's hard to find work now, wait 'till he gets out of the joint with a record. There must have been a different way other than going to jail.

You're right. His choice seems futile. But like he siad, "without your health you have nothing."

He's obviously far more concerned with living, vs. attempting to attain "the American dream". Most incarceration facilities also help newly released convicts find employment too.

[TakeAStepBack]

social security, brehs. The man is 59. He'll be 62+ when released...... His choice sucks and seems like a moran thing to do. But put yourself in his shoes and ask yourself what your plan would be.......

[Deadshow Dan]

If we had single payer health care, he would have been paying in, and been taken care of.

Instead we have to pay for his health care.

Awesome.

We (USA) have the dumbest health care insurance system.

It should be illegal to have for profit health insurance

[halfstar]

There should be the free system and the one you pay for. I know which one I would choose.

[TakeAStepBack]

It's such a glaring look at the choices offered to Mericans in today's Merica. The dewd would prefer a three year stint, equipped with 3 hots, a cot and free healthcare, than the alternaive.

[halfstar]

Free ride vs. hard work

[Uncle Coulro]

Probably won't be a felony (usually $250+)

Any bank robbery is a Federal felony with up to a 20 year bid.

[Deadshow Dan]

Free ride vs. no work

corrected

[TakeAStepBack]

corrected

Thank you......

[halfstar]

Really? I know plenty of places that are hiring. Plus, he could start his own business. It is easier, though, to have someone else do it all for you. What if he dies in jail? Delicious ironing.

[Java Time]

http://www.postandco.../08/08clinics/'> http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/nov/08/08clinics/

this took me 3 seconds to find...he's had 3 years to look...this might not be the answer to all his problems but there are other avenues to be taken other than going to prison for health care.

[jnjn]

how incredibly sad to hear what american citizens feel they have to resort to in order to receive health care.
personally, i would have figured out a way to receive medicaid if i were that desperate...not sure how it works if you have a pre-existing condition, though

[TakeAStepBack]

Really? I know plenty of places that are hiring. Plus, he could start his own business. It is easier, though, to have someone else do it all for you. What if he dies in jail? Delicious ironing.

Without health care it sounds like he is going to die sooner rather than later. You're missing the bigger picture here, brehmigo. He is going on 60 years old and is ill.

Have you no compassion?
He should start a business while sick and dying and in desperate need of medical attention???

I give up. The century of self has dun wun.

[wonka]

I think I would have tried going somewhere like Canada to try to scam into their system health care system instead of scamming into jail

I dislike a system where folks are afraid to leave jobs/start a business/take a risk because they will lose the family health care plan. Employers have us sucked in because of the need and cost of health care. I'd much rather we as a country spend billions on universal healthcare instead war/skirmishes/other crap.

[halfstar]

Without health care it sounds like he is going to die sooner rather than later. You're missing the bigger picture here, brehmigo.

We don't know his medical condition. Or whether he smokes or is overweight or exercises regularly or eats healthy. We just know a dumb guy thinks he needs to see a jail doctor.

[halfstar]

I think I would have tried going somewhere like Canada to try to scam into their system health care system instead of scamming into jail

I dislike a system where folks are afraid to leave jobs/start a business/take a risk because they will lose the family health care plan. Employers have us sucked in because of the need and cost of health care. I'd much rather we as a country spend billions on universal healthcare instead war/skirmishes/other crap.

So are the employers, the insurance companies or the doctors the bad guys?

[vic]

If we had single payer health care, he would have been paying in, and been taken care of.

Instead we have to pay for his health care.

Awesome.

We (USA) have the dumbest health care insurance system.

It should be illegal to have for profit health insurance

single payer is bullshit too

[gdradio]

if I were the judge, I would reward him publicizing his intentions by releasing him to do community service.

[TakeAStepBack]

We don't know his medical condition. Or whether he smokes or is overweight or exercises regularly or eats healthy. We just know a dumb guy thinks he needs to see a jail doctor.

We know he has a medical condition and is desperate enough to go to prison on a federal charge in order to receive treatment. You presume he is a dumb guy that smokes and is over weigth etc....not that people who lives healthy lives ever face any illness at almost 60 years old....

[halfstar]

We know he has a medical condition and is desperate enough to go to prison on a federal charge in order to receive treatment. You presume he is a dumb guy that smokes and is over weigth etc....not that people who lives healthy lives ever face any illness at almost 60 years old....

We know he has a "medical condition" and that is it. We also know he is dumb.

[vic]

So are the employers, the insurance companies or the doctors the bad guys?

all of em

[concert andy]

Do not think he is fat.

[insolent cur]

single payer is bullshit too

no. it's not. in fact it's probably the most important legislation we need to pass.

[TheDHJ]

[TakeAStepBack]

Ending 3 open wars and 2 secret ones could provide all the money needed to make sure all Mericans can receive healthcare for free. Without raising taxes even. We build bombs to blowed shit up instead of facilities to help people live healthy lives.

I think that says it all about our society as a whole.

[halfstar]

I cannot argue with that there.