In this “new” United States of America we are being faced with some choices that I do not feel are being fully explained to us. There is a ‘universal’ healthcare program being bandied about by our leadership, none of whom are qualified to make such a decision. Please take note that I did use the misnomer for such a program….’socialized medicine’ that is wrongly used by so many. Not one of the lawmakers in the U.S. Congress is a public health specialist, a health-care delivery specialist or a medical services specialist, yet all of them have an ‘opinion’ about this critical program that will affect all of the citizenry of the United States. Our current president, has developed a plan that is full of holes, actually supports & fosters the insurance industry! At the present time our medical/health-care system is insurance-driven! That is the underlying causation of the dire straits we in which find our selves in this nation at present! Would it not make sense to assemble a panel of experts in the fields I listed above, have them decide upon a workable, realistic program and then pursue making that program a reality? I think so!
We, as Americans, always point at Europe and say that we want to have public transportation systems like those in Europe, we also say that we want to free educational system that they have in Europe and we want to the lower costing energy systems that they have in Europe. What we fail to realize here is that those systems are tax-driven and tax-supported as is their universal health-care! On average a European worker pays between 49% & 53% of their income to have these benefits. Would we, spoiled Americans that we are, give up that much of our taxes to have such things? The answer is a resounding…NO….!!! But we do want them! Energy companies in Europe are not allowed to make as much in profits as here, the reason being that they are either wholly owned or partially owned by the government. Thus no shareholders to keep happy with more & more profits in their accounts. Everywhere you look as you drive or ride across the European landscape you see wind-turbines cranking out electricity. Is this a bad thing? No it is a good thing but we want to preserve our pristine landscape to the detriment of our pocketbooks!
We need to wake up, the sooner the better, take control of our nation from the know-nothing/do-nothing professional politicians who ignore our will and make things happen to bring us back in line with normalcy, reality & the times! I suggest that we revamp the current political system in our nation. Make our presidents serve only a single 10-year term with a confidence vote at the end of 3 years in office. Do not pass the vote & out they go with new elections being held! Limit the campaigning to a 60-day period prior to elections! Set the limit for our congressional leaders at 8 years and allow no politico to serve more than once in their lifetime! Offer incentives to serve such as tax-free status for life once their term of office is completed with free medical acre at all levels for life for them. Bar attorneys form serving as lawmakers since they only perpetuate their craft in the form of bureaucratic structuralization of government. In other words take back our nation from the professional politicos, make a privilege to serve and get a better grip on the running of our nation!
Mandate a 2-year national service program for ALL kids as they exit high school. Not just military service, there are number of services that these kids can perform other than military. Let them experience being a part of their nation. Let them learn to appreciate their nation. Those that want to serve in the military can do so but those who do not may serve in some other service such as the national parks, hospitals, etc.
These are where my thoughts have taken me. What are your thoughts about these things?
by
Donald H.
Member since:
April 5, 2006 Revamping the U.S.A.
October 21, 2009 10:18 AM EDT
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Comments: 12
My thoughts... we are turning into Bizarro World right before our eyes. At least it's interesting...
As you are probably aware, my solution is described in a fun and easy to read book at
www.nopom.info.
Naturally I welcome all readers (or listeners to the MP3 version of the complete novel) regardless of their political leanings. This solution is neither of the left nor the right but achieves all stated general objectives of all parties and movements in the mainstream.
Doc, in the middle, holding on... Curmudgeon esq. Oct 21, 2009, 11:18am EDT
Don;
what most people in this country refuse to understand is that the REASON Europe has had such wonders as transport and medicine is because they had an EFFECTIVE LEFT for many many years AND the specter of real, nasty, rifle toting, tank driving, communism on their borders.
These actualy ARE two different things, knee-jerk as we have been trained to believe otherwise.
With so-called 'real socialism' close by lusting after your assets the Europeans had a real INCENTIVE to 'compete' in the form of goods and services... The left wasn't just trying to get reelected and hold power they were out to DO something.. The right was pressured by the thought of Soviet assimilation to GIVE an inch or a foot, to keep SOMETHING...
All that is gone now, BUT the traditions and programs are in place.
Most Americans know so little of their own political history that they don't realize that the FIRST congressional elections that the PEOPLE could vote in were held in the TWENTIETH CENTURY...
[[from Wiki..
The Seventeenth Amendment (Amendment XVII) to the United States Constitution was passed by the Senate on June 12, 1911, the House of Representatives on May 13, 1912, and ratified by the states on April 8, 1913. The amendment supersedes Article I, § 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, transferring Senator selection **from each state's legislature** to popular election by the people of each state. ]]
So change is not something that has never happened.. it's just something that a nation of ghettoized/market stupid sheep is unlikely to pull off.
Welfare programs will be massive, as all high unemployment periods are.
The funding source for political corruption will dry up as a direct result of the above. They can't spend money they don't have.
Once again, political corruption will be about power, and less about money. Much like Europe, and any country without low taxation rates.
I read the whole 1200 page bill (am a consultant and had to for my business). It is not about insurance and it is not about the uninsured, it is about government control. Plain and simple.
Did you know the healthcare bill contains wording for a type of service for kids, and they get part of college paid for, if they serve 2 to 4 years. The public health workforce.
One big deal in the bill is the elimination of the Federal Acquisition Regulations from the whole bill. If you thought $500 toilets were expensive, wait until these groups start buying with no limitations from regulations.
Another big deal is the major positions appointed by the president and them down to other appointments, with no oversight and no voting.
The overriding part of the bill is that it is all based on amending the IRS Act of 1986 and all penalties paid go to the general fund and not to healthcare. Public option premiums are to be based on income, not medical necessity.
They have tied healthcare to tax code and that is the most scary thing that can happen to any of us.
Unfortunately the citizenry does get reports about such things. we simply get the irresponsible journalism that shouts about "waste!" without getting the entore story or ignores it and goes for the sensationalism...!
We need patriotism, not Obamaism. We need pride in our country, not pride in Obama.
Interesting that he never ends his speeches with 'God bless my fellow Americans. Interesting that he no longer goes to church, since being elected. Interesting that he never talks about what we can do for America, only what we need to give up. Interesting that he touts his healthcare plan for those who do not have insurance and not the majority who do have insurance. Interesting that the CBO did include the cost for healthcare for illegals while the bill did not specifically say they would be covered.
Not sure of the math, but how can we spend a trillion dollars up front, add 30 to 50 million new people, add preventative services, and expect a savings.
Let's add catastrophic coverage and tort reform, then get a panel (as you suggested) to study the problem then come up with a solution. The way we are going is saying, 'this is our solution - what is your problem'.