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Sunday, September 13, 2009
Health Care DebateI'm amazed at how easily folks can be misled if someone throws enough money into misinformation campaigns to
stop health care reform. We need reform now more than ever to reign in the insurance companies and to cut down the cost of
prescription drugs.
Anyone who's fooled by this "socialist rhetoric" is completely naive to the challenges
we face in the US health care system. Bringing down the cost of health care by initiating common sense reforms help us
all, and the only ones who don't like this legislation are the health insurance fat cats who've made record profits over
the last decade at your expense.
This problem is much like the big oil issues we've been facing. Wall Street demands
profits from these companies and doesn't care who gets hurt to bring in high shareholder revenues. We need to keep the
private health care industry honest by applying pressure through federal reforms that aim to keep private industry in business,
but at the same time protect citizens from what has become a monopoly run out of control.
I don't want a 100% government-run
health care system, because I do believe in capitalism and the right to make a profit from your hard work. I think just by
offering a government-initiated alternative to provide at least minimum health care to the uninsured can introduce some competition
and control skyrocketing health costs.
Reforms to protect the rights of both the insured and those unable to get
coverage because of preexisting conditions are long overdue. The practice of dropping sick people that have been paying insurance
premiums for years should be illegal.
There's much more to address about this crucial issue, and I hope
that people don't fall for the same old political games that have hurt the majority of working Americans in recent years.
Think about your families and their well being before you blindly follow the rhetoric of those who couldn't care less about
you or your ability to get good health care.
We can pass great legislation in a bi-partisan bill that can not only
help reform health care, but can also contribute to a faster economic recovery. Be smart and get informed about the health
care issue from all sides, not just from the insurance lobbyist's talking heads who want to keep things
just the way they are. Non-action isn't in your best interest.
5:54 pm edt
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Things are looking better!As I examine the the broad spectrum of economic news lately I'm starting to see some encouraging statistics
that point to the beginning of a significant economic recovery in the US. Although the unemployment rate increased this past
month, the rate of job losses has decreased. Employment is a lagging economic indicator, so any improvement here is a
sign that other indicators are already on a significant upward trend.
I've noticed a tremendous surge in the
value of the major bank stocks on Wall Street, with some banks enjoying 100-200% gains in stock value over the last couple
of months. For those who have investments on Wall Street it looks like profits will be soaring over the coming months. I'm
also encouraged that the US auto industry will survive because of the much needed restructuring and renegotiations to restore
them to profitability.
There are some areas in this country that will feel the pain of this recession long after
most of the country is in recovery, but I think in the long run our nation as a whole will emerge stronger than ever with
smarter regulations in place to avoid the same mistakes that brought us to the brink of economic ruin.
There are
some that continue to say that our government is Socialist, but this administration has made it clear that government control
of the private sector will be temporary, and that free enterprise with common sense regulations is the overall goal.
Our government took extraordinary actions in desperate times, and I am convinced that this was a necessary and proper action
to avoid a global economic collapse.
Many of those who are complaining the most are already enjoying tremendous
profits as this recovery begins, and I think they'll soon realize that the governments actions over the past several months
were a necessary risk that will make our nation stronger and more economically stable. I still believe we must always keep
a close watch on our government's actions and question our leaders if we feel they've strayed from our core beliefs
and from the Constitution, but I'm comfortable that their current strategy is sound considering the incredible number
of issues they're currently dealing with.
I'm optimistic that the unemployment rate will begin to drop
over the next few months, but I think it could drop much more quickly if our government did more to stop illegal employment
and immigration. There are many jobs being taken by these illegals that could be available to currently unemployed US citizens,
and here in Tennessee many companies are hiring illegals because of the lack of enforcement. I see this every day, and it's
so obvious and out in the open that I'm certain our local officials are intentionally turning a blind eye so that
their constituants can enjoy a cheap labor pool.
I don't have a problem with legal immigrants coming here
to find a better life, but illegal immigrants are doing great damage to our legal workforce and to government budgets. Our
government needs to put more pressure on countries like Mexico that have great wealth, but do little to provide for their
own citizens. If these illegals had more job opportunities in their own country they wouldn't be here undercutting Americans
for jobs.
Things are looking better, but we obviously have some big problems to solve before we can really get
this country ready to compete in the global economy.
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