As I watch the 9/12 rally and march on Washington DC, I have a sad feeling within me because I'm afraid that this could very possibly be America's last opportunity to right itself from her slow decent into Socialism. If concerned citizens are unsuccessful in stopping Congress and our President from continuing on their current path, I don't know if we will ever have another chance to reverse direction. If politicians continue to ignore the obvious will of the people and push through their socialist agendas, beginning with a National Health Care program, then our voices just don't carry that much weight as apposed to political favors and pay backs. Even Republicans in Congress are having a difficult time taking a stand against the flow and pressure to conform. I believe the system (the political machine) is corrupt. It has had so much free reign for so many years that "We The People" don't even understand the totality of the problem.
I'm reminded of my dad, who, like many men of his generation, fought for Americas freedom in WWII. He never talked about his time spent as a PFC in the infantry, just calling it WWII or "The Big One". But this I do know: He was inducted into service June 21st, 1944 and returned to the United States on August 29th, 1945. He was assigned as a specialty anti-tank crewman, part of the 10th infantry. He fought in battles and campaigns in the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. By the time he was discharged he received The Victory Medal of the American Theater, The European, African, & Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, including 3 Bronze Battle Stars. He received an Overseas Service Bar, Good Conduct Medal and the Medal of Army Occupation, Germany.
My dad died of lung cancer in 1998. On his death bed, under the influence of pain medication, his mind brought him back to "THE BIG ONE". He finally said a few words of his time serving his Country. "Hup, Two, Three, Four!", he would say. "Those who have two good legs, help them with one", he said......................... I miss him, he was a great patriot who flew the American Flag in his front yard every day, illuminated at night.
My dad died well before the terrorist attacks on 9/11, and he never saw the slide of his country into Socialism and the weakening of our defenses. If he were alive today, I would be standing beside him on the front lawn of the White House, once again fighting for the freedom of the United States of America!
That made me cry! I never knew that about grandpa. I'm so proud of him and proud to be your daughter. I won't let this country lose all that it is without a fight!
ReplyDeleteDave,
ReplyDeleteCan you give a little bit of context here to frame your premiss. Give us your definition of socialism and also explain how would that be possible in the current format of the legislative regime be paassed and the America, the country you know would become a socialist country. Please explain.
Made me cry too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Dave. I didn't know all of the facts of dad's service either. He was a humble, and honorable man.
ReplyDeleteI,too, fear the path we are on. Yes, change is needed in healthcare, but the Obama plan is such a huge leap. I don't think those who support it have any idea of the gravity of such change. Where's the middle ground? Less is more, especially when it comes to government.
Dad would have supported the underdog, the uninsured, unemployeed, but he was never a supporter of handouts. This handout is going to leave everyone with empty pockets. -LL
Gabriel,
ReplyDeleteHere is Merriam-Webster's definition of Socialism:
"1 : any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2 a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
3 : a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done."
So, what was your question again?
ML
I am capable of getting that definition from the dictionary. What I asked was some context to frame the premiss. The question is, how would socialism be passed in the current format of the legislative regime? Even if the Democrats had 85% of the legislative seats in the Congress, it would never pass because 84% of them are capitalists or aspire to be. Know whom you preach.
ReplyDeleteAnd also think about, if 1300 + private Health Insurance Companies that exist across this Great Nation have not figured out how to bring costs down, where are the next "private" citizens or/and companies going to operate? If the Government can't regulate them, who is going to? The GOP?
ReplyDeleteVery damning words. Yet the only concern expressed is a disagreement with the direction of a potential health care proposal. An issue that many in our country are as passionately in favor of. So we have to allow for a difference in view. A difference in view is just that, a difference to be discussed with reason and intent to arrive at understanding and a better result. It is not justification for unfounded aspersions.
ReplyDeleteSo what exactly can be held up as justification for the condemnation? And why do you feel it is appropriate to spread inflammatory rhetoric without any proof or even specific concerns?
I'm certain your father was a wonderful man and I respect his service to our country. Maybe you could have listened to him a bit more. His dieing words, "Those who have two good legs, help them with one", should be taken to heart. You may be a very generous person in your daily life but your biggest expressed concern is the potential program to extend health insurance access to those who can't afford it today?
Gabriel,
ReplyDeleteThere you go again, answering your own question. You think that the U.S. could not be sliding towards socialism because 84% of our Democrat Congressional leaders are capitalists. Then tell me, why are they creating a government run health care system, and why would you support it?
You drink too much Kool-Aid. The insurers are not the culprits. They're playing in the government-regulated sand box. Why would you expect them to be responsible for bringing down the cost of health care? I'm sure they try to control costs, just like any for profit business, but there's only so much they can do. I wrote a health care blog on 9-14-08, please read it. There are many common sense, free market, ideas that could make a dramatic improvement to health care without a government takeover.
Finnieus J.,
To my other brother. Government control of our health care system would be socializing it, so the fear of that wouldn't be an aspersion.
A debate would be great, but the Dems aren't interesed in one. They want to pass a bill fast, even threatening to use the budget reconciliation process to do it. Is the goal to make healthcare more affordable or do you just want someone else to pay your way? Read my blog on health care, there are many more options to consider and debate.
Dave (there you go again?), but you still never answered the question. Which congress is going to pass socialism? Where will Marsha Blackburn be and the rest of the GOP "delegation"?
ReplyDeleteAnd what is this Government takeover or control talk? That was the baloney that was being thrown when the intervention on GM was proposed? Now that the verdict is out, GM has recovered, even you as former employee can not admit how wrong they were on casting such aspersion.
Going back to Health Care. Do you remember what Reagan was saying back in the 60's about Medicare. The same stuff that you believe today. It's socialism, the bad guys will come in and take you country away, all sorts of scare tactics. 40 years later, you are one of the beneficiaries of Medicare. This why it becomes hard to debate, hypocrisy. It's hard to take your opinion when all it sounds like is just negative, pessimistic, somber.
So where is the initiative or even a collective body in the private sector, that you can actually brandish that will effectively control the costs and insure every american? That's all I am sking.
More inflammatory emotive statements and no substance. There are no proposals to take over health care. There is insurance reform and insurance being a regulated industry this is within the domain.
ReplyDelete'deregulate insurance' you say? That would be beautiful. I would enjoy watching you 'negotiate' against Humana/ Met Life / UHG / AARP / you name it without the backing of the union that negotiated your insurance, the company that provided the funding, and the state insurance ombudsman. Just you against the multi billion dollar insurance company - That is the position of everyone else who does not get employer funded health care and is too young for Medicare. (To be explicit, this would be you if not for GM and the Union) Is that the market you seek?
So yes, insurance reform is way past due and continuing to delay is not an appropriate response. There are 8 principles that were laid out from the beginning and have not changed. Please tell me which part indicates a teakover?
1. Reduce long-term growth of health care costs for businesses and government
2. Protect families from bankruptcy or debt because of health care costs
3. Guarantee choice of doctors and health plans
4. Invest in prevention and wellness
5. Improve patient safety and quality of care
6. Assure affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans
7. Maintain coverage when you change or lose your job
8. End barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions
What I feel is that it's more the case that conservatives wish to bankrupt the country. When the economy was growing well, Clinton took advantage of it, slowed the growth of government, and produced a budget surplus. Remember at the start of the Bush administration the biggest concern of the new admin was fear of paying down too much of the national debt. So they engineered huge tax breaks (passed through the budget reconciliation process) and pissed away the opportunity to achieve sound fiscal status. More debt instead of less. If you don't save in the good times, it's hard to have options in the bad times.
Now they want to do the same with Health care. We pay too much and the rate of growth must be slowed. But a delay by conservatives will only cost us more, put us further in debt, and further reduce our future flexibility.
Dear Dave,
ReplyDeleteFinally, it looks like the GOP has come up with an alternative. It took long time but they did something. I extracted from Yahoo News.
House Republicans roll out health insurance alternatives
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AP – FILE - In this Oct. 29, 2009 file photo House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio stands behind a copy …
By David Lightman, McClatchy Newspapers David Lightman, Mcclatchy Newspapers – Mon Nov 2, 5:57 pm ET
WASHINGTON — Small businesses would have an easier time banding together to offer insurance to employees. Consumers could cross state lines to buy coverage. There'd be no big government expansion.
Those are among the ideas that Republicans in the House of Representatives plan to push later this week, as lawmakers expect to begin debating how to overhaul the nation's health care system.
One longtime favorite Republican proposal apparently will be absent: The Republican plan will contain no tax incentives for consumers who buy insurance individually, said House Minority Leader John Boehner , R- Ohio .
"Cost," he said, was the reason for the omission.
Chances are that little or none of the Republican plan will become law, since the House has 177 Republicans and 256 Democrats and Democrats control 60 of the Senate's 100 seats.
The Republican strategy has two missions: Illustrate what the party stands for, and try to demonize and defeat Democratic initiatives.
Some analysts questioned whether the effort would work.
"It's hard to see how Americans worried about the cost of insurance or who goes without coverage would see this as a viable alternative to the Democratic plan. I guess its appeal is to the middle class, who may see it as a way of bargaining down costs," said Steven Smith , the director of the Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government and Public Policy at Washington University in St. Louis .
...
The Republican effort faces huge hurdles. There isn't yet a firm estimate of how much the entire plan would cost, nor is there a Congressional Budget Office estimate of how many people the Republican provisions would cover.