Attention to Health Care from the Current Administration?
Yes, it's true. Suddenly, after the health care topic has been largely ignored during President Bush's tenure, it's receiving real attention. On Tuesday, the president will announce his plan for tax deductions to encourage those without health care to purchase it. It appears that those who share the costs at work will also qualify for this incentive.
Is this a major step? I'm not sure yet--we'll have to hear the details. The administration claims that 80% of those with employer-based plans will benefit in the end despite some plans being taxable under this proposal. But, I'll be interested in hearing the real breakdown.
Regardless of it, it's nice to see the topic getting attention. Anything that can boost the number of those with health care will boost our economy and our nation's health. Currently, many are discouraged from getting preventative care which is extremely costly in the long run. It's amazing how previously ignored topics suddenly gain traction when two parties have some power.
Source: brettdalypolitics.blogspot.com
American Politics: A Return to the Center
The call for change was loud and clear yesterday. As expected, the House of Representatives was won by the Democrats. But, much more surprisingly, the Democrats have taken the Senate 51-49. It seemed like an unlikely scenario going in, but with Webb's victory just called (although a recount may be requested), almost everything went perfectly for the Democrats.
So, what does this mean? Iraq has obviously been a mess. With President Bush announcing Rumsfeld is stepping down--only a week after he said he'd remain--it's clear that they were disappointed with the results and feel Iraq is the problem. And, it is to a degree. But, as Senator McCain mentioned, the GOP's spending was an issue for their base too.
What's exciting in my opinion is this should signal a return to the center. Numerous policies that got away from our nation's founding principles should be remedied. Narrow issues that appeal to single-issue voters like abortion, gay marriage, and guns didn't carry the day--it came down to the big picture. Fear also didn't tilt the election, or perhaps it did in favor of the Democrats. People may be realizing that aggression abroad only makes this nation more vulnerable.
Luckily, I think both sides see the need to compromise and work together once again. The Republicans received a very sobering message loud and clear. Democrats, I believe, realize they won a lot of tight races and in some cases they benefited from massive failure by the other candidate (or, in many cases, failure of just their candidate's party). While President Bush's power has been reduced, the incentive for government to be productive has been boosted.
In my opinion, it was a great day for America. I believe it's rarely healthy to have Congress and the Executive Branch controlled by the same party. And, thankfully, that's no longer the case. Let's get back to sensible spending, international cooperation, moderate policy making, and less indirect special interest control of our politics.
Source: brettdalypolitics.blogspot.com
Village in shock as two road accidents in one hour kill boy, 7, and elderly man
Irish Independent Jun 21 2009 7:48AM GMT
Source: c.moreover.com
Hormone May Help Combat Frailty in Older Women
Accessibility.com Jun 21 2009 12:34PM GMT
Source: c.moreover.com
A stimulus package for seniors
Hindu Business Line Jun 21 2009 7:02PM GMT
Source: c.moreover.com
Gay seniors embrace new openness
Chicago Tribune Jun 21 2009 5:35PM GMT
Source: c.moreover.com
Barack Obama's New Book
Barack Obama finished The Audacity of Hope a little while back. I've gotten around to taking the book out of the library, and I must say I'm extremely impressed with his understanding of the current situation and his vision moving forward. Here's a really great quote from the book, one I really believe is right on the money:
Republicans are fighting the last war, the war they waged and won in the eighties, while Democrats are forced to fight a rearguard action, defending the New Deal programs of the thirties.
Neither strategy will work anymore. America can't compete with China and India simply by cutting costs and shrinking government--unless we're willing to tolerate a drastic decline in American living standards with smoke-choked cities and beggars lining the streets. Nor can America compete simply by erecting trade barriers and raising the minimum wage--unless we're willing to confiscate all the world's computers.
But our history should give us confidence that we don't have to choose between an oppressive, government-run economy and a chaotic and unforgiving capitalism. It tells us that we can emerge from great economic upheavals stronger, not weaker. Like those who came before us, we should be asking ourselves what mix of policies will lead to a dynamic free market and widespread economic security, entrepreneurial innovation and upward mobility. And we can be guided by Lincoln's simply maxim: that we will do collectively through our government, only those things we cannot do as well or at all individually or privately.
In other words, we should be guided by what works.
He then prescribes a number of realistic fixes. Well, perhaps not realistic with all of the special interests in our political system. But, fiscally, they are realistic. I'll let you take the book out of your library instead of trying to summarize it in a precious few sentences. Ultimately, I've found a potential presidential candidate that I can really get behind.
Source: brettdalypolitics.blogspot.com
Health Care Reform
Two Rochester Institute of Technology philosophy professors are pushing for health care reform in their new book called Health Care Reform: Ethics and Politics. I caught Dr. Timothy Engström on a show on PBS in Rochester and it sounds like he shares many of my concerns. He touched on the well-organized effort by health care to scare citizens away from a national health care system in the 90s despite the scare tactics being blatantly false. Why is America one of the few first-world nations without such a system? And why is America's coverage rate so poor despite its expenses being so high?
In the discussion, he mentioned how this mediocre and costly health care system is helping to drive jobs to other nations. Given the very heavy cost burden in this country, it makes sense to look elsewhere. I've seen stories about jobs going to Canada partially because of health care. He mentioned the possibility of corporations helping drive reform. In my opinion, that's what it'll take to create real reform. It may sound pessimistic, but I think it'll take a united effort that forms a more powerful "special interest" than the health care and pharmaceutical industries. Otherwise, they are corporate beasts that are difficult to defeat.
I'm looking forward to getting a look at their publication which is a group of essays. If they're as good as his discussion on PBS/WXXI, it should be a great read.
Source: brettdalypolitics.blogspot.com
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