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Benefits
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Benefits
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Ironically, I was a political science major in college. I've been actively engaged in politics and civic engagement efforts for almost 20 years of my life. I truly enjoy engaging in intellectual dialogue, political theory discussions and political readings. You can say that most of my life I have been a "political junkie" of sorts. However, my interest in politics has changed drastically over the past decade.
In the spirit of full disclosure I must admit that I find myself currently "bored out of my mind" and "highly disinterested" to political issues and mainstream political dialogue during this time in history. I have become very disenchanted with American politics and the "American voter" for the past ten years.
However, as an African-American voter I am very proud to say that I actually voted for a black man for President and he actually WON. I would have never thought this would be possible in America four years ago! I learned an important lesson in the past election. I realized that perhaps we have progressed a little further in this country around the issue of race. Perhaps...but the jury is still out.
Yet before I could sing "We Shall Overcome" or "Kumbaya" I started hearing the rumblings of familiar "racist driven" dialogue about Obama. Phrases like "He's not American. Where is his birth certificate? How did he get into Harvard in the first place?" I thought to myself, "Are they really serious? Is this the most challenging issues for American political thought? Are these the priority issues that really count to everyday citizens?
What I find particularly disinteresting is that the so-called Christian right has waged an all out seek-and-destroy mission of any social programs. I am absolutely amazed at the level of political "unconsciousness" in this country. Let's say you just don't like "Obamacare" but how could any Christian person of good conscious oppose universal access to healthcare for all Americans. Wasn't it Jesus that actually said, "_Whatever you do to the least of these you also do unto me- Matt 25-45"?_
I am amazed that many American voters seem more concerned about abortion political positions instead of healthcare access and/or the quality of life for new babies and poor mothers. So let me get this right....People want the babies to MAKE IT into the world but don't care enough to SUPPORT them getting access to child health programs, food stamps and/or free education???!!??? I don't understand.
I am also amazed that many American voters oppose tax increases for the wealthiest Americans that already reap great benefits within this system. Let me get this right...People that make between $35,000- $60,000 are supporting tax cuts that will only impact folks making over $100,000 or more per year. Yet these same people will oppose public assistance for working people making less than $35,000 per year???!!! I don't understand.
I am super amazed that a large number of Americans absolutely oppose healthcare access in the country for working class Americans. This truly baffles me since the number #1 reason for bankruptcy in America is due to health care bills. So let me get this right..... we are actually protecting the wealth of a multi-billon dollar health industry even though we are all going broke by health care bills? And this is all because people are scared that they may have to change doctors and/or pay $125 insurance that may benefit somebody else???!!!? I don't understand.
Why are we so hell bent on other working people getting anything that may be perceived as public assistance, welfare, subsidized housing, etc.? Have we forgotten how the middle class was created in America in the first place. Do we ever read political history!!!!!?????
Yet why is it that Americans don't have a problem with corporations making a killing off our sickness and drug dependency??? So let me get this right.... We don't mind Pfizer making $60 billion dollars or Johnson & Johnson making $62 billion in revenue last year but we are ADAMANTLY opposed to any of those “poor people” getting an extra $200 for food oor subsidized housing???? I don't understand.
Well, I am certainly clear that there is obviously A LOT that I don't understand. People have decided that the American way is let's abandon the very things that created the middle class in the first place.
Example:
•Most Americans got their first mortgages in the 70's through Housing subsidy programs i.e. HUD and public housing.
•Most American received healthcare from government sponsored programs like Medicade, Medicare and state-wide health programs.
•Most Americans went to college with subsidized loans and pell grants. This was the major factor for the increase of college graduates.
•Most working people secure stable salaries due to the work of unions. Because of organized labor movement we now have minimum wage, child labor laws, fair pay wages, sick leave, maternity leave, benefit packages. So do we want labor unions to dissolve???!!!
•In the early 1800's half of all Americans were first generation immigrants yet we now need to "SHUT DOWN" the borders.
The point is I feel that there is a political attitude in the country to "kick the ladder down" once you get to the top. The problem is that the people at the top of the roof have convinced the folks that are still on the ladder to kick it down while they are still on it. ( The folks on the ladder really believe that the others behind them will prevent them from getting to the top. They are so busy focusing on the folks behind them that they can't see that the top 10% has taken the booty and are now having a roof-top party.... laughing all the way to the bank.
I actually believe that the sign of a healthy political environment is one that there is civil and practical debate about social issues. This rarely happens in the current American political discussions. There is no real discourse about how ALL Americans can progress. It is as if all of the colors in the “political thought rainbow” have to fit in either a Blue State or a Red state. God forbid that they actually try to work together! I think the country would riot.
The main reason why I am highly disappointed with the American political climate and current dialogue is it lacks variety and diversity of thought. The American people are all given only two choices...the Reps or the Dems. Does that mean there can only be two approaches to a problem? In my opinion.... absolutely not.
So to those of you that want to spend more time talking about and examining the authenticity of a birth certificate, listening to a former (no-name) college room-mate of the President, finding out what Bin Laden was wearing when he died, discussing why health care leads to communism.... then y'all go right ahead and discuss those topics. I am just not that interested.
I would much rather engage in discussions with open minded, principled, and free thinking people that have a clear vision for progress, people that are really looking for solutions to our country's problems, people that are selfless enough to care about the plight of people less fortunate them themselves, people that are humble enough to accept change, and astute enough to know that God made the entire world...not just America. Those are the people that will make politics far more interesting and relevant to me.
Great blog....
Personally I do not oppose health care for everyone. Not at all but I do oppose the health care bill that was passed. There is so much crap in that bill that has NOTHING to do with HEALTH CARE. NOTHING...NADA. But we live in a “good ole boy” world...where one congressman says you vote yes on this for me...and I will vote yes on that for you. Or vice versa. So we have a bill that has other stuff that is being passed because it was looped in with the so call “health care bill“. That is what I have a problem with. But I also do not feel that the governemnt...now I said the government...should have the right to tell me who I will see doctor wise or what procedure I will have. To me..it’s sort of like separating church and state. Well I think health care should be treated the same way.
We voted these people into office to run this country. Who do you think has screwed it up?? It’s not the American people..it’s the people WE VOTED INTO OFFICE. They are to blame for the mess we are in...therefore...why in God’s green earth would I want THESE PEOPLE making decisions about my HEALTH??
When we can weed out those individuals who “work” the system...and who “live” off the system when in reality...they just don’t want to work...then I might think differently about supplying healthcare for everyone with TAX dollars. But I resent having my tax dollars going to someone who doesn’t even try to work... or has baby after baby...just to get more SSI monies...and they still have time to buy designer clothes...AND get their nails done. THAT IS WHAT PISSES ME OFF more than anything. I’m not saying they all do that...but there is a a lot of people that do this. I was even told this by a caseworker who awarded these monies. A nineteen year old who just had a baby told this casework that she was entitled to that money. That caseworker told her “honey..you haven’t paid a dime into this system..you are not entitled to anything.” That is one example of what I’m talking about.
Along those same lines...we also have to get quit spending sooo much money in our goverment. AT some point...somebody is going to be cut. You can’t keep paying for programs with money YOU DON‘T HAVE. If you can figure that out...please let me know. China already owns us...and it’s only getting worse. All the pork spending has to go. So sorry...
I’m all for helping people who are truly down on their luck. I’ll do whatever I can to help people but I’m not going to continuously help you when you don’t even try to help yourself. AT some point ...people need to realize they have got to be accountable for their actions and for the decisions they make in their lives. You screw up your life or make some bad decisions...you figure it out. That’s not my job!
Personally I would much rather help the elderly than this younger generation. You know...get out and get a job...get two jobs..three jobs...whatever it takes to support yourself or child or children you chose to bring into this world.
The elderly are not able to do that anymore. Their medicine is more expensive...and they are the ones that need tax dollars to work for them. But you see..our health care is heading to the direction where those old people are just costing us way too much. Our government would just like to give them a pill and hope for the best.
One of my many favorite quotes from Thomas Jefferson is this:
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
This is so true!! When you start penalizing the wealthy to a point for working hard...making money...and giving it to those who do not...eventually...the wealthy will quit working so hard...quit hiring people...and then where do you think we will be? Do you think the person that makes $25,000 a year is going to hire somebody??? Ummm no! I agree with Annie.....we all want the American dream...why should anyone be penalized for making money?
If I make $250,000 in a year...why should I give a portion of that money that I WORKED SO HARD for to those who won’t even try to get a job. And why do I need to give it anyone anyway?? I don’t mind paying taxes...but I want those who don’t own property...to pay their fair share too. That’s why I’m for the “FAIR TAX BILL“.
Another favorite Thomas Jefferson quote is:
To take from one because it is thought that his own industry and that of his father's has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association—the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it.**
Thank God we live in a free country where we can all express how we feel. We all get a vote...and today of all days... Memorial Day.....I am so grateful for the men and women who have given their time...their lives...to give ME...little old me ...the RIGHT TO SAY ALL OF THIS. This is how I feel and I respect anyone else’s opinions that are different from mine.
And I’ll end with this one last quote by Thomas Jefferson:
Most bad government has grown out of too much government.
Amen Sista Annie!!
My mind was going ninety to nothing that I couldn’t even cover it all.
After my husband spent some time in the hospital last week and we experienced the ER at a different hospital that we are not familiar with I can already see the changes in health are compared to even 5 years ago. AT the rate we are going and with this new health care that has been passed I see nothing getting better for anyone. When my husband entered the ER that Sat. evening he NEVER saw a doctor...but a nurse practioner. That was in the ER!!!!!! Here he was very sick, had spinal cord stiumlator that was implanted that NO ONE KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT and NEVER saw a doctor...and yes we have insurance. So my question is why? I’ll tell you why. Because that is how it’s going to be folks. You‘re only going to see a doctor if you are about to die or critically ill. Hospitalists....those are doctors that only see patients at the hospital. Your doctor you see in the office doesn’t go to the hosptial. How nice is that? If I choose a doctor to go see in the office I would like for him to be the one that sees me when I’m very sick...but that is not the case. Why? Doctors are overworked and tired of the grueling hours of office visits and rounds at the hospital especially with the added stress of fear of ridiculous lawsuits and cost of mal practice insurance and the settled cost of doing business. It goes on and on. And we think if the government takes all of this over it’s going to be better??? Nope! That is why everyone should be able to purchase their insurance and make it competitive to keep cost down. Annie made some very good suggestions for doctors.
I will say that if a drug company makes some wonderful drug that helps millions of people but people cannot afford it...then why bother making it? I know...it’s boils down to the almighty dollar. But at the same token....SOMEONE had to discover that drug. Someone went to school to learn how to discover that drug and that someone has to work just like the rest of us...it’s their job. So to manufacture drugs to help others there is a cost. I’m just not for making a drug that no one can afford. And I also do not know all the in’s and out’s of the costs in making drugs either.
The lists goes on and on.
As Annie said...you can’t keep taxing the people and think there will be a solution after doing so. The government has to quit spending. And also as an added note....if this so call health care plan is so wonderful then why doesn’t congress have it too? Because they know it’s not any good.
There ya go.....
LaTosha,
Loved your blog and believe you are spot on about most issues. I don’t know how people are going to get two or three jobs when, in this economy, many of us can’t even get one job!
I think there should be a health care program that covers people on unemployment. Sure there’s COBRA, but at $900 a month who can afford it?
Most of Europe has universal health care and we don’t hear of people dying left and right from poor coverage. It’s ridiculous that Mary’s husband can’t see a doctor in the hospital here!
The attitude in America seems to be that if you‘re not well off, or at least own your own home, you‘re a lazy ass who won’t work. In my opinion, not all that many of us are capable of being highly-paid professionals! Shouldn’t everyone be entitled to health care? In San Diego, at least, you have to be an extremely impoverished adult with less than $2,000 assets or be on disability to get health care.
Interesting blog! I must admit I lean more towards Annie’s and Mary’s view about all of this. In all fairness too, I would not appreciate any government official advising me which doctor I can or cannot see..that just won’t fly with me.
My hub has worked 30 years in the same job, is not a college graduate, worked from the bottom rung up and now is finally in a supervisory position...now that man has paid taxes through his ass and we certainly are no where near the $120,000 range, not even close...but he works long and hard hours, asks for nothing from nobody, and even has a business on the side that he started on his own.
I take offense to anyone who feels that it is their right to be handed something whilst they have not themselves put anything into the pot...and yes, we do have many people in this country who expect something for nothing.
The government has a long way to go in every instance, but first they must clean up their own act and stop trying to kill the American taxpayer, because quite frankly, if the average American taxpayer decides to stop paying their taxes, what then will they do?? IMHO!
Thanks Ladies for the dialogue! This was a very interesting discussion with many different perspectives. I appreciate each and every comment. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Latosha...for your very adult dialogue! It’s good for us all to state our views and points. That’s how you learn!!
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