Why Health Reform is Necessary

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How can anyone look at the state of the healthcare industry in the United States of America today and think we do not need some type of health reform? Politics aside, the health care system in this country is in crisis and this country’s leaders must step up and acknowledge the old way of doing things is inefficient, unsustainable and dangerous.

During the vitriolic debate over health care reform that gripped this nation recently, many of those against health reform repeatedly stated that America has the best health care system in the world. But the numbers tell a very different story. In fact, according to the World Health Organization America ranks not first among the countries of the world, but 37th. Yes, 37th – below Costa Rica and a little above Cuba.

Americans pay more per individual for their health care than people in any other country, but get substantially less in return. America’s infant mortality rate is the second worst in the modern world, in large part due to the lack of prenatal care and pediatric care for people with limited health insurance and low incomes. Health care-related debt is by far the number one cause of bankruptcy in the U.S. Only in America can you be saved from cancer and lose your home to the bankruptcy court because you can’t afford to pay for the treatments that saved your life.

America is undeniably the greatest country in the world. But there are huge problems facing us now and looming on the horizon – problems that must be addressed. Access to good, affordable health care is a right, not a privilege for the few who can afford it. This country is facing an epidemic of obesity, diabetes and an aging population, which will put an even greater burden on the health care system and America’s wallet. Now is the time to address this issue with solid, thoughtful health care reform.

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Could Climate Change Destroy California?

The state of California has a long history of natural disasters. Major earthquakes, including the 1994 Northridge earthquake and the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906 particularly stand out in the public’s memory. But did you know California could face an even more disastrous natural event, thanks (or no thanks) to climate change?

A group of over 100 scientists recently put together a report indicating that California is at risk from what they call a “superstorm” that could flood 25 percent of the state’s houses. They estimate that damage from this monster storm could total $400 billion.

While it may sound outrageous, the scientists say such a storm is more than possible – it has happened many times in California’s history. In fact, they say storms of this magnitude happen every 200 years of so in California, the most recent in 1861-1862. During that storm, California’s Central Valley flooded for 300 miles. The flooding was so severe that the state capital was moved to San Francisco.

The risk of a superstorm is ramping up now because of climate change. Increasing temperatures in the earth’s atmosphere have made weather patterns across the world much more unpredictable. Just look at the recent flooding in Pakistan, the droughts and extreme heat in Russia, unusual snow in Britain and the active Atlantic hurricane season to see evidence of this phenomenon in action.

The scientists who developed the report created a weather model that indicated such a superstorm could last more than a month. Up to 10 feet of rain could fall, and winds could howl at 125 miles per hour. They wrote that the amount of water would be equal to 50 Mississippi Rivers emptying into the Gulf of Mexico at once.

Now is the time for governments around the world to take action to halt climate change. We can only hope it is not too late for California.

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Political issues of today…

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Political issues are changing constantly, everyday. Change can be good thing if done the right way. Political views change with what political party you are with, which are democrat, republican, independent and other s. Some of the bigger political issues are Gay marriage and right, education, and unemployment rates. But even though America is at war the top issue of today is gay marriage and what rights they should have. There are other things that we should be more worried about like starving children and the economy .Some people would say that the economy is getting better due to the Recovery Act that was signed 18 months ago by congress. Last year the Recovery Act has boosted the employment rate from 2.5 million jobs to 3.6 million. Most people have full-time jobs with a part-time job just to help with their financial situations, or they have 2 part- time jobs just to make a full-time job. The economy still need to get better as we all know and just one person can’t make that all happen overnight. The unemployment rate edged up to 9.8 percent in November. The major worker group in the unemployment rates would be adult men, second is adult women. The number of jobs lost and people completing temporary jobs rose by 390,000 to 9.5 million in November. The health care field is the only job force that continually brings new jobs each month, most in hospital settings. Another field is mining continue to increased also and the support of these activities for mining added 6,000 jobs in November of 2010, and added 74,000 since October of 2009. America hasn’t seen low number like this since the 1940′s. With this recession just take a few steps to lessen the burden on yourself and hopefully everything will work out on its own.

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hot topic in the political eye….

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Some of the most popular topics in politics are illegal immigration, war, terrorism, and healthcare. We all know what this war is about, it’s been going on since President Bush was in office and has continued into the Obama Administration. This war has killed many soldiers, terrorists, and other people innocent or not so innocent. It has also has cost people a lot of money and taking away more important things from people. Whatever happened to Obama stopping the war, did he forget?? Other hot topic in politics is healthcare. The united states spend twice as much on health care than any other country. So every dollar sent out of $5 of an American wages is on health care, they expect to spend 4.2 trillion dollars in 2016. The united state is also ranked last in preventable deaths among all nations, because people cannot afford health insurance. With the health care problem also came with the prescription drug costs that since the 1990′s have become better. But in the 1990′s certain drugs were not covered by some insurance companies, so that meant that people had to pay out of pocket which sometimes was very expensive. Were in a recession as we speak, so it’s hard for some people to afford healthcare and prescription costs. The number of uninsured has risen to 50.7 million people, people that are uninsured probably can’t get that great of medical care, which then mean that without proper treatment they could become sick or even die. Healthcare reform has been on the top of the headline for just over a year; the bill has been signed and sent into law. Now America has to wait and find out how this will affect them and when? Hopefully law maker don’t take too long to get this issue settled.

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A Quick Rant about Politicking

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I don’t normally get too involved in politics. Most of the time I can see the merits of both sides. I guess I’m not too liberal or too conservative. I fit somewhere right in the middle. Watching the recent lame duck Congress tread water, however, really has me steamed. Here we sit in a recession and they have the gall to create gridlock.

One of the most infuriating subjects is the Bush tax cuts. I think it’s great that the Democrats want to extend them for people earning under $250,000 a year. That means that people like you and me can save a little bit of money during a time when we need it most. Even if the tax cuts weren’t extended, though, I would still see them for what they were: expired tax cuts. And yet, Republicans continue to tell us that the President wants to raise taxes. It’s not really a tax hike. It’s an expiration of tax cuts. There’s a big difference, and those people know it.

See, this is one of the reasons that I have to keep my mouth shut when it comes to politics. As far as I can tell, the current system consistently prevents itself from making real headway that would fix our economy and turn the country around. The people that we vote into office, though, don’t think about those things. They think about how they can get re-elected. While people like us keep looking to find tax tips in order to save some money on our earnings, savings and investments. I wish that these Tea Party Republicans would try to fix things, but that’s unlikely seeing as how none of them believe that a federal government even can work.

There is little that the individual can do except try to make a good life for her family. At least I have the knowledge that I’m leading a good life instead of spreading lies and causing more problems.

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Constitution as Politics

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When pundits declare that modern politicians are trampling on the Constitution the declaration might be more of plea for attention than a statement based on fact. The United States was founded based on a code of laws that applied to the era. While an element exists to elevate the Constitution to the status of a sacred cow, the document was created by humans and is flawed despite its brilliance.

The Founding Fathers would not have recognized the nation they created 100 years after its birth let alone the modern United States. Technology has caused such an inconceivable shift in the way that humans live that laws created by those who grew up in the 18th Century could not possibly be the sole basis for governance in modern times.

Despite the understanding that change is inevitable, the Constitution has become a political issue lately. The debate centers on whether the Constitution is a living document or if it is open to interpretation. The debate between strict constructionists or those with a more liberal view of the Constitution became part of the media horse race between Republicans and Democrats. While the debate might create a strong narrative the argument is more about political stance than actual concerns with governance.

How could people that saw the horse and wind powered sails as the ultimate forms of transportation conceive of a world with instantaneous communication around the world? One of the most important aspects of the original draft of the Constitution was the power granted to Congress to declare war. All the combined fire power in the history of the world up to the lives of the Founding Fathers is dwarfed by the destructive power of a singular nuclear warhead.

As a result of this change in technology the president has the power to declare war almost at will. Congress has not declared war since World War II. With their own lives at risk political leanings ebb.

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Democracy Slow by Design

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Understanding politics in modern times is nearly impossible because of the complexities of the system. Perhaps the most difficult concept to grasp is the relative lack of power that most politicians have.

Few races get more exposure than the race for seats in the U.S. Senate. With only two senators per state, a senator holds what appears to be considerable political power to make policy. Yet even the most tenured senator holds only one percent of the vote on a particular bill. This percent is reduced to even less influence because the senate alone does not make laws. Any senate vote must also pass through the U.S. House of Representatives. Any bill that miraculously makes it though the entire U.S. Congress must then be signed into law by the president.

Even then the power of a senator to make substantial change is checked by legal review. The U.S. Supreme Court can overturn laws that violate the U.S. Constitution. While this does not happen often a precedent was established first in the landmark case of Marbury v. Madison, and in the famous instance of the Supreme Court overturning aspects of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal.

Given this level of difficulty in establishing a voice as a senator, it is difficult to understand the level of scrutiny placed on the voting record of senators. Democracy was designed to limit the power of individuals and to slow down the process of taking action. While this aspect might have been for the best in an era of tyrants and kings that ruled according to “divine right” the ability of any single individual to enact major change in a democracy has been negated by design.

This does not mean that individuals have not enjoyed immense power that circumvented the system of checks and balances.  But these instances are rare and marked by crisis. Critics that say Congress does nothing should know, that is what the Founding Fathers wanted.

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Investing in Real Estate

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In today’s economic climate, there’s really no one sure bet when it comes to investing. You work hard for your money, so you don’t want to just throw it away on any investment that may or may not make you money. In order to get the most return for your buck, you need to invest in real estate. Real estate is still the safest investment around. Real estate continues to earn many investors money, unlike the stock market which is up and down on a daily basis. You can safely invest your money in real estate if you are looking for a long-term return. Let’s look at some of the best places to invest your hard earned money.

1. New York City. New York is always a great place to invest in real estate. The exciting night life, job opportunities, and the pure energy in the city makes New York a place where people flock. Invest in New York condos to make a little bit of extra cash. Plus, you’ll always have a place to stay when you visit the Big Apple if you have a condo or two here.

2. Florida. It might seem contradictory considering the amount of foreclosures in Florida right now, but this is still a great place to invest. You can buy houses and condos for super cheap. Plus, the temperate climate will always attract visitors. Even if you just rent your place for a few years, you’ll still be making money in Florida.

3. The mid-West. While it’s not as exciting as New York or Florida, the mid-West is a great place to invest in real estate. People are emerging on cities like Omaha for good jobs, cheap real estate, and good family values.

If you want to make a return on your money, forget the stock market. You need to invest your precious cash in real estate.

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Politcal Action or Parody

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When absurdity becomes reality does it mean that the American political system is broken? Many social scientists are asking this question after the myriad of rallies at Washington D.C. that many view as parody.

The events started when controversial Fox News political pundit Glenn Beck announced a rally to “Restore Honor” on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech. Beck is known for his outrageous theories, emotional outbursts and anti-Barack Obama fervor. His contention that Obama, who is half-Caucasian, “hated” white people made Beck a curious choice as the master of ceremonies for a rally that supposedly honored the legacy of Dr. King.

Beck had a strange background to be labeled the leader of any movement. He rose to fame as a radio “shock-jock” and switched to rightwing punditry later in his career. The professed recovering alcoholic and convert to the Church of Latter-Day Saints has led a career of apparent contradiction except to the concept of his own self promotion. Given Beck’s controversial status it is not surprising that so many people dismissed his rally as parody, but if Beck was kidding what will the media and the public make of the twin rallies by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

The comedians and hosts of Comedy Central’s the Daily Show and the Colbert Report respectively have been hyping their own rally on Washington. Stewart named his part of the gathering “A Rally to Restore Sanity”. Colbert remaining in character called his a “March to Keep Fear Alive”.  While everything that the pair does is tongue in cheek, some media analysts are saying that the hosts are speaking for what former Vice President Spiro Agnew deemed the silent majority.

The message is that many Americans have tuned out the partisanship and inconclusive results of the political process. For many people the message that the political system is a joke seems to resonate.

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Democrats offer Small Change from Republicans

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There is an old clichéd adage to never bring up politics or religion at dinner parties. The ensuing discussions often become heated and result in hurt feelings that ruin the party. While religion remains difficult waters to enter, politics hopefully has evolved into something that could be discussed reasonably amongst friends.

Even though health political discussion is ideal, the rhetoric has become ugly since Barrack Obama’s election. The FBI even issued a warning for domestic terrorism as right wing militias have risen in prominence with the election of a Democratic president. It is not surprising that groups of people have reacted violently when listening to right wing announcers on radio.

Personalities like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh earn millions of dollars by pounding on war drums against the supposed left-wing conspiracy to turn the nation socialist. Despite their venom, Obama has walked the line as a centrist. Tax rates remain nearly the same as they were prior to his election, and banking laws have not radically changed.

The gridlocked American political process makes it difficult for major changes in legislation to pass. Filibusters are regularly used to combat even the slightest change in policy. Even Obama’s supposedly radical healthcare plan resembled what Republican Governor Mitt Romney passed in Massachusetts.

If Obama did not hold the label of Democrat or run under the political slogan of “hope and change” then his actions would hardly merit the public outcry and calls for revolution. Going over the tops sells and spewing venom earned Limbaugh and Beck healthy paychecks.

Rather than screaming that Obama lied or that the Democrats are too radical, Beck and Limbaugh should investigate former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. During his administration the upper tier tax rate was more than 90 percent. Using those figures makes the debate between Republican and Democrat seem almost pointless.  The parties might push different policies, but the difference appears minute at best.

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