Oct 31, 2007

The US National Government-stage 5

The United States national government is viewed as the most powerful nation in the world, the best off. But what did it really take to get there? Manipulation. There are very few people in the America who truly look after the whole without their own best interests in mind. Most all of our leaders in the past have proved this by making empty promises to win votes. You may argue that they had good intentions but whether or not that is true they didn’t follow through. That’s the important part. People have become so good at convincing others of whatever they want. It’s not good to have someone like that have great power, but they are the ones most likely to get it. The government can solve many problems and fix things for many people, but when it comes to the bigger more important things, like immigration and healthcare, they avoid it at all costs. The fact is that there is no possible way to make all people happy. There will ALWAYS be someone who doesn’t like the decisions you make. That’s when you need a leader who doesn’t care what his citizens think of him personally. He goes in there and get what needs to be done to fix the problem. There will be many people who hate him for his decisions at the time but it will be for the better good of the nation.

The government problem solving skills are very black and white. What do we do about immigration? The government will say either let numbers in or keep most out. The truth is neither is going to do a significant good for the immigrants, and letting so many in only harms America. They can do the harder job. Rather than letting a million immigrants in a year go to their home and make it better. That way they are happy and so is America. Really, helping a million immigrants a year is barely making a tiny dent but to make a better home where they are, they can help themselves and each other and make their home a better place to live.

That’s not to say government is all bad, they do plenty to help America and other nations and also we do come across some pretty amazing leaders every now and then, like Franklin D Roosevelt for example, pulling us out of the Great Depression.

In general, though, America is pretty well off and I rather be living here than in a third world country.

Oct 17, 2007

veto the veto to veto

President Bush decided to veto the expansion the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (or S-Chip). The S-Chip program basically is a program that provides insurance to poor or middle class children who can not afford a private plan. The expansion encourages families to drop their private insurance plans and enroll in S-Chip.
The author of this editorial believes that the House should veto Bush's decision and continue the expansion. He says that its more then just dropping your private plan to let the government pay for it.
I agree with his points, the families would all be paying appropriate premiums and co-payments, so its not JUST the government covering all costs for you. Another defense the author made was that in vetoing the S-Chip expansion parental unemployment or death was not considered. If either of those were to happen then the child would no longer be covered, but through the S-Chip there would be no risk. The down side to that is that some families who CAN afford private insurance would stay on the S-Chip for those benefits which would cut costs for those who really need it. Also, children's health is important regardless of your income. But i do believe that there should be restrictions, or limitations. That way its fair to the people who can afford private insurance, and therefore have to pay full price. Even though there are always exceptions, the wealthy earned their income, where as people who are less wealthy, as unfortunate as it is, did not necessarily work hard enough to earn appropriate coverage.
So rather then to veto Bush's veto, like the author suggests, i think that the bill should be revised. Do expand the S-Chip, only, expand it less with more limitations.