We have been subjected to the insulting fear-mongering by the Republicans led by George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Karl Rove. They have scared people into voting on the issues of national security, gay marriage, gun control and abortion, while whipping the economic rug out from under the poor and working people in this country. John McCain, while better than Bush in some ways, has followed down the Karl Rove path, playing to voters' fears rather than their dreams, trying to divide and conquer.
As a liberal, I dream of a nation that values families by providing free health care, longer maternity/paternity leave, and longer paid vacations for workers. Rather than putting magnets on our cars that say 'Support the Troops, how about we provide better benefits for our veterans - including mental health care and family benefits? I dream of a nation where whatever your cultural, religious or racial background, you are treated with basic human dignity and worth.
As Michelle said, we need to stop worrying about the way things are, and start talking about the way things could be.
1 comments:
Mark,
Paul and I really like you, so with all due respect, and in the spirit of friendly discussion: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?! (I should probably warn you, I’m pretty fired up.)
Free health care for all Americans? There are so many problems with this. First, the government has not demonstrated its capability to run a program of this scope. It can’t even get passports processed in a reasonable time and fashion! Given that, why would any of us want to trust our health care decisions to go through a governmental bureaucratic process?
Second, I’m no economics buff, but I do remember the principle of “there’s no such thing as a free lunch,” or anything else. A government program claiming to be free, especially one of this magnitude, would cost the American people millions of dollars in the form of higher taxes, in addition to the tax revenues scalped from other programs. This is pulling the economic rug from under the working class!
Third, health care is not a right bestowed by the government. The government’s job is to enact laws so we can take care of ourselves. I concede that the health care system should be reformed so that families can take care of themselves. But the system is in the tank because of government control and regulation.
Governmental programs do not uplift their recipients. There is no respect or dignity when one gets something he didn’t earn (other than salvation…whole different topic). I have no problem with temporary assistance in a time of need, but the goal of these programs should be to get off them as soon as possible. These programs suck the life out of the recipients (been there, done that: don’t try to argue this point), and these programs suck the life out of our economy.
What is the opposite of the life-sucking, money-draining entitlement programs? Tax cuts. And economists who have actually paid attention agree that the tax cuts have worked to grow our economy. If the Bush administration has done something poorly, it is talking up the upturns of our economy. Of course, the liberal media hardly allows good news to be reported and even less so when it is good news because of a conservative policy. Furthermore, Democrats have refused to allow us to gain control over our energy, all in the name of saving the planet. This planet has survived this long…truly, I think it can take care of itself—it has a marvelous way of regenerating. Republicans are for all possibilities, but the Democrats simply want to scream “GLOBAL WARMING!” and control all aspects of our lives. I am so tired of being lectured by liberals who claim that a woman has the “right” to “choose” what to do with her own body (nevermind the fact that when the child is growing inside her, it’s not “her” body) but she doesn’t have the choice over which car she drives or how high she sets her air conditioning.
On to your other issues.
Why is it the government’s job to regulate family vacations? Our economy is built on that old belief of laissez-faire. Hands off! The government should not be involved in the policies of private business. Vacation benefits are the sole discretion of the business. If the employee doesn’t like it, he can find a new job. One of our country’s foundational beliefs is that each individual is responsible for himself.
Why would we seek to emulate the governments of other countries? Millions are trying to get into America; indeed, millions are so desperate to be here, they came illegally and have subjected themselves to modern-day slavery (again, another topic altogether…they could have come legally, and we would have welcomed them). Sure, some Americans want to go to other countries, and sure, some people don’t want to come here, but by and large, if people want to be anywhere but their home countries, they long to live in America! Why? Because we offer the greatest opportunity to thrive.
Fear-mongering? How is that insulting? The people elected to protect you are trying to do just that, and you’re insulted? There are people out in the world who want to kill you. Or the person next to you. Preferably both. They don’t care who you are, just so long as they kill free Americans. Perhaps I’ve swallowed the party line. Okay, I can handle that. My guy isn’t willing to try to chit-chat with terrorists, and I think we’re safer for it.
(Thoughts continued with post “Loving Real People, In the Real World”)
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