Don't be a hater, vote for Nader
Remember that campaign slogan? HAHA
I'm not sure what underlies the politics of hate and fear, but part of the attitude stems from the lie that government can do nothing competently. I am personally proud to be an American, and am thankful for our form of government. It sure isn't perfect...but let's not throw the baby out with the bath water.
I can offer some examples where our government is competent. First, and most obvious, we have a great military...which at our country's founding was an issue to some. Now it's a given that running the military is a legitimate function of the federal government. Then, some argued it should be a function of the states...yup... :-)
That said, today we have the best run military in the world, bar none.
The Postal System is another example. I'll clarify the key point for me here. The post office is not by any means perfect...but we don't doubt for a minute when we mail a letter that it will not be delivered (almost always) to its destination...(not perfect, but competent).
That's where I'm coming from. Our government is not perfect...but nothing is perfect. Not the government, or the company you work for, or your family, or even you, right?
(yes...this esp. goes for me :-)
So, much of the hate/fear atmosphere we live with is generated from an irrational demand that government be perfect. An associated point, and I can't state this strongly enough is that government should be transparent, and accountable (for and by the people).
But government has a function, and a place, as a solution to help, not hurt. A good example...I work in the banking system. We have a huge level of government regulation...and it's needed in our case because there is so much potential for abuse.
Health care has become the same kind of animal. It has enormous potential for abuse. A major corporation announced this week that retirees in their plan will no longer have health coverage starting next year. These people have no recourse...none at all. Are you next? Am I? If you were sick, and dependent on that plan you might consider this decision a form of abuse...no appeal, no (public?) option...just tough luck for you. You paid your premiums, you kept your end of the bargain, but they couldn't make a buck off you...
When health care was carried out by the town doc, private care was fine. Now that is just not the case. Health care is complex, and costly. We need a safety net. Will it be perfect? No, it will not. I favor it, knowing full well it will be messy...but the option is needed...
Sorry, I got away from trying to say let's not all hate each other, or our leaders over this (or any other issue). The atmosphere depresses me.
Many world governments are not competent, our is. It will never; however, be perfect.
We should be thankful for what we have, while keeping government accountable....and not letting hate, or fear drive our thinking.
I'm not sure what underlies the politics of hate and fear, but part of the attitude stems from the lie that government can do nothing competently. I am personally proud to be an American, and am thankful for our form of government. It sure isn't perfect...but let's not throw the baby out with the bath water.
I can offer some examples where our government is competent. First, and most obvious, we have a great military...which at our country's founding was an issue to some. Now it's a given that running the military is a legitimate function of the federal government. Then, some argued it should be a function of the states...yup... :-)
That said, today we have the best run military in the world, bar none.
The Postal System is another example. I'll clarify the key point for me here. The post office is not by any means perfect...but we don't doubt for a minute when we mail a letter that it will not be delivered (almost always) to its destination...(not perfect, but competent).
That's where I'm coming from. Our government is not perfect...but nothing is perfect. Not the government, or the company you work for, or your family, or even you, right?
(yes...this esp. goes for me :-)
So, much of the hate/fear atmosphere we live with is generated from an irrational demand that government be perfect. An associated point, and I can't state this strongly enough is that government should be transparent, and accountable (for and by the people).
But government has a function, and a place, as a solution to help, not hurt. A good example...I work in the banking system. We have a huge level of government regulation...and it's needed in our case because there is so much potential for abuse.
Health care has become the same kind of animal. It has enormous potential for abuse. A major corporation announced this week that retirees in their plan will no longer have health coverage starting next year. These people have no recourse...none at all. Are you next? Am I? If you were sick, and dependent on that plan you might consider this decision a form of abuse...no appeal, no (public?) option...just tough luck for you. You paid your premiums, you kept your end of the bargain, but they couldn't make a buck off you...
When health care was carried out by the town doc, private care was fine. Now that is just not the case. Health care is complex, and costly. We need a safety net. Will it be perfect? No, it will not. I favor it, knowing full well it will be messy...but the option is needed...
Sorry, I got away from trying to say let's not all hate each other, or our leaders over this (or any other issue). The atmosphere depresses me.
Many world governments are not competent, our is. It will never; however, be perfect.
We should be thankful for what we have, while keeping government accountable....and not letting hate, or fear drive our thinking.
posted by Jim at 10:08 PM
4 Comments:
I think it was also the government that sent a man safely to the moon and back :-) Also, although each has some trouble now, both Social Security and Medicare have worked. If my mother-in-law did not get her social security check, she would starve. Also, without Medicare, she would be in financial ruin - so would millions of other elderly people (who complain about the government). Medicare is a single-payer, government system that, worts and all, has worked for millions of people.
It has amazed me that Obama came to office sincerely (not perfectly) pursuing bipartisanship, and peace...however, the angry voices won (for now)...it's worse than ever here Charlie.
I pray we can learn to disagree, but be civil, and listen to each other...myself included.
A peer-reviewed article in the American Journal of Public Health stated that 45000 people die annually because of lack of health insurance. Which means that 700,000 people have died due to lack of insurance since Clinton's proposal in 1993. Sad. One person every 12 minutes. Tragic.
We now have Fed Ex and UPS who have given the USPS a run for the money. And the postal service is in great financial trouble.
The problem with government becoming more and more involved in all aspects of our lives? It gets larger and larger, expensive and more expensive.
I believe most Americans want the military to protect us and the freedoms we enjoy. But the more we let government into our lives the less freedom we have. We become economically enslaved to the governement which is to be OUR servant.
I fine line to walk...but we need to walk it.
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