Showing posts with label Government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Government. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Awakening to a New American Dream

My parents believed in the American dream. I think it died with my generation (i'll be 36 in November). Apathy derived from an entitled, self absorbed, and opulent lifestyle robbed many of the desire and need to put forth real effort in order to achieve. Afterall not achieving wasn't too bad... rent was still paid, food was still eaten, and beer was still half off after 4.

Today, we dream of mediocrity. It was once unthinkable to have anyone but a general, a senator, or a brilliant academic individual as a President....now many are ok with a soccer mom or Steven Colbert.

bigotry has made a comeback in California no less....how did San Francisco forget to vote? Ironic.

Our society has become lazy and obese. We idolize Homer Simpson and can't recall anything about the Illiad...see what I mean?

As a society we screamed for clean air and clean water... none the less now we don't even care when a "heat advisory" or "ozone warning" is in effect. Question, do you drink from the tap or a bottle? Why? If you pay taxes...shouldn't your tap water be clean enough to drink and tasty enough to enjoy? 30 years ago you could drink from a hose and it was good.

The land is no less free today, nor less opportune. But you have not been taught or have forgotten how to harness it....ok ok yes with the passing of the Patriot Act we are less free...but other than that...what they took over the auto industry? Ok but other than that....wait..what about health care...we have to get it or what? Huh...ok we still have RELATIVE freedom.

The main point is that we have allowed our circumstance to happen...our parents share in the blame.

Are we going to provide our kids the same lack luster view of American ideals that we hold?

Many of you once pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and the republic (not democracy) for which it stands. It is time to honor that pledge. A republic is built on the virtues held by the elected leadership. When the people elect politicians devoid of morals and civic duty, or worse abdicate by not voting...the people allow their society to decay.

In our time people believe they have "woken up" and that the American Dream has faded. They are still sleeping, lazy and fat.

You need to aspire in order to dream. You need to try in order to succeed.

In this country any citizen has the right to start his or her own business for FREE. As a proprietor you can sell a product or service....you just need to sell and need someone to buy.

And you don't even need to pay with money...Bartering is alive and well...

Spend less time in front of the tv, less time at bars, fast food dives. Spend more time getting serious about your life, dreams, and desires.

Get involved. Very few have a valid excuse to be unemployed. Seek me out...I will help you find occupation.

Moreover, dream again. Inspire your kids. Invest in the future. Hold your leadership Accountable. Get a passport and travel. Leave your state and travel. Then invest in your neighborhood.

Lose weight. Save resources and money. Take control of your life and help Transform the American Dream from an assumed failed promise into a vibrant AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY. Trust me. Effort pays off.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Solving Healthcare

Causes of High Healthcare Costs:
1. Malpractice Lawsuits--- insurance costs go way up, forcing Hospitals to force Doctors to charge more.
2. HMO's --- they set a fee that is one part true cost of care, one part risk premium, one part profit (they are a business afterall) -- being unregulated, no one can see in this box.
3. Medical School -- its expensive in both time and money... some doctors work 15 years before they pay off their 100K+ school loans.
4. High Demand Low Supply --- the # of people needing medical help (including the uninsured) is greater than the available providers of healthcare (basic economics: low supply, high demand = high price)

Solution:

1. Create a system to make medical education "free" to the student. If you are smart enough to get into Medical School (and maintain excellent grades) the government should provide the option to pay for your medical school. The option is either a 0% interest loan + grants or service in the "government medical service". Hold the same for all medical fields: nursing, lab technology, physical therapy, etc.

2. Establish the Government Medical Service -- build a network of hospitals and community medical centers nationwide and staff them with private and "public" doctors. The building of the hospitals and med centers will create significant amounts of shorterm (construction) and long term jobs. Long term jobs will be distributed between all levels of skilled labor (doctors, nurces, technicians, administrators, business, security, janitorial..etc.)

3. Public Doctors/ Nurses etc. get paid along the GS track in-line with what First Year residents get paid. After 3-4 years of service they get a bump in pay or can elect to go "private". Private Staff get a reduction in income tax, or pay no tax.

4. Taxpayers, citizens, resident aliens, and legal visitors can use th Government Medical Service - for free the only catch is that you waive your right to sue. You can't sue the government. Negligence and malpractice however would still carry their criminal charges and the removal of medical licenses.

5. People still have the option for private insurance and private doctors -- but due to the public system, private cost must inevitably fall.

6. Provide a $ for $ tax credit without cap on all out of pocket medical costs: co-pays, premiums, drugs, deductibles, etc.

7. Rather than basing risk on 'employee pools' require HMO's and PPO's to qualify all insured based on a "national pool" where the risk is spread through the entire population rather than a smaller pool like employees.

8. Use the new network to support advanced studies and research into therapies and medicine.

Out comes:

1. Basic medical services: colds, broken bones, child birth, stitches, cancer and AIDS treatment etc can be handled by the "system"
2. Advanced surgical procedures will also be offered by the system but due to the potential for a "waiting" period, people with access to private care will inevitably do so.
3. Specialized services will also be offered both in the private and government sectors.
4. All people have access to healthcare, health care costs fall, new jobs are created, more people will seek higher education for the guarantee of a job.