As Bob Herbert succinctly summarizes in his NY Times Op-Ed today, our great recession is slashing the very things we need most — education, medical care, and, of course, jobs.
I frankly don’t see where we can go from here. We have allowed our big money institutions to sabotage our financial system, waste monies on things like ‘wars’ and far too much military stuff to go on fighting the cold war against the Soviet Union which no longer exists — substitute some Muslim radicals who are using our military presence in their countries to excuse their own slaughters of innocents. Needless to say our military presence in 150+ nations both generates resentments against us and is bankrupting us! We live now in the 21st century where economic competition is the name of the game and our Supreme court has now opened the door to corporations — dominated in some instance by other nations — to compete freely in funding our political candidates.
We are a nation divided increasingly into the super rich and those struggling to survive — or if Health Reform fails who are having to chose between death by hunger and expulsion from their homes or lack of medical care guaranteed to all major democracies and paid for by their wealthy who have had their taxes here dropped to incredible lows. There is even talk of sales tax increases which hit poor and rich alike — in amounts, but, of course, not in effects.
How many hungry kids do we have in this country? One state is talking now of dropping their medical coverage. Ironically our Roman Catholic bishops and Pope are opposing health care reform while their own nurses and our doctors are supporting it.
We are daily becoming less and less of a democracy and more and more the domain of the super rich. Even the concept of the “public interest” is under attack by the right wingers! Such is hard to believe, but so it seems to be — only in Amerika.
A Ruinous Meltdown
By BOB HERBERT
As the states face fiscal ruin, severe budget cuts across
the country are undermining economic recovery.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/20/opinion/20herbert.html?th&emc=th
—
“A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope.” (Livy cited by Machiavelli)
—
Ed Kent [blind copies]
3 users commented in " American Economic Disaster in the Making "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a Trackback“or if Health Reform fails who are having to chose between death by hunger and expulsion from their homes or lack of medical care guaranteed to all major democracies and paid for by their wealthy who have had their taxes here dropped to incredible lows.”
Do you really expect people to believe that they will be choosing between “death by hunger and expulsion from their homes” if the government takeover of insurance doesn’t happen? What a joke!! The majority of Americans who claim they cannot afford health insurance have no problem with their monthly car payments, cable or satellite television, multiple cell phone plans, cigarettes, alcohol, etc. They choose not to get health insurance as it is not a fun-filled activity to spend money on…so, in your and the progressive minorities opinion it is the duty of the “rich” to purchase it for them??
What year exactly did self-responsibility die? Every action has consequences. If you don’t pay your mortgage…you might not get to keep your home. If you don’t get a job which provides healthcare and/or purchase healthcare for your family, you may end up on the bad end of a large medical bill. Hello??? It’s not the job of the hard-working American to pay for the indigent…just ask the UK
http://reason.com/blog/2009/10/16/how-the-british-welfare-state
You say that healthcare is “guaranteed” to all major democracies. What you don’t say is how efficient it is. It may be guaranteed, but it is also guaranteed that you have a better chance of dying on a waiting list for the rationed care that is provided. Ever wonder why so many in these “major democracies” spend the money to come to the US to get surgeries and required care?
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2010/02/canadian_premier_has_heart_sur.html
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/10/15/waittimes-fraser.html
The wealthiest 1 percent of the population earn 19 percent of the income but pay 37 percent of the income tax. The top 10 percent pay 68 percent of the tab. Meanwhile, the bottom 50 percent—those below the median income level—now earn 13 percent of the income but pay just 3 percent of the taxes. Once again you have stated lies, Mr. Kent. You blindly state liberal talking points without once checking their accuracy.
http://www.american.com/archive/2007/november-december-magazine-contents/guess-who-really-pays-the-taxes
Unlike your uneducated daily ramblings I have included links to other stories which support what I am saying, Mr. Kent
Well i dont know what to say.Except i have watched my sick daughter have to go to the hospital at least 8 times in this past month,1 dr visit 2 times to a specilist,an shes still awaiting another visit for a biopsy reading.AN It cost almost as much as her little car.she works in a small company,who says he this is it we have health in.we have to close,so make a choice.It so expencive to be seen anywhere,an dang if you have prexisting issues like i have ,its horrible.Many do die from lack of treatment,because i does come down to putting food on the table,or paying this high priced medical.My girl will probibly be paying 2 yrs to get all this off of her,an if she faces surgery what can she do.What will she do.
She works hard,an just gets by,raising clothing ,an feeding 2 children,no goverment help..So is he saying lose the roof over your an your childrens head,to pay this outragious medical bills.No one likes to owe medical bills,but who can help but not owe.who can pay 1400 a pop each hospital visit.That just to be checked,an maybe get some fluid,an a script.My treatments will run around thirty eight thousand for treatments ,thats not counting byopseys,ultra sounds,dr visits,an all else in cluded.An how could a sick person not insured,pay that outa pocket,who will insre a person already diagnosed.Its awful in AMERICA,THE MEDICAL PRICES.
I just dont really understand.I guess we will survive either way.But i always heard a HOUSE DIVIDED WONT STAND. an our Goverment is divided.The president to me is just the fall guy to take all the flack publicly.Or to be the one who gets shot.(not saying this is going to happen) But it all relies on what the congress thinks. What they decied to do.Its embarresing all the infighting that has been going on for yrs.
We do need medical relief.But at what cost.I have a prexesting condition.so its hard,to impossible to get medical coverage.With out giving up my whole check. My Son in law has an awful time.He has a good job,faithful in he work ethics.But for a family of 4 insurence takes almost half his income.Whats wrong with that picture.Is that its so unfare.Many people do with out getting treated,old people who have labored hard all their lives paid taxes.watched inflatins rise.Some suffer bad Because they just can afford the insurence,or the medical bill.So they are stuck between a rock,an a hard place.
I pray some kind of relief comes to our people,thats all colors, all people who are legaly in this country!!!
Leave A Reply