Let's be careful to expand the Federal responsibilty in Health Care

We need to get back to the basics in our American society. Equality, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness are basic values that our country was founded on.

But, we are moving far from that. Credit Scores, Nanny State, Big Government, a lack of personal responsibility, government health care ...

Health Care Reform appears to be more of the same. More of the same, in what is wrong in Washington DC and what is wrong in our American society today.

"No, Mr. Chairman. In the legislation that has been reported we do not
see the sort of fundamental changes that would be necessary to reduce the
trajectory of federal health spending by a significant amount. And on the
contrary, the legislation significantly expands the federal responsibility for
health care costs." - Doug Elmendorf, Director of CBO

CBO: Democrats Bend Health Care Cost Curve — in the Wrong Direction - CATO

CBO Sees No Net Federal Cost Savings in Dem Health Plans - ABC News

We need to promote personal responsibility and Liberty again.

It will not be found through expanding the role and size of governments, whether it be at the Federal, State or local level. Of course, local government and local control are far better than a large central government.

• We need to get back to traditional mortgages and credit financing.


• We need to encourage personal responsibility again.


• We need to move away from Big Government.


• Limited government is the pathway America was built on.


• Health Care Reform is required, but it should remain market driven with proper government oversight.

Oversight is the right role for our government. As you may recall, there were concerns voiced several years ago regarding the need for greater Federal oversight ahead of the 2008 Financial Crisis. A concern many Europeans have about American society is when private corporations get too closely connected with politicians.

The private sector is where the solution can be found in health care and in how our way of life should play out. It comes with better oversight and public policy. It begins with a return to Equality, Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness. It is found in Limited Government. Those values that make America the country it has been and can be again.

peace

52% of Americans believe Obama will raise taxes on Small Business*

The Thursday, December 18, 2008 edition of The Los Angeles Times contains an article titled California Democrats devise plan to hike taxes. For more on the issue of tax policy, read No Income Tax: The Key to Economic Growth.

Bush Leaves Obama a Financial Crisis, but Doesn’t Want to per a US News & World Report opinion article today.

* Source of Headline: Campaign Falsehoods Linger On per another US News & World Report article.

http://twitter.com/cidsports

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Today at Work... I visited with a gentlemen from Texas

I received a call today from a salesman. We had a nice visit and in the course of our conversation we discussed government. Basically, we came to the basic agreement that most people agree 60-70% on most things. But, politics today seems stuck on the focusing on the fringe or the extreme polarization that is fueled by special interest, money, greed and/or power.

Small business is made up of both Republicans, Democrats or those calling themselves something else. I would contend that most people are better off with a limited government. We need regulation and over site. However, it needs to be limited to the extent that private sector works better than government on most things.

But, our tax policy is day by day destroying the middle class and small business. Our society is fueled by consultants, tax accountants and lawyers, rather than a quality product or service today. The incentive today is to reduce your tax liability rather than focusing on that quality product or service.

We need to knock down partisanship and work together again. We have completed the elections of November 2008. Now, we need to come together and work on the public policy that fueled the rebirth of voter participation. There is a role for government at the Federal, State and Local level, but we need to get back to the roots of limited government.

The private sector needs to get back to providing a quality product and service. However, government is focused on Big this and Big that, while making our tax policy bigger and more burdensome. We sure have come a long way, since 1913.

Our tax policy is the problem. Government has grown too large at the Local, State and Federal levels. Look at the national debt today in Washington DC. Our financial crisis today is certainly rooted in our tax policy. As an employer, I actually pay the government before I pay my employee through income tax withholding and other tax deductions.

The Tuesday, November 18, 2008 edition of The Wall Street Journal features an article titled A new assertiveness on economy. For more on economic policy read Limits: A prescription for economic health.

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The Economist: China seeks stimulation too

China seeks stimulation A stimulus plan to inject $586 billion into China's economy. But the devil lies in the detail Full article
Into the wilderness Republicans try to rediscover themselves, and puzzle over Sarah Palin's fate Full article

The week ahead A global summit to discuss the economic and financial crisis, and other news Full article

A painful job to do As unemployment surges Barack Obama will have to take some awkward economic decisions Full article

Germany's feeble stimulus package A stimulus package in Germany amounts to mild fiscal loosening Full article

Who will the government look to bail out next? Colin Cowherd today was suggesting the media, since they employ people too. Newspapers are seeing rough times these days.

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Global Push to Beat Economoc Downturn

It was a bad October economically for a lot of people around the globe. The Friday, November 7, 2008 edition of The Wall Street Journal featured an article titled "Global Push to Beat Economic Downturn." For more information on economic issues read Amy Franz' Policy Study report titled "No Income Tax: The Key to Economic Growth."

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Vote for the Best person... always is a good motto!

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Originally posted by jbincr:
Good for you, Marion. Independent is the way to go. Choose the best candidate regardless of party. Straight-ticket voters are worse than people who vote on a whim.

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Your Headline needs to be changed to make your comments "choose the best candidate regardless of party" to hold true.

I am frustrated with both parties. Neither are doing a good job of protecting and promoting a Limited Government. I'm frustrated with the growth of the non-profit sector (look at salaries at MAHP in Cedar Rapids, for example) and the Fortune 500, which has been the push of both powers the past 20 years.

However, Clinton - Republican Controlled Congress is much different than Obama-Democrat Controlled Congress that many on this board are proposing.

Clinton lost the Democrat House at the mid-term election. Hillary's national health care message was wrong for America.

The Republicans in the House during the Bush years have a lot explaining as well, with the expansion of the Federal budget.

We need both parties in many ways to implode. The original two parties weren't Republican nor Democrats. Both have some serious house cleaning to do.

It's too bad that S. 190 in the 109th Congress didn't include constraints and further over site on Freddie or Fannie, but the Democrats didn't see the need. The Republican I liked before John McCain was Governor Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin, but he was 4 years too late. His ideas are stronger than any one's I have seen to date. I preferred Ms. Clinton over Mr. Obama, though I am sick of the Bush-Clinton era, the past 20 years.

The direction many Democrats in power are going appears wrong and may be dangerous to small business and the America way. The Republicans have their own train wreck to repair, in many respects.

I had a visit with a European customer this week... his biggest negative in the USA was the tie between Corporations and our government. Plainly, Europeans don't want America to be like them, they want America to clean up their act.

I'm all for the best person, but in many ways, going back to Jepsen-Harkin... we vote against the person in Iowa and nationally, not for the person. I see one clear race this year that I am voting for the person.

Dr. Miller-Meeks - a Republican that deserves a strong look - my vote!

Mr. McCain - better than expansion of Federal government under Obama... Further, he will be likely be a one term president and if successful, will bring a coalition government in for the 4 years in office. Unlike Mr. Bush - who didn't bring that bi-partisanship from Austin to Washington DC. Maybe it was 9/11, but on January 20, 2009... it's over!

Sen. Rob Hogg (D) - Senate Democrat - Let's talk light rail - it would be nice to see the Corridor linked, but in a rural region - do we have the population?

Rep. Tyler Olson (D) - House Democrat - Let's talk fiscal responsibility in the State of Iowa

A balance of power is highly recommended in these times.

Sen. Grassley and Sen. Harkin - wow, does any other State in the Union reflect balance?

On the mortgage crisis, where are the Democrats that deserve to be thrown on the carpet with others? What about Rep. Franks' role in the mess?

Thank God I'm an American! Let's clean 435 out of the House! I'll start with my vote for Dr. Miller-Meeks in our US House Representatives!

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Business Travel: More Stressful than ever?

The Economist is reporting that Business Travel is more stressful due to the environment today.

It is stressful these days with the Global financial crisis, but maybe we all need to step back and take a deep breath. Yes, we need to relax a little and don't let the blues get us down.

Life has its share of peeks and valleys. Heck, it is a tough year, if you follow a lot of sports teams... look at the Chicago Cubs, for example.

I guess we can always look back at the '80s, don't worry, be happy now!

peace

While we are at it, the government should fix the following...

It's ironic that the United States Government is going to raise FDIC from $100,000.00 to $250,000.00. Which makes sense, since the limit has been at $100,000 for roughly 23 years and inflation has to be taken into account, with the cost of payrolls and doing business in 2008 dollars.

But, while you are at it, Mr. Senator and Ms. Representative, why don't you index the Alternative Minimum Tax, which has never been adjusted for inflation and is impacting people it was never intended to. AMT is hurting middle taxpayers today and should be adjusted for inflation, as well.

Finally, there are people in credit trouble who could benefit from elimination of one major flaw in our current Federal tax structure.

Previously, credit card interest was deductible, but it isn't anymore.

But, why is Uncle Sam going after consumers, when hard times it due to credit occurs from aggressive banks and credit card companies?

If a consumer negotiates a reduction of accrued credit card interest, why does Uncle Sam want to tax a piece of the unrealized savings, when zero of the interest expense was not eligible for a tax deduction in the first place?

If the Congress wants to help credit hurt consumers and taxpayers, eliminate all taxes on unrealized gains on accrued interest that are not deductible for tax purposes today. The aggressive banks and credit cards companies have hurt consumers enough, don't take from them when they are already down and struggling. This just appears to be common sense in today's tax structure.

Wake up Uncle Sam!

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