Politics- It's a game changing time!

Remember when Arsenio Hall and MTV were political game changers? Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s with cable television, politics molded and warped our minds. As a child, I remember sitting by the television wondering and praying that President  Reagan would be ok. I also remember as a child how Presidents too often would pre-empt my favorite prime time shows with some propaganda that only my parents were interested in. Then as a got older and out of high school, Bill Clinton and George H Bush started battling out for President.

This was my first election that I had interest in and could vote in. I remember seeing then-Governor Clinton playing saxophone on the hottest late night show of that time, Arsenio Hall. I can also remember that town hall meeting style forum MTV created when Clinton agreed to participate. Sure we had the boxers or briefs question or the “I did not inhale” answer, but it also was a candid look at the personality of this politician. We felt a connection with him. Bush seemed out of touch. That’s why Clinton won.

Since then, almost twenty years have passed and boy have this game changed. Our 24/7 always on society is bad for politics. Some may say that this society demands the transparency, but I think that too much information is a bad thing. The politics of politics is very smarmy, seedy part of society that we only saw a small glimpse into only a few years ago. Now, depending upon what side you favor, you can get a slant on anything.

Politicians actions, more so than ever, are carefully plotted. For every action, they know that they will create a reaction. This is why certain party lines are held and seemingly no action is taken. I, like many of Americans, do not like to be lumped into Conservative/Liberal categories. My views and beliefs lay somewhere in between these very strict interpretive categories. I will admit it that my beliefs are more liberal than conservative, but I am not drawn towards either of these political parties.

I agree and understand why people are gravitating to the Tea Party Movement, but to me it just seems like an off-shoot of an even more Conservative Republican party.  When Democrats want change they change it in dramatic fashion. Because they are in control now, a lot has changed. Republicans, instead of creating alternate, more compelling legislation, they  are wagging their fingers at the Democrats saying you shouldn’t do that.

I agree that some Democratic changes have not been for the good, but some has. I have voted for both Democrats and Republicans. I look at the particular politician and the impact that that person brings to the table. Right now, Democrats seem scared and are playing a “Prevent Defense”. I am not happy were the Democrats are right now.  Obstructionist Republicans are not winning me over either. The “wait until November”  approach is already leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

If it wasn’t for these technological marvels that we have now, we would not be forced to be immersed in this political onslaught of information. I think these politicians would be acting differently if they were not under the microscope. Maybe, just  maybe then the two political parties could come together and work nice together. That’s a pipedream. But at least get some bi-partisanship together. 

Back to the Clinton/ Bush matchup. Remember we had a third party candidate back then. Ross Perot that little guy with the big ears shouting about. He helped Clinton by eating up the conservative support that was going to go to Bush in the election. Back then, we thought a third party was going to take shape, but never did. It seems to me that Perot only used this platform for his own self-interests instead of making a viable third party.

Now is the time for a true third-party to take shape. As I stated Tea Parties are seemingly being assimilated into the Republican Party and doesn’t seem to me to be a viable party.  Other  Independent parties are designed for specific purposes and wouldn’t be viable for all of today’s concerns. Now we need another party that tows the lines with the rest of America. We need a party that is in the middle. The two political party extremes are too extreme. I currently find no political party representing me, just their own self-interests.  

However, I do not know if any changes could take place now. Because of blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and other digital means, the scrutiny that a politician is now confronted with, a true game changing personality that could lead this charge may never want to come forward. If political game changers like FDR or JFK were in today’s politics, they would have been lamb-basted and would never be elected.  That leaves us with what we have. I hope that I am wrong. 

I would love to see a game changer, but unfortunately the current "always on" media mentality will keep truly innovative, risk-taking political minds from becoming mainstream!  

The Next “New Deal”?

The Morning After

Last night, landmark healthcare legislation was passed that will forever change the healthcare landscape. To me, this is not a polarizing issue as it is too many Americans. However, I have mixed feelings about what our government has now made into law. I work in the public housing field and through my church we have spent the last two winters housing the homeless. I see how lives are affected by healthcare.

Why am I conflicted?

At my job, I’ve seen people get public housing because they have lost their jobs as a result of their health. These people probably lost their jobs because these same companies that have let them go did not provide healthcare. If they don’t have healthcare, they do not go to the doctor unless they are really ill, than it is too late. At our temporary homeless shelter, I know someone made a choice to either pay to keep his home or pay for chemotherapy to keep him alive. He choice was to stay alive and take the medicine.

On the other hand, by working in this field, I also see abuse of the system. Too many doctors allow patients to go after “mental health disability”. If you are depressed and/or have bipolar disease, work to overcome it. Take the medicine, see a counselor. This is abused and stricter guidelines need to be in place. Or how about the mother that is on public assistance and Medicaid that takes her children to the emergency room whenever they have a fever or cold. If I would do that, I am penalized financially. So should they.

Current legislation needs to be tweaked as well to work on the issues. Give everyone a vested interest in using the current health care system efficiently and effectively. Checks and balances need to be established. Are they in the new legislation? Who knows!

My Vested interest

Since I started working at the housing authority, healthcare was always a hot topic. We started out with a Traditional Blue Cross plan. Then we started to see double digit renewals yearly. Over recent years, we changed plans, providers, and tried to implement other cost saving measures, but still the increases come. Shouldn’t these increases be close to inflation rates? 24%, 32%, or even 12% is exorbitant, but yet these were all rates that we saw over the past decade. Why? Sure our agency is dominated by 50+ aged population, but is that justification?

Me and my children’s future

If we continued to stay the course, how many more companies would have chosen to cut health care as a benefit? If the trend continued where I work, how much more would I have to dip into my personal income to just stay status quo? By passing this legislation, things are going to change. My opinion and it is just that, my opinion is that healthcare for everyone will bring costs down eventually, right?

By insuring everyone, preventative care is now an option for the currently uninsured. That strep infection will not turn to pneumonia. That untreated blood pressure may not necessarily turn into a heart attack. That inner city hospital will now get paid for that emergency room visit.

My wife worked for an inner city hospital and all the clientele that went to this hospital was either uninsured or on public assistance. As a result, the hospital continues to operate in the red. When someone cannot pay for a service, someone else is force to absorb that cost. That is probably another reason why my company’s renewal rates are driven higher as well. By the way, my wife was let go from this hospital as a cost cutting measure. Not a good sign for them and higher premiums for all of us.

Something had to be done for our future, by “our” I mean the USA. Healthcare is unaffordable and should not be a privilege for fewer and fewer people. That is reality and is where we were headed. We have the best healthcare in the world, right? But it isn’t accessible for everyone. If other countries can provide it and provide it well, so can we.

But we are not Canada, France, or …..

Listen, you are right, we are not anyone of these countries that provide healthcare to their citizens. Some of these countries may or may not have inferior healthcare. It doesn’t matter. This is the USA. Stop using this as an argument. Our systems are different. Period. You are comparing apples to oranges in this argument.

Next your argument is calling it socialized medicine. Again, when you can substantiate this argument with solid scenarios instead of using catchphrases to scare the public, I am open to listen to your discussion.

I cannot stand these ideological stances that both parties are taking.

Democrats are just as guilty as Republicans by digging their heals into the ground and not budging. It took a year to do this and neither party worked together. Republicans just stood by and wagged your fingers and said no. Democrats pushed this legislation and thumbed their noses at the Republican party and said, “Ha, Ha, we can do it without you.” Bipartisanship is dead. It has been dead since 2001 when the Republican party took over the Whitehouse.

Neither party is doing this country justice. Mark my word, the next big election will swing Republican. Then back to Democrat. Why? Because whoever is the majority in political office will not work with their minority peers. The pendulum will keep swinging. Until the two parties reach across the aisles, nothing will change. Americans voted in change because we felt that Democrats and Republicans would work together. Boy, we were wrong and we will continue to be wrong.

A New Deal

When FDR took office, the country was in the Great Depression. The New Deal was a series of legislation that was designed to work on the three “R’s”: relief, recovery, and reform. It was to provide relief to the unemployed, it was to provide recovery by creating jobs, and it was supposed to provide financial reform. Wow. This sounds familiar. How does the old saying goes, “If you don’t learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it.” You can draw your own conclusions.

It is unfortunate that our country has to reconcile the blunders and greed of Wall Street. I am not an obstructionist; I believe in the free market system. But greed has bankrupted this country. It is a bitter pill to swallow America, but these tough legislative decisions have to be done. The actions of few will have deep long-term repercussions for decades.

Either party:

If you have a solution, fix it. Don’t complain about it. Work to solve it. These are tough times and tough decisions will have to be made. Not everyone will be happy. Do the right thing for this country, not the right thing for you or your party! As one venerable modern day philosopher put it, “Git-r-done.”!