I will admit that I’m a complete layman when it comes to politics, finances, etc., but the stimulus packages that have been handed out to create new jobs don’t seem to be having a positive return on investment. More and more I hear of additional companies laying people off, or worse, moving their operations to a low cost region. Why doesn’t the government give these companies incentives to keep their business, and our jobs, here in the US? It seems our government wants us to become a “service” country, but if so many people are losing their jobs, what/who are we going to service? No one can afford to buy anything, so there’s no need for services. If you’re laid off, you probably can’t afford to go out and get highlights in your hair, have your weekly mani and pedi, or any of the other nonessential spending, so how will this help us? Are we going to become the next “India” call center? We’ll handle all the customer service calls for other countries. I hope that’s not where we’re headed, but with all of our manufacturing moving to other countries, where is that going to leave the US? Why not make fair trade, uh fair? We can’t compete with low cost countries because we have rules and standards for the products we produce, and rightfully so. Do the other countries abide by OSHA standards? Are they properly disposing of their hazardous waste? Are their employees receiving fair wages, with health benefits? Are they paying the higher tariffs for their exports? I don’t think so. If we were on a level playing field, we could be more competitive. We need our jobs back in the USA.
The health care reform is a sore spot for many these days, and I will admit, I get fired up when I think about it as well. I’m not for total government control, but I can see where some government intervention might be of some use. Having insurance through my employer, I’m grateful, but I still complain each year when my premiums, deductibles and out of pocket expenses are raised. Sometimes, I tell Bob we should quit our jobs and live off the government because I think we would have a higher standard of living. Right now there are tests that I need to have done to see about some unusual swelling in one of my legs, but due to the high deductible, I will choose not to have the tests done. I’ve decided that I won’t go back to the doctor for the follow up because I know she will want to run more tests. It shouldn’t be this way in the US. I’m not one to want sympathy, or a hand out, but it seems like the working people get punished while those not willing to work get rewarded. I’m not talking about the people that have lost their jobs, I’m speaking of the many you see that choose not to work. There have been many times I’ve threatened to cancel my insurance because it would be more affordable without it than to have it. I’ve done the math, by the time I figure my monthly premiums and deductible, compared to the number of doctor visits per year, I would save over $4,000.00 a year by not having insurance. Now, of course, this doesn’t take into consideration a major medical expense such as heart attack, etc., which is really the only reason I’ve kept my insurance, just for those unexpected catastrophes. But when one has to choose between feeding the family and staying healthy, something isn’t right. Don’t get me wrong, we’re not starving at our house, but we sure don’t want or need additional expenses. I’m not sure how the government can fix the insurance thing, but I hope something can be done so people don’t have to choose between food for their families or health care.
Other things I ponder with our government, as you can see, I think a lot about these things, is the way we handle government programs. Here’s just a few examples of what I observe and how I think we should handle it:
Government benefits
Mandatory drug testing for anyone receiving government benefits of any type. Sure, the testing might have costs, but if you refuse benefits to those testing positive, the savings would add up. You get one chance to come clean, if you screw up, you lose your benefits.
Community Service should be a requirement for anyone receiving benefits. Why not make them work for what they’re earning. There are plenty of community action programs that would love to have the help. If I have to work and pay taxes to support those receiving government benefits, why shouldn’t they have to work to get them? Make it mandatory that they have to give 20 hours a week in volunteer time. If anything, let them help beautify their local communities. For those that aren’t able to do physical labor, let them read to kids at the library, or sit with the elderly in the nursing homes. There are all kinds of volunteer programs out there. Why not? Not only would they be giving back, they would also be developing skills to list on a resume so they can attempt to re-join the workforce.
Legal system
Do away with frivolous law suits. I can’t tell you how many times a night I see commercials saying “do you or someone you love suffer from…”. A person can sue for anything these days. It’s crazy! Put a stop to it. No where on my pack of Marlboro does it say that smoking can cause lung cancer. Does that mean if I get lung cancer I can sue the tobacco companies for millions because Philip Morris didn’t label their boxes properly? If you watch the right commercial, you can! That goes in line with the infamous lady that got burned from the coffee at McDonald’s. Hello, until recently, McDonald’s didn’t sell iced coffee, what do you think will happen if you put a cup of hot coffee between your legs? Make people take responsibility for their actions, don’t pass the blame off on someone else.-
Child predators are a very touchy subject with me. Any person that would harm a child should be immediately tortured and put to death. In my opinion, they have no place on this earth. I’m sorry, but I don’t believe in reform in this case. It sickens me to no end when I read statistics about the number of children that are kidnapped to be sold into slavery of all kinds. Those statistics are here in the US! This goes in line with child pornography. Any person that gets a rise from watching innocent children, doing things in which they have no idea, should have their eyes plucked out of their heads. What is wrong with people when they can resort to something like this? -
Speaking of children, when someone is arrested for child abuse, the child should never be returned to that parent or household. I know that when a child is sent into foster care, the main goal is to reunite that child with his parents. Is that really the best thing? I think in most cases, it’s not. This is your child, you get one chance, you had better not screw it up! I hear a lot of people being excused for their abusive behavior due to being raised in an abusive home, well I say bull crap! If you were abused as a child, you must know how it feels, so don’t do it to your own! You’re an adult, it’s wrong, you know better. Again, make people responsible for their actions, let’s not sugar coat it or make excuses, wrong is wrong!
I think we should go back to the good ole days of hanging people on the court house steps. I know that sounds harsh, but right now a prisoner has a better life than most. Free room and board, 3 hot meals a day, what kind of punishment is that? Put them out there, in their communities, let them see the disappointment on their mother’s faces. Let the victims see that those who have done the crime will be punished. It might make people think long and hard before they commit their crime.
Immigration- I’m not against people wanting to come to the US and raise families, better themselves, etc., what I am against is the people doing it illegally. What baffles me even more is why our government even considers health care benefits for the illegal immigrants. And another thing, if the government can tell us we have X number of immigrants living in the US, then why can’t they load them up and deport them? Make them come into our country the right way.
- Why should we, as Americans, have to adopt the cultures of everyone else, all the while, our own culture is going out the window. Maybe this doesn’t fit into the immigrant conversation, but I will continue since I’ve already started. I think back to my childhood and going to school, every morning we said the Pledge of Allegiance, and we used the word God. At Christmas time, we had Christmas programs, and Christmas break, not Winter Holiday programs and Winter Holiday break. We learned how different cultures celebrate their various holidays, and how they compared to ours. Now we can’t celebrate Christmas in school because it might offend someone. Get over yourself! If you don’t believe in God, or Christmas, or anything else most Americans believe in, then don’t, it’s your choice, but don’t think the rest of the world should have to change their culture to suit your needs. If your situation calls for you to pray every so many hours, then by all means, go off and say your prayers, but don’t expect the world to stop revolving while you do so. I just can’t seem to find the right words to express my thoughts on this. I get so frustrated when I hear of the various things being taken from our schools. The same goes for the 10 Commandments having to be removed from every public place in the US. Leave them alone! If you don’t like seeing them, then don’t look.
Okay, I could go on and on about how I feel about our Country and what we’re becoming. I will stop here before I stroke out (LOL!). I take these things very seriously, and if people don’t wake up and start speaking up, we’re going to be in seriously bad shape in a few years. It worries me for my children, and even more for my future grandchildren. I would love for my daughter to be able to go outside and play all day and not have to worry about someone snatching her from the front yard. I want my children to feel safe walking down the street, not having to worry about getting robbed or shot. How can this be accomplished? Some government intervention would help, but I think the majority of the responsibility would fall on the people of the US by taking responsibility for your actions. Help those that need help, or as someone once said, “a hand up, not a hand out”.
TTFN!
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