Answers for America
I have been asked several questions about the state of our country, and what can be done, by people who are just like me and just like you: everyday Americans. The citizens of this nation are concerned about many issues, but the following are the questions I am asked most often, and my honest replies. It isn't always pretty, but the plain fact is that if we continue to elect our governing bodies the way we always have, we will continue to receive what we have always gotten. This is why I am campaigning-- I want to help America get on the road to recovery.
1) Although the economy is bad, what would you propose to help maintain a low unemployment rate in America, and how would you help individuals entering the job market for the first time?
We have exported much of our manufacturing and many of our service jobs to what I call substandard countries, such as India and China, where almost slave labor conditions exist. This “Outsourcing” was perpetrated buy a network of employers and politicians in order to bolster profits. To reverse this trend there are several steps that would work. Trouble is we are fighting a political machine to do so. With this in mind I suggest some things I learned many years ago in my Economics Classes.
- Use protective tariffs for the purpose they were intended for in the first place. They will even the disparity between the employment practices of developing countries, as well as bring the jobs back to the U.S. by eliminating the advantage of underpaid labor.
- To control outsourcing quite simply institute a business tax that will even the cost of U.S provided service with those of the developing countries. This should make the Democrats happy as they love to tax the so-called "rich". However, since most of them are using this method to cut costs and avoid paying taxes it may prove a bit problematic.
- We must encourage and support small business development. We have over-taxed them, almost into extinction, while allowing Mega-Businesses such as Apple and Microsoft to avoid taxation by locating major portions of their companies out of the country. This has decreased American employment as well as taken revenue from the country.
- Most importantly; immediately lower Corporate Tax and Capital Gains Tax.
2) What would you do to help encourage American food production and distribution?
- First we must realize that food distribution is already better in our country than in most places. True, we may have oranges from Florida in the winter and oranges from Argentina in the summer, but our grocery shelves are just about the fullest in the world.
- In one sense we have been our own worst enemy in this area. Take Orange County, CA, for instance. In an area where we once had several farmers we now grow asphalt! Brawly was created mainly to grow lettuce and onions! However, I must say some subsidies seem totally ridiculous in today’s market. We actually export more grain than other countries. The last export count that I had seen stated that we sold more rice to Japan than was grown there!
3) What is your stance on healthcare? Do you think it can truly be universal in a country as large and with as diverse a population as America?
- It'll never happen! Pretty much end of story, and anyone who thinks it is feasible is a dreamer.
- Someone is going to have to play God in order to decide who gets what care. Not only that, the administration alone will be a nightmare. There simply is not enough revenue to support “Universal Health Care” in this country!
- As someone I once knew said, "TINSTAAFL-- There Is No Such Thing As A Free Lunch!" Someone must pay the bill. Most likely it will be the American consumer, who will have no choice in the matter.
- Quite simply the current “Health Care Reform” attempts to limit cost at the expense of the doctors and to the advantage of insurance carriers. I believe it is going to lead to a decrease in the number of health care providers, and that taxpayers will shoulder the extra cost with few benefits in the end.
- There are a number of problems with our current health delivery systems which are not addressed in the Health Care Bill. Excessive profits for drug companies, for one. A lack of new treatments or medicines due to incomprehensible barriers set up by the Food and Drug Administration and fostered by not only the AMA but other drug lobbies is yet another. I personally know of one research company that has developed not only a cure for various congestive heart conditions but is currently saving diabetes patients from amputations-- in other countries! Why is this? Because even though they have had over 200 successful patients in Mexico, Croatia, and Canada, their petition to start the FDA Safety Trials in this country has been denied. My personal opinion on why this saving grace for heart patients has been denied is that it would put too many highly paid cardiology specialists and specialty clinics out of business, and therefore the FDA is not interested in bringing it to trials here in America. Also, bypass surgery is highly lucrative (as is diabetes care and amputation aftercare), and if these treatments come to the U.S.A. then the usage of the previous treatments may drop-- along with the profits. So, as you can see, the question should be, "How even does our so-called 'Universal Health Care' even address these issues?"