Insurance, Drug, and Healthcare Cost.

The cost of insurance, prescription drugs and healthcare has reached a critical point for most Americans. There seems to be a never-ending increase in the pricing of all three. Senior citizens have to deal with the normal confusing Medicare coverage options and enrollment packages in an attempt to obtain what they hope will be a decent plan. Once a year they are bombarded with new plan information as the new enrollment period arrives. They receive notification that insurance monthly premiums are increasing. This amounts to billions of dollars for the insurance companies, drug companies, and healthcare providers along with increased costs for all citizens. This places a severe strain on the senior citizens who already struggle to meet their monthly budget, sometimes sacrificing food to buy the necessary prescription drugs. The costs of a visit to a doctor or dentist are outrageous and pray that you don’t have to visit a hospital. If you don’t have insurance, you don’t receive that insurance discount, when actually that is the time you need that discount. Healthcare cost in America is out of control! America is a very wealthy country and the government should take the necessary steps to assure that every citizen has affordable healthcare coverage. Every citizen should have nothing less than the coverage afforded to the members of Congress and federal employees, which is of course paid for by the citizens. This is an area where governmental action to some extent is necessary in order to provide the necessary and financially affordable coverage that every citizen deserves. Congress (all members) should deliver a well-defined plan and take the necessary steps to execute the plan in order to provide this service to the American people. Write your member of Congress and demand action on your behalf!

American Political Change Desired

The time has come, and some say passed, for the American public to demand change in Congress with how government operates. It is true all members of American society will not agree on most issues and this is reflected in the many close elections. The big problem would seem to be the elected officials and their inability to produce programs that satisfy everyone by utilizing the ability to compromise. These self-serving politicians really need to show some form of intelligence and produce programs, such as healthcare and insurance oversight, which satisfy the majority and don’t lean to extremes on either side. Try taking lobbyists and money out of the equation! Is this possible? The healthcare industry, the drug industry, and politicians are all out of control. The American public should clean out Congress and start over with a new mandate that actually has the interest and protection of the public as a primary objective. Congress, state government, and local government fail when it comes to actually representing the average citizen. Government salaries and pensions seem to be their main concern. Wake up America, register to vote if you are not registered and vote for someone to make changes.

US Government Waste

The CAGW (Citizens Against Government Waste – cagw.org) reports on government waste in various areas of our bloated system. Congress and government employees continue to waste billions of dollars. Each year this type of information makes the news in various formats. You have to wonder how government officials can read this information (maybe a staff member should bring it to their attention) and continue to ignore calls from the public for reform in the way they handle money that actually belongs to the taxpayer. Have they become so lost in their lifestyle that their sense of responsibility has vanished? There are also other type of reports and media coverage that mention waste in various government agencies and departments. Government employees just don’t seem to remember who they work for and whose money they spend. Just a reminder, it is the rest of the American citizens you are supposed to answer to regarding this wasteful spending. Where is responsible management? Are there no controls in effect to monitor excess spending or rogue employees? There is so much that needs to be done in America and could be done with the wasted funds. Try balancing the budget. Apply some of these funds to various worthwhile projects such as social security and Medicare. Direct some funds to eliminate the fraud in both of those areas since it appears to be out of control. Maybe the next President could make an effort at addressing this matter by appointing someone with the necessary vision and intelligence to a position with the authority to correct this situation. This could begin by eliminating a number of unnecessary positions within the inflated government. The President’s authority may be limited, but the public needs to demand action from Congress and the President along with voting those undesirable individuals out of office. We need one term limits on members of Congress so they become servants of the citizens and not special interest groups and big money donors. There is so much that could be done to make this great country better and it is past time to move in that direction.

Congress & Healthcare

Healthcare costs and insurance costs are out of control and too many Americans are struggling to survive while trying to cover payments for healthcare and coverage.  Members of Congress, their staff, and government employees have excellent coverage paid for by the taxpayers.  Every taxpaying citizen should have the same type coverage as a minimum since they foot the bill.  There should be no problem with assessing some type of tax on individuals making over $250,000 (including members of Congress, who are overpaid) to assist with the cost.  This group should consider themselves lucky to be in America with the opportunity to make that income.  It should be easy to find savings in current government spending as an offset if someone actually makes an effort, since there is outrageous waste in government.  It is time for regulation of the healthcare and insurance industries.

Failure of Congress

The financial disaster occurring in America, and for that matter the world is the big train wreck that was waiting to happen. The country has been so involved in creating wealth no matter what the cost, that the public has been oblivious to the situation in Washington. Members of Congress have been so involved in their elite status, counting their stock wealth, taking those vacations furnished by lobbyist, and in essence ignoring their real jobs that America is now facing the greatest financial disaster in history. There was something outlawed 100 years ago called bucket shops that was apparently similar if not the same as what took place over the last few years. Apparently about 8 years ago Congress (Democrats & Republicans – this is not a party problem) allowed changes that once again gave free wheeling crooks the green light to rape the country and the citizens. These credit default swaps were the train wreck waiting to happen while members of Congress enjoyed the big life. Deregulation can be good in certain areas, but not where the financial health of America is concerned because there are just too many greedy jerks in the country and the world. Numerous individuals have become very wealthy at the expense of the country during this crisis. A good suggestion would be for all members of Congress, other than new members elected this year, to resign, forgo their big pensions, and get out of town! Congress continues to give themselves pay raises, but should cut their salaries to $95,000 and that would still be more that twice the average income in America of about $45,000. Their pensions should also be revised downward. The citizens should demand this action. The election on November 4th will not solve the problems of this great country and it is questionable if the taxpayer-financed bailout being conducted by the “great minds” in Washington will solve or even ease the financial crisis. One big question is how much of this money will actually return to the government and how much will the national debt increase for future generations.

Energy Crisis

Problems facing America today in regard to energy are enormous and it is way past time for the political leadership to address these issues and take action while keeping the environment in mind. Steps should be taken to make the country more independent by utilizing solar and wind along with putting the great scientific minds in America to work developing auto engines that are more efficient. I know engines that run more efficiently could be developed and adapters could be developed for older engines in order to increase their mileage rates. The oil and auto industries would have to take a large role in this effort and those industries may end up smaller, but the spin-off industries would make up for those losses. The many articles written about ways to increase mileage and about alternative fuels indicate it can be done, but the political establishment and corporate America are not taking the necessary action. Regulation of oil company profits could be a possibility in relation to reinvesting since this is a national and public interest matter. Billions and billions of taxpayer’s dollars are wasted each year on unnecessary and useless matters dreamed up by corrupt and self-centered politicians and members of the public that work with those politicians. Those billions could easily assist in solving the energy crisis. Congress approves billions that are wasted in other countries when citizens of all races in the U.S. are without homes or food. America needs to address problems at home in a more effective manner prior to pursuing the role as world police. The time is now for the American political establishment to change their spots and address the problems facing the country they are supposed to be serving and the citizens that pay their outrageous salaries and pensions.

Deregulation

Deregulation supporters say it has led to more efficient and innovative businesses, but others say it has led to higher prices and poor service. The move for deregulation really took off in the 70’s/80’s and this was supposed to bring great changes in industries such as airlines, banking, financial services, trucking, railroads, electricity suppliers, and telecommunications. The American public will have to determine if this effort by government representatives has produced the desired results in any of these industries or made matters worse or made any change at all. Have we had lost jobs, higher prices, fewer choices, and poor service? Is deregulation responsible in part for the economic conditions we face today? Are our political representatives asleep at the wheel? Should government be striving for a more balanced regulation situation? Yes, nobody can predict the exact outcome, but current conditions would seem to indicate things have gone wrong somewhere along the line. Maybe it is time to evaluate the results in certain areas and consider making some changes. Consider the numerous problems that have occurred in more than one industry over the last 20 years. A complete overhaul of deregulation might not be called for, but it is evident that some changes would be desirable.