Did you know that almost every candidate for president, Democratic and Repulican believes that our tax system is unfair, overly burdensome, needlessly complicated, and unfair to working Americans? And every candidate believes that we need to be energy independent, to not rely on foreign oil but develope our own source of clean, renewable fuels.
All the candidates beleive that our health care system is too costly and that health insurance and health care should be more widely available.
It's true. And each Candidate, George Bush, Walter Mondale, Ronald Regan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Michael Dukakis and the current batch of candidates in 2007 pledge to address these issues in the upcoming election.
It's pretty clear that these are all imposing problems that offer major challenges to the U.S. They have all been at the forefront of campaigns since 1976! Does anyone believe that the US tax code is simple and fair? That we can continue to pay for the cost of discovering more sources of fossil fuel? That we can disregard the cost, the effects on the environment or who that money goes to? Who among us believes that health care is a privilege and the system is plenty efficient! That no other health care model in any other country could be as cost effective and fair as ours?
So, where are the plans to address these concerns? There are none! Or next to none. Obama would require utilities to generate up to 20% their power from renewable fuels by 2020! That is bold. The other candidates don't do much better. Their plans to simplify the tax code, to develop alternative fuels or provide better, dare I say, universal health care coverage are timid and weak and designed not to offend the vast majority. Leave it to so called fringe candidates like Kucinich to put forth defined plans to address these issues. You won't find Hillary or Guiliani or Romney putting forth anything bold or definitive. Welcome to the Bland old Party!
The tax code needs to be made fair simple and more inclusive. Support should go to those candidates advocating the fair tax bill or something like it. www.fairtax.org All payroll taxes would be eliminated. In their place a 23% tax on purchased goods. There would be a prebate designed to eliminate the tax effect on food and other necessities. This tax system would effect everyone and not penalize the incentive to earn more. Money that is parked in tax free, foreign accounts could be invested in our own economy. Give me your pimps, prostitutes and drug dealers yearning for tax free income. Your expenditures would be taxed and you're in the system!
Why not issue a presidential challenge similar to Kennedy's man on the moon challenge regarding energy? Develop a clean, renewable, home grown fuel by 2012. If it costs $3.00 a gallon, so what! It's going to go to US companies and US workers and not nations who find ways to funnel oil money to terrorists! We need to develop the fuels that will be burned in China and India, the biggest markets in the world, before other countries develop those fuels. The benefits are obivious. No harmful effects on the environment, no money to terrorist regimes, and the US leading the development of energy sources for future.
And isn't it funny that the only ones complaining about the British and Canadian health care systems are Americans? 46 million Americans lack health insurance and thus health care. We don't have to reinvent the wheel we can expand medicare and medicaid and as basement for coverage for all American citizens. You want additional care? Purchase supplemental insurance. The model has been proven in almost every other industrial country in the world.
Here is the dirty little secret of health care. Our health care system makes our US companies less competitive overseas and at home. US companies pay tremendously high health care costs for their workers and their retirees. This cost is included in manufatured goods. But in most other countries with government health care, this cost is subsidized by the government and not the company. The cost to produce foreign goods is lower and American companies have a harder time competing.
It seems pretty straigt forward to me. It seemed pretty straight forward to Jimmy Carter too. These issues have been with us for thirty years! When will a politician on the national level address them with a clear and concrete plan. Show em to me and I'll vote for them! I may even work for their election!!