Something to Think About

After reading the various proposed cuts pending in Congress involving some of our most basic needs, including education, health care and the elderly, it is beyond all comprehension why these particular needs of the nation are targeted for drastic cuts.

It is commonly believed that today's children are so much more advanced than previous generations due to technology. Upon reflecting on this, one would have to acknowledge that perhaps the opposite is taking place.

For years it has been noted that American children are academically falling behind several other nations. While American children are more worldly than previous generations, they have not kept pace in accomplishing academic excellence. Technology has taken the place of imagination; it has become their only means of communicating; and, they have begun to lose their ability to interact on a face to face level.

Concerning the health issues which are real and devastating to many families, there are some who believe these people do not work hard enough to set aside funds to cover insurance. It is grossly unfair to blame people who earn minimum wage for the lack of the ability to buy health insurance. There are many working people whose employment does not include insurance. Perhaps there is an existing policy for which they can join at their own expense, but at low wages, it is not feasible to buy into it.

Should a person have a pre-existing condition, they are automatically unable to get coverage at all. Surely, this is not their fault. Insurance companies are free to drop a person from their plan once they have covered an ailment, and in doing so, the person is no longer eligible for health insurance anywhere.

As for the elderly, we will all reach that stage in life if we are lucky. To have worked and paid into retirement only to find it is gone when you need it is something that cannot be explained to any reasonable thinking person. The elderly, who are most likely the most needy, are the least likely group for receiving on-going financial help. Thus it does not make much sense to cut expenses in that category as they likely will not live long enough to make any appreciable dent in budgeted care for the elderly.

Thus, one has to consider a few logical reasons why we have the need to cut all these budgets that are so very important. First to come to mind is all the bailouts. These are major companies making billions of dollars who have squandered it, and upon the threat of closing down, the government has helped them. They should be financially capable of taking care of themselves.

Then there is Wall Street who controls the ups and downs of the stock market at its whim. If the stocks go up, that is an indication that things are going well. Add the political factor to that, and things change. If the stocks go down, it indicates that things are bad, and many people panic and sell. Those who are in control buy up the stocks cheap, making a killing, because they will 'cause' the stock market to raise again.

Finally, we are throwing billions of dollars and thousands of troops into a war that cannot end well. We are trying to save a country that cannot and will not change its ability to function on its own. We are trying to 'Americanize' a culture whose beliefs directly oppose ours, and we are killing our young men and women in the process.

For the thinking people, does it make sense to take away funds for education which is our most important resource, while running to the aid of irresponsible big business? Does it make sense to refuse to come together to fix our health care system simply because of political differences? Does it make any sense at all to dismiss our elderly as being unworthy of care and comfort in their remaining days for which they worked all their lives?

Worse yet, does the war that is draining our resources by the minute for people that want to kill us have some logical explanation? It is an exercise in futility. Who in their right mind can justify such stupidity?

In the long run, this depicts a very scary scenario. Specifically, it is an indication that political power is the one major factor. It indicates that the American people are not what our government is concerned about, it is only concerned with political power. Government does not care about you and me, they want to be in political party control.

The democrats want to run everything, and the republicans also want to run everything. They will never find a meeting ground on the most important issues, and so they will continue to throw money into what they perceive to be the will of their party. This generally does not coincide with what the American people want. Although some can be convinced that it is in our best interest, the bottom line is, we are headed toward a one party dictatorship.

Once again, the parties are using their scare tactics. To believe that either political party truly wants to fix or change anything is for those who believe in the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. Where there is power, there is a personal agenda. That agenda does not include you and me.