This might be one of the most important editorials written in the New York Times this year.
You should read it in it's entirety. And you should note that the authors of this editorial are both from the Brookings Institution...a liberal think tank.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Tax poor to help poor
That is the theory that many liberals believe and it doesn't make much sense, but it is something that occurs more often than you think everyday. The Democratic Congress is trying to get a new expansion of Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This is a program that helps to get children health care for little or no money. This is a good thing...in principle.
The problem is that they are trying to expand the program with money from tobacco taxes. Umm...guess who smokes more...rich people or poor people? You guessed it, poor people smoke more than rich people. So guess what, that health insurance is being paid for by the poor people for their own kids that they couldn't afford to insure in the first place. Sound convoluted? It is. But this is how our government works. It's all about ideals and helping people (and in turn getting re-elected), but never about what the effect of the government "help" will be.
Our politicians seem to lose all sense of logic when they reach their offices. Maybe all of the "global warming" scientists should start to study that phenomenon...
The problem is that they are trying to expand the program with money from tobacco taxes. Umm...guess who smokes more...rich people or poor people? You guessed it, poor people smoke more than rich people. So guess what, that health insurance is being paid for by the poor people for their own kids that they couldn't afford to insure in the first place. Sound convoluted? It is. But this is how our government works. It's all about ideals and helping people (and in turn getting re-elected), but never about what the effect of the government "help" will be.
Our politicians seem to lose all sense of logic when they reach their offices. Maybe all of the "global warming" scientists should start to study that phenomenon...
Global warming causes hurricanes
The "scientific community" continues to engage in "studies" that focus on "global warming" which they are now calling "climate change". This time a new study says that "global warming" is causing all of the hurricanes in recent years.
What they don't tell you is that hurricanes have increased in number and power over the past 100 years. I just cannot buy into the whole "global climate change" thing. As far as I'm concerned the Earth is doing what it wants no matter what we think or do. In other words my SUV isn't having a bit of difference on whether or not a hurricane hits the eastern seaboard or not.
What they don't tell you is that hurricanes have increased in number and power over the past 100 years. I just cannot buy into the whole "global climate change" thing. As far as I'm concerned the Earth is doing what it wants no matter what we think or do. In other words my SUV isn't having a bit of difference on whether or not a hurricane hits the eastern seaboard or not.
You Tube Debates...good or bad?
There has been a lot of talk about the YouTube debates that CNN is putting on for the Democrat and Republican presidential candidates.
Some people say the irreverence of having normal people asking questions as opposed to journalists infused the debate with a new energy and entertained the public. They claim that the more people that are entertained the more people will watch. Point taken...
On the other hand, the argument is that it is beneath the office of President of the USA answering questions from a snowman (as they did during the Dem. debate for a question about global warming).
So now the Republican candidates are reluctant to do the YouTube debate and as far as I'm concerned it is for good reason. I believe it is below the office to answer questions like that. However, I also believe that the idea behind the YouTube debate is a good thing. The candidates should be subjected to questions from the normal people in this country. Most of these men...and women have been insulated from the "real world" for so long they have no idea what is important to the American public. That is why they declare their own agendas like Al Gore did with global warming and John Edwards is trying to with poverty.
As much as I care about taking care of poor people who need our help, sorry, that is not at the top of priorities list. I care more about illegal immigration, the war, Social Security reform, tax reform and a slew of other things that the current politicians won't touch with a ten foot pole due to special interests and lobbyists and the like. I'm getting pretty tired of the inaction and ignorance of the US government.
Some people say the irreverence of having normal people asking questions as opposed to journalists infused the debate with a new energy and entertained the public. They claim that the more people that are entertained the more people will watch. Point taken...
On the other hand, the argument is that it is beneath the office of President of the USA answering questions from a snowman (as they did during the Dem. debate for a question about global warming).
So now the Republican candidates are reluctant to do the YouTube debate and as far as I'm concerned it is for good reason. I believe it is below the office to answer questions like that. However, I also believe that the idea behind the YouTube debate is a good thing. The candidates should be subjected to questions from the normal people in this country. Most of these men...and women have been insulated from the "real world" for so long they have no idea what is important to the American public. That is why they declare their own agendas like Al Gore did with global warming and John Edwards is trying to with poverty.
As much as I care about taking care of poor people who need our help, sorry, that is not at the top of priorities list. I care more about illegal immigration, the war, Social Security reform, tax reform and a slew of other things that the current politicians won't touch with a ten foot pole due to special interests and lobbyists and the like. I'm getting pretty tired of the inaction and ignorance of the US government.
Bush and Brown, new allies
This weekend, the PM of Great Britain visited G-Dubs at Camp David. They spoke about many things and seemed to be getting along well. They are continuing the meeting today. In fact according to the Forbes article I linked to they are going to be having cheeseburgers and fries for lunch in an hour or so.
I am curious to see what comes of the new relationship between the USA and GB that has so often been defined by the leaders of the two countries.
I am curious to see what comes of the new relationship between the USA and GB that has so often been defined by the leaders of the two countries.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
