Quote:
Originally Posted by Beemnseven
Polls suggest that somewhere between 65-70% of the American people believe there should be a nationalized health care in some form.
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Yes, and for a good reason too. Health care in this country is very expensive and for what? It's certainly not because we have the best health care, especially when
compared with developed nations that do have national health care. Yes, we have the best doctors in the world but not everyone can afford them. Certainly not your average Joe. Anyone who has health problem in this nation will most certainly go into a
financial hole. Someone declaring
bankruptcy because they can't cover their health care costs doesn't sound right to me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beemnseven
-- Bush's call for the privatization of a portion of everyone's Social Security in an investment account went absolutely nowhere. Most Americans want the government to handle their retirement account. I find that unbelievable.
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Social Security is a safety net not an investment program. There is a reason why as you get older you move your money to safer investments. This money is primarily intended for the old and disabled. It is intended for those who have the least and those can not generate (livable) income. If you want to privatize social security, why not get rid of it all together? I mean, you might as well have people manage their own funds. Of course there are issues like what happens to your employer's SS match? I'm sorry but privatization is not the answer. The gap between the haves and havenots will only grow.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beemnseven
-- An apparent zeal from the American public to call for price controls or taxes on "windfall profits" from oil companies. When the People think it's just fine and dandy for someone to be called in front of Congress to answer for their profits, that's pretty scary -- and very socialistic.
Since the Republicans are in the business of getting elected, it's hard for them to hold true to their conservative-libertarian philosophies (assuming they ever truly existed in the GOP) when the people are leaning the way they are. So now, they are forced to follow suit.
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What's wrong with price control, or rather examining excessive profits? The United States successfully utilize price and wage
control during war time. Left to their own devices corporations will seek to maximize profits at the expense of consumers and the competition. For that reason there are valid economic motivation for outlawing cartels and monopolies. It's simply isn't good for the economy in the long run. Looking at the profits generated by the oil companies, it pretty clear they are taking advantage of the public.
Finlay, the role of the government is to administrate the nation's affairs, this includes looking out for the people first and foremost.