Midterm Election 2010

The upcoming election and all of the buzz surrounding it are causing me to wonder...if the majority switches over to the Republican party will the people that are so supportive now still be supportive two more years down the road? Will the support vanish when people discover that it does take time to make any real progress? Where will we be then...certainly no further ahead than we are now in anything but years.
It is easy to campaign on promises but it is much harder to deliver on them. I think that President Obama is finding that out for himself right now.  Sadly, it has almost become an acceptable rule in the U.S. that campaign promises are made to be broken, people now expect it.
It does takes time to deliver on big promises and President Obama told us that at the time of his election. I find it disheartening that the same people that were so supportive two years ago are now backing away from the President, even Democratic candidates are trying to distance themselves. Why? I am a strong believer in finishing the job that was started. Don't run away like a coward just because it looks like everyone else is going to. It took so long to get here. If there are flaws in the laws and policies they can be fixed. Why throw them out and start over? President Obama has demonstrated to us time and again that he is willing to fix mistakes that he makes. We are all human and we all make mistakes. We have to be able to get past them and on to the next thing.
Regardless of how the midterm election goes I am hopeful that a new Congress will be able to work with President Obama and get on with business. Maybe some new thoughts and ideas will be a good thing. I hope that the candidates that are promising to act independently from the leadership truly do so. I am reassured knowing that we have a system of checks and balances that keeps people of one extreme from going to far. Who knows, maybe they will be forced into working together without so much of the partisan bickering that our lawmakers are famous for! If there is any politician that can get people to work together I believe President Obama can.

Bipartisan Governing

Bipartisan governing has a great history in the U.S. dating all the way back to our founding fathers. In fact, many would argue that the further back in history you go the less partisan the politicking would be. If in the beginning we were as divided as we are now the United States would probably not exist as we know it. 
Many great leaders before us brought their rivals into office to work with them. Take Abraham Lincoln for example; he brought many of his political opponents into his cabinet and as a result he is seen as one of the United States’ greatest presidents. In recent history President Obama was inspired by Lincoln to do the same, taking in two of his Democratic opponents and a Republican Congressman, and even keeping on Defense Secretary Robert Gates from the previous administration. It is inspiring to see a current leader welcoming people in with views and opinions different from his own.
Amazing things can be accomplished when people of opposite opinions agree to work together towards a common goal. If you really get down to it most of us have the same desires, wants, and needs; it is just getting to the point of setting aside a few of the minor details and reaching a mutual consensus. I believe that bringing in others’ ideas enhances the process and breaths new life into old ideas. If two people agree all the time it would be easy to get things done but if you had two or more people that had different ideas and had to work out a compromise the end result would be much more satisfying to many more people.
I feel that the way that the political atmosphere has become the politicians are more worried about how they are going to keep their jobs than in stepping out from the pack and trying to get things done for their constituents. Term limits look to me like an idea worthy of more exploration to head off this problem. If there were term limits Congress could focus more on getting things done and less on looking over their shoulder trying to get re-elected. I am sure that I am not the only one out there that is disgusted with the amount of time, energy, and money that is poured into campaigns for public office. If only there were that same enthusiasm and energy put into getting real, meaningful things done!
I do believe that political parties have a place but as a general guideline politicians and constituents need to try to be a little less biased and visualize themselves in the other side’s shoes. If someone has a certain view they should take a hard look at it and see if it really does make sense. I believe that you should always try to do what is right and just, no matter if it is something that you believe in or you yourself would do. Only when the partisan bickering stops will this country truly be able to go forward and get things done for the people again. Looking back at some of the bright spots in history like the 1787 Constitutional Convention and in more recent history the 1964 Civil Rights Act gives me hope that we can again return to the type of non partisan negotiations that made those moments so great. It is up to us, the people, to tell Congress what we want and force the real change that is necessary so that we can get back to a less divided and more bipartisan way of governing.

and the Rent Is Too Damn High!

Does anyone else think that the governors race in New York State has become a joke? While last night's debate was at times hilarious, I kept having to remind myself that I wasn't watching John Stewart or Glenn Beck, this wasn't a comedy show and that these people were actually running for Governor of New York State!
The minor parties are always crying foul, and maybe justly so, if they are not invited to a debate, but when they were invited most of them acted like circus performers! Come on do they really think that anyone will take them seriously? Maybe it is just a few of them ruining it for all but even so, I would have gotten up and walked out rather than take part in such hoopla. It is extremely obscene to act like an absolute idiot when campaigning for a public job especially in the face of the economic disaster that New York in particular faces! As a New Yorker I am horrified and disgusted that this debate, if you can call it that, even took place. I feel insulted by the way these people have made a mockery out of a very serious situation.
This really leaves me wondering who I am going to vote for. It has become a situation of trying to pick the best of the worst. The way New York has become in the past few years with what happened with Spitzer (among other things) has really left me very disappointed . Why can't we get any really good candidates; people that are in it not as a career, but for the good of the people of New York State? Has the system become so complicated that good people are afraid to run? What is it going to take to fix this?
You can watch the full debate here: http://buffalo.ynn.com/content/top_stories/520896/live-stream--gubernatorial-debate/

GOP "Pledge to America"-Is this Progress?

Of all the political banter and attacks that I have heard the "Pledge to America" is one of the worst. This "pledge" is nothing more that the GOP playing on the fears of Americans. It is a smoke screen that once cleared away reveals that there is nothing substantial behind it. There are a lot of promises with no solid plans to back them up. It seems to me that if you are going to make a promise that you should have a plan in place to make it happen. Take for example the GOP's promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act. They promise that they will replace the current law with a new one that includes making it legal to buy insurance across state lines, no caps on lifetime care, and among many other things, no dropping a person for a preexisting condition. Do they even know what is in the current law? These things are already included! The GOP couldn't be nonpartisan during the creation of the Affordable Care Act but now they want to come in and repeal it and pass their own version that is basically the same thing with a different name and call it progress! I call that a royal waste of time!
Another thing, they promise is to cut government spending, which sounds good, but it is a proven fact that if you cut government spending in a downturn it makes things worse for the economy. It is not simply a case of treating the economy like your family budget, it is much more complicated than that. If as individuals, we know that we are making less, we cut back.  If the government cuts spending and we as individuals cut spending, who is left to provide the demand to get the economy going again? Think of the economy as a mirror image of a family budget. It is a simple supply and demand equation. If there is no demand, there is no spending and the economy flat-lines or goes deeper into recession.
End TARP once and for all? That was their previous GREAT LEADER, President Bush's, idea! Why is it that people forget so fast? President Bush enacted TARP into law October 3rd 2008, before the election! Are they admitting that they made a mistake? Please give credit where credit is due.
A smaller, more organized government would be great, but a more organized government that has the power and will to get things done is even better. I don't really care what side you are on as long as things can get done without backpedaling and wasting time. I think that the majority of Americans think the same way. There are many things that the average Green Party, Tea Party, Democrat, Republican,  or Independent can agree on. It is up to the politicians to get together and ignore party lines and get stuff done!

The Affordable Care Act Explained

There has been a lot of concern over how the Affordable Care Act that was passed recently would affect us. There have been many rumors and misconceptions flying about so I thought that I would do a little research and try to respond to the concerns. You can also verify the facts by reading the bill yourself or by going to www.HealthCare.gov . This site is also the central data base that can be used to find insurance that fits your needs. You can shop for both public and private insurance on this site.
One of the many rumors out there is that you will be forced to buy insurance that you can’t afford, possibly bankrupting your family to get coverage, when in fact the Affordable Care Act will make insurance more affordable to everyone. There are tax credits and even hardship waivers for those who can’t afford to buy insurance. This ensures that everyone has access and can get the care they need. It also reduces what they call the “hidden tax.” That is the extra cost that people buying insurance coverage pay now to cover the cost of those without coverage. In our current system this is one of the issues that is driving the prices perpetually higher.
I have also heard it said many times that the new law will make businesses less competitive by raising costs, when in fact according to the independent CBO (Congressional Budget Office) the bill will lower premiums for the existing plans by about 4 percent for the smaller businesses and 3 percent for the larger ones. The bill will ultimately save about $3000 per person in health care costs.
Another myth is that the small business credits won’t do anything to provide relief for businesses. Again, this is wrong. Small businesses will receive $40 billion in new tax credits to help cover the costs of providing coverage to their employees. This credit is structured to support both the businesses that provide coverage now and the ones that decide to offer coverage in the future. This tax credit is substantial, amounting to 35 percent of the premiums that a business pays to provide coverage. This tax credit is effective immediately and as of 2014 will increase to 50 percent. There are about 4 million businesses that are eligible for this credit.
 I have also heard it said a lot that the health insurance bill is already increasing health insurance premiums. This is definitely not true! The insurance companies are using this as an opportunity and excuse to raise your premiums. It is just a ploy to continue to rake in profits and try to weaken support for the bill. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that many health insurance companies were using this bill as an excuse for premium increases that were already in the works long before the bill was passed. At least one insurance company had to issue a letter clarifying the reasons for the premium increase after the article was published.
It is a well know fact that insurance premiums have almost doubled since 2000 and this of course can be proven to have absolutely nothing to do with the legislation; unless of course you are a psychic and predicted that the bill would pass ahead of time (and maybe there are some out there). I think that Congress did its job and passed a comprehensive bill that protects individuals from for-profit business. Overall, people are scared of the changes that many of you wanted; that is understandable, but realize please that change can be a good thing. We still have three years to work the kinks out of this bill. There is no “perfect” health insurance solution, but I for one am pleased to see that we are finally making progress on this major issue. I rest at ease knowing that my kids will grow up healthier because we are in charge of our own health insurance, not the insurance companies. There are certain things that should not be for profit and I believe that our health is one of them.

Some Thoughts on Welfare Programs and the Middle-Class

I ask myself why our system is set up in a way that penalizes those of us that work hard, and rewards those of us that do the bare minimum. Why is it that the richest among us get richer, while the rest of us tread water to stay afloat? Getting health insurance and other state benefits would be a breeze if we would just stop working and apply for state assistance. I have actually had people tell me that a state caseworker has told them to take some unpaid time off to bring them to with-in the income guidelines! This is not an isolated incident; I have heard many people say that they have gotten the same advice. This advise is, of course, “off the record".
Off the record or not, this is a persistent and serious problem. The middle class is constantly bombarded with this type of issue. When kids go off to college, they are left wondering how they are going to pay for it. Again, there is a gap between those of us that get full funding and those that get nothing at all. It is this gap between the poorest and the richest that many of us fall into and can’t get out of without going backwards. It is an "all or nothing" system.
Many of the poorest people stay poor because they are content “playing” the system, while the middle class is stuck because they make too much to qualify for benefits that might help them get ahead. Of course if you were born into money you would be set because it is true what they say, “it takes money to make money.”
Don’t take me wrong, there are poor people out there that truly need the help that our welfare system provides in its current state and that don’t abuse the system but there are many on state assistance who go around bragging about how they get all this help and don’t have to do anything. Many of these same people are buying “toys” like snowmobiles and ATVs, all while drinking, doing drugs, and smoking a pack or two of cigarettes a day. I was recently behind this guy in a convenience store that literally bought them out of his brand of cigarettes. While cashing out he said, while laughing, that he should get a discount for buying so often. After he left the store the cashier muttered under her breath that she couldn’t believe that he asked for a discount on cigarettes when he was spending food stamps in the store every day!
It is people such as that that give the welfare system a bad name. We need to figure out a way to discourage this type of person from staying perpetually in the system. We need to revise the system to provide incentives to move forward, not backward and that rewards those of us that work hard everyday to stay off the system. We need incentives and encouragement for those of us that take a leap and start a business; maybe offer more grants to get started. Of course, a grant shouldn’t be offered unless there is a solid business plan in place and the entrepreneur has invested their own time and money into the venture.
Maybe the welfare system should be set up so that benefits go out in the form of a loan, rather than as a free “no obligation” benefit. If there was a commitment to pay all or even part of it back once you got back on your feet, maybe there would not be “career” welfare recipients dragging the rest of us backwards.
Another idea, maybe have a prorated benefit system so that if a family needs just a little help they can get it. On the other extreme, some of societies richest have found admirable ways to spend their money on charity and for the good of society such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Bill Gates started The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Warren Buffett donated almost 40 billion dollars to the foundation. "I don't believe in dynastic wealth", Warren Buffett once said, calling those who grow up in wealthy circumstances "members of the lucky sperm club.” I recently heard an interview with one of his sons where the son stated that his father had never given him any money and he knew better than to ask because it was his father’s belief that his kids should grow up independent of him and make themselves successful of their own accord.
Of course, it is a very small percentage of the wealthy that think in this way. There are many more that try to buy seats in Congress so that they can work on their own agendas, like cutting taxes for the rich, putting more of a burden on middle-class. There are even a few such as Rupert Murdoch that have bought a large percentage of the media sources such as newspapers and TV stations in order to control what news the bulk of people hear.
Our welfare system in the United States has many issues; I think that we can all agree on that. We need to work together, revise the system and make it so that it allows everyone more equal opportunity. I do realize that we will never have a perfect system, but I hope that our system can be changed to better help those of us that are “stuck” in the middle.

National Foreclosure Freeze

As the economic recovery takes hold there are still major problems in the housing market. Everyday people that had been paying their mortgage payments are now finding that they can't because of a job loss. Many more homeowners are just a lost paycheck away from getting behind on their payments. The initial wave of foreclosure was based in part to payments that were adjusted up because of deceptive lending practices and from borrowers not reading (or maybe not understanding) the fine print.
Recently though, there have been allegations that many of the largest banks didn't read the fine print themselves and that mortgage applications were signed in mass quantities to expedite the process! Now there is concern that many of these same banks have filed false affidavits in thousands of foreclosure cases and are foreclosing on homeowners without due process.
Bank of America just became the first bank to institute a nation wide foreclosure freeze while it reviews its procedures. Hopefully, more of the big banks will follow suite and do the same. It seems that it is only fair that they would be bound by the same contracts that the rest of us are. After all, one would expect that they would have known what was in the fine print that they had put there! The U.S. Senate Banking Committee will be holding a hearing looking into the matter on November 16th.