Political extremism is “Bad for America”

We have just come through a long and divisive fight over “Health Care”; one, which ended with not a single Republican crossing, party lines. As I wrote in “Health Care in America; ‘The US health care system now equals about 17% of the US economy, With that in mind, there is little reason to wonder why so many people feel so passionately about any possible changes.”
There is always a fear of the unknown, and Americans are right to be exceptionally cautious about ever giving more power to the federal government. When Jefferson, Adams, Paine, Madison, and others joined forces to pen the Constitution of the United States, they stated clearly that the resulting government must be one of “Limited Powers.” It was those very limitations, more than anything else that distinguished our government from any that had come before. It was Jefferson that wrote
"the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people,"
Aside from the philosophical concerns, there are also practical reasons to question the government’s ability to run the U.S. health care system. While it is sort of hard to argue that the government is filled with people that are more corrupt or greedy than those in the private sector; one can make the case that government corruption can become more entrenched and difficult to remove. While, Social Security and Medicare have turned-out to be such popular programs, that there is not a single member of Congress that would “Stand on the floor” and suggest ending them; it is true that these entitlements are eating up an ever large piece of the pie. This leads me to conclude that there were real and rational reasons for intelligent people to object to the health reform bill. The problem I have is with those that demonized both the bill and its supporters, and often based on false assumptions.
It is this “Demonizing” of the opposition, the attitude that those on the other side are not just wrong, but are Evil, that is frightening and dangerous. America is at it’s best when it can stand as a monument to reason and tolerance. To quote from a T-Shirt * “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend your right to say it to my death”
It is this concept that has helped make America great, that has prevented our nation from collapsing into the downward spiral of politically generated division, hatred and violence that one finds in other countries. It is not an accident that in America, neighbors can find them selves on opposite side of any number of issues, yet still remain close friends. This “tolerance” is the direct result of responsible politicians, writers, talk-show hosts, and citizens in general each doing their part to “Turn-down” the rhetoric and actively discourage hate-filled rants, designed to drive a wedge between us.

I must confess that I am frightened by the rising tide of extremism coming from the fringe “Right Wing.” Clearly they do not represent the “Center” or even the “Center- Right” of America; but they do have just enough of a “Populist message” to attract the attention of many Center Right Republicans, and to force the conversation away from civility, and towards an absolute Good VS Evil rhetoric.
No one should act surprised that after 16 months of extreme groups portraying President Obama as the “Anti-Christ”, or a least a “Kenya-born, anti-white socialist” that many would fear him and his administration. The U.S. has always had it’s fair share on nuts railing on about how the government “Faked the moon landing”, has little-green-men stashed away under-ground at area 51, or that Fluoride in our water is a communist plot. What is particularly upsetting is, how at this time, mainstream Republicans are using these fringe groups as a way of throwing “Red-Meat” to their base. I will not even suggest that Democrats are above such tactics; I am only pointing out the inherent danger of giving any legitimacy to radical- armed-to-the-teeth groups. The Michigan Militia group Hutarre is a clear example of on of these groups that all American should fear.
Federal prosecutors who have been watching the Hutarre group for months, say they uncovered the militia members plan to kill a police officer, then days later when hundreds of law enforcement officers came to resulting funeral, they planed to set off homemade bombs killing as many additional officers as possible. It appears their idea was to create some kind of war between the government and the militia groups.
A federal prosecutor on Thursday asked U.S. District Magistrate Judge Donald Scheer to lock up eight members of the Hutaree Christian militia group Calling them a “dark hearted” group with evil intentions.
During a raid on Wednesday at the home of one of the Hutarre members, agents found 16 long guns, six gas masks, thousands of rounds of ammunition and a barbed-wire plaque that read “Remember Waco.”The irony is that I think we all need to “Remember Waco” and the Oklahoma City bombing as clear examples of the destruction that comes out of extremism, and the role that each American, on the left or right plays in keeping this a country where we can disagree without turning the volume so loud; that we spur on violence. Our politicians need to speak out against hate and violence, must do more than just condemn bricks being thrown threw windows of those in the opposition party, they must take an active role in reducing the rhetoric that leads to such actions.

Car insurance is mandated!

As Health care bills bounce from the House to the Senate, understandingly people and groups are concerned how these changes might impact their lives. Such concern is well founded. But it is necessary that there be more light and less heat. It was for that reason that I responded to the below comment.

November 9, 2009 by Jason
Another fantastic straw man from the shameless promoters of universal health care. Here is the premise: It is not unreasonable to have a health care mandate, since it is good for everyone and is no different from auto insurance [which is mandated with penalties for non-compliance].
1. Auto insurance that is mandated by the [state] government(s) is to protect other people, not you. You are required to carry liability insurance to cover damages to other personnel or property, not yourself. Lenders however, require insurance levels, which protect their investment – the car. If you do not want to carry collision insurance for repairs, you buy your car outright and are the only owner. You can also choose the level of coverage, for example towing, rental reimbursement, and roadside assistance.
2. If you do not drive a car, you are not required to carry insurance. Urban dwellers, children, and the elderly who do not drive automobiles are not required to carry automobile insurance of any kind.
3. Most importantly, a health insurance mandate instituted by the federal government is unconstitutional. Auto insurance requirements are at the state level and such decisions are reserved by the state according to the Constitution of the United States. The 10th Amendment of the US Constitution states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

You bring up three very interesting points.
First you are correct, the state does not demand that you buy Physical Damage insurance to cover a loss to your own car, the state just demands that you have coverage for the damage you might do to someone’s person or property.
Secondly you are again correct when you state If you do not drive a car, you are not required to carry insurance. I could point out that if you are an Owner/non-driver, you will need car insurance- but for the most part you are correct.
Your third point that a health insurance mandate instituted by the federal government is unconstitutional, falls under the heading “Unsettled-Law”.The federal Government does pass laws that are national is scope. The simple truth is if a health insurance mandate instituted by the federal government was clearly unconstitutional, we would not see so many people fighting so hard to stop the bill.

How Good Is Our Health Care?

Health Care in America

by Larry Lubell
The US health care system now equals about 17% of the US economy. With that in mind, there is little reason to wonder why so many people feel so passionately about any possible changes.
It appears that the greatest single factor in whether one does, or does not support attempts to change legislation; is whether or not you currently have insurance. The key explanation is that people in the US are for the most part happy with the level of care they receive, creating a chiasm between the “Have’s and the Have not’s.”

This leads to those who are happy with the status quo speaking about the upper-end care available at the finest collection of hospitals in the world. While those “Outside of the system” find themselves waiting in long lines at the E. R. and a times having to make the choice between buying food or paying for meds.
Our system does have it’s strengths; in fact one could easily point to aspects our current structure that single it out as the finest in the world. Clearly there are reasons that people travel to the US for certain procedures, even from countries where, as a citizen of that country, they could receive that care for free. This is particularly true of those who have the financial resources necessary to travel to, and pay for private care in the US. I assume if Mick Jagger wanted dental work done, he would have it done here in America. More>>>

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