To fund the health care bill we should tax thinks like alcohol, soda, sugar, and trans fats. People would buy less of them. We'd have a healthier America and we'd be able to afford universal health care. Thus improving the average American's health in more ways than one.
Everyone knows that when taxes go up on something like Cigarettes, people buy less of them. No junk food is not as bad as Cigarettes, but it is still far and away the most underrated way to damage a person's health in this country.
I'm not saying to make junk food illegal or anything, just create a five-percent tax on it. Similar to smoking, it would discorage more people from doing it, less people would become addicted to it (don't even tell me people aren't addicted to it. Go to San Antonio, Houston or any other southern city and look around at people. That is the road that the US is headed towards if we don't stop ourselves.)
Alcohol isn't the worst thing in the world, but it is dangerous all the same. A five cent tax won't be that bad.
Is this idea politically viable however? Of course not. Obese people across the country would riot (I'm not kidding.) Instead we have to continue to pretend that obesity is a regular human phenomenon (which it is in a few cases but not the vast majority.) We're going to have to tax something (income tax, overall sales tax, or medical benefits tax) sooner or later and would you rather tax things that are bad for us or things that are good for us?
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Is the Stimulus Working?
Republicans complained when the stimulus bill was passed that most of new jobs would be created next year and not this year. Now they're complaining that none have been created this year. They're just trying to gain political points by complaining about the state of the economy.
The stimulus jobs will mostly start to roll in by the end of this year and into next year. They're right on schedule.
[for those of you who don't read economists predictions- the worst of the unemployment rate will occur next year. Just in time for the stimulus to fix the situation.]
The stimulus jobs will mostly start to roll in by the end of this year and into next year. They're right on schedule.
[for those of you who don't read economists predictions- the worst of the unemployment rate will occur next year. Just in time for the stimulus to fix the situation.]
The Bailouts Saved Us All
All across America it's the cool thing to do to complain about the bank and auto bailouts. This is one of those times that I'm happy that politicians are more educated than the average American.
You ask the average American on the street why did we bailout the banks and they'd have no clue. Most issues like opponents of ideas can at least acknowledge that what the other side believes isn't totally crazy. For example Democrats can at least say that they don't want higher taxes and most republicans want affordable health care. Even though the two parties believe that either low taxes or affordable health care is more important than the other, they are able to understand both points of view.
I bet you that most Americans have no physical idea why we bailed out the banks. It takes a certain knowledge of finance to understand it. I believe if more Americans understood that all of the credit in our entire country is based out of large banks, then they would understand why we need to save them. The whole economy is based on credit. Without credit, there would be no more home loans or business loans. Anyone who understands anything about business knows that without business loans- we fall into a far worse depression than the Great Depression. Fortunately enough for America, the republicans and democrats were able to work bipartisan to bailout the banks. 700 Billion dollars is well worth the price of avoiding a depression (just ask your grandparents.)
I think at the end of the day most people couldn't stand the irony of saving the people who destroyed us. I understand that powerful sentiment. Unfortunately the people who ruined the economy are also the people we need to save it. Anyone out there who thinks that a modern country can survive without banks is just plain stupid and doesn't understand the most basic economics.
The auto bailouts weren't as necessary for our survival, but they were important to do. If they didn't occur then over one million more people across the country would become unemployed during a recession. A 30 Billion dollar auto bailout is simple way to keep over a million auto employees and there families from living on the streets.
You ask the average American on the street why did we bailout the banks and they'd have no clue. Most issues like opponents of ideas can at least acknowledge that what the other side believes isn't totally crazy. For example Democrats can at least say that they don't want higher taxes and most republicans want affordable health care. Even though the two parties believe that either low taxes or affordable health care is more important than the other, they are able to understand both points of view.
I bet you that most Americans have no physical idea why we bailed out the banks. It takes a certain knowledge of finance to understand it. I believe if more Americans understood that all of the credit in our entire country is based out of large banks, then they would understand why we need to save them. The whole economy is based on credit. Without credit, there would be no more home loans or business loans. Anyone who understands anything about business knows that without business loans- we fall into a far worse depression than the Great Depression. Fortunately enough for America, the republicans and democrats were able to work bipartisan to bailout the banks. 700 Billion dollars is well worth the price of avoiding a depression (just ask your grandparents.)
I think at the end of the day most people couldn't stand the irony of saving the people who destroyed us. I understand that powerful sentiment. Unfortunately the people who ruined the economy are also the people we need to save it. Anyone out there who thinks that a modern country can survive without banks is just plain stupid and doesn't understand the most basic economics.
The auto bailouts weren't as necessary for our survival, but they were important to do. If they didn't occur then over one million more people across the country would become unemployed during a recession. A 30 Billion dollar auto bailout is simple way to keep over a million auto employees and there families from living on the streets.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Universal Healthcare
I don't understand why people vote for a presidential candidate in an election to pass universal health care and then get mad when he tries to pass it through Congress. The same thing happened with Bill Clinton. Though Obama's approval ratings are probably going down because of the economy rather than health care.
The health care bill costs WAY less money than Bush's 1.5 trillion dollar tax cuts for the wealthy. It would be absurd if this doesn't pass. It would be all the Democrat's fault too because we don't even need any Republican votes to pass it.
I completely understand though what the blue dog democrats are trying to do to the bill. They are just trying to just cut the waste out, which is good. I'm happy that they are slowing it down. Of course there is more waste that needs to cleaned out. For example in the current bill, the government subsidizes families with incomes up to $80,000. The Blue Dog Democrats just want to bring that number down to about $60,000. There's also just a few other things like that that people want straightened out.
Do you really want them to rush it? This is going to be a huge piece of legislation and I wouldn't want them to do a sloppy job on it. At the end of the day, I don't see any way it doesn't pass though.
The health care bill costs WAY less money than Bush's 1.5 trillion dollar tax cuts for the wealthy. It would be absurd if this doesn't pass. It would be all the Democrat's fault too because we don't even need any Republican votes to pass it.
I completely understand though what the blue dog democrats are trying to do to the bill. They are just trying to just cut the waste out, which is good. I'm happy that they are slowing it down. Of course there is more waste that needs to cleaned out. For example in the current bill, the government subsidizes families with incomes up to $80,000. The Blue Dog Democrats just want to bring that number down to about $60,000. There's also just a few other things like that that people want straightened out.
Do you really want them to rush it? This is going to be a huge piece of legislation and I wouldn't want them to do a sloppy job on it. At the end of the day, I don't see any way it doesn't pass though.
Hoping Palin Succeeds
As a liberal, I desperately wish for Sarah Palin to succeed within in the Republican party. I don't know if this is possible, but I can only hope that she becomes the nominee for president in 2012. That would be what you would call an automatic re-election for President Obama.
It's not that I'm worried about Mitt Romney because I think he would be a weaker candidate than McCain. At least Mitt Romney is a serious candidate and knows what he's talking about. He might be a complete elitist but at least most people respect Romney and would pose at least some challenge to Obama in 2012.
If Palin can start off with wins in Iowa and South Carolina then she maybe she could beat Romney. That would be the greatest birthday present that I could ever wish for.
Politically speaking, I think her move to quit the governorship isn't as bad as a lot of people are saying. In today's modern political landscape, it is very hard to run for president while acting as a governor at the same time. She has a book tour coming up and she needs time to promote it (similar to Obama's campaign path.)
Her quitting might be big news today, but in a few years she might be able to make people forget. Remember, Americans have short memories.
It's not that I'm worried about Mitt Romney because I think he would be a weaker candidate than McCain. At least Mitt Romney is a serious candidate and knows what he's talking about. He might be a complete elitist but at least most people respect Romney and would pose at least some challenge to Obama in 2012.
If Palin can start off with wins in Iowa and South Carolina then she maybe she could beat Romney. That would be the greatest birthday present that I could ever wish for.
Politically speaking, I think her move to quit the governorship isn't as bad as a lot of people are saying. In today's modern political landscape, it is very hard to run for president while acting as a governor at the same time. She has a book tour coming up and she needs time to promote it (similar to Obama's campaign path.)
Her quitting might be big news today, but in a few years she might be able to make people forget. Remember, Americans have short memories.
Sonia Sotomayor
I'm relieved that Sonia Sotomayor is going to pass through the Senate easily. When she was first nominated to the Supreme court, I was worried that she would scare off too many people. Her confirmation hearing went fine however.
I thought that she was an excellent choice by Obama because if the Republicans attack her to much then people will continue to perceive the Republicans as the white male party. I understand that this makes it unfair for republicans, but that's politics and image is everything. I hope Republicans attack her as hard as they can because then Texas will slowly become a swing state as Hispanics become the majority
I could care less about what happens with the supreme court because I don't really care about the social issues. Most of the hot button social issues never really seem to change. Usually state courts are where stuff like gay marriage or gun laws are decided.
Think about it. Over the past 30 years the supreme court has become much more conservative but it never changes THAT many laws. It's funny that many people vote for president just to put liberal or conservative justices on the courts. The House and Senate is where the real legislation is passed.
In summary, I never really care about who's on the court.
I thought that she was an excellent choice by Obama because if the Republicans attack her to much then people will continue to perceive the Republicans as the white male party. I understand that this makes it unfair for republicans, but that's politics and image is everything. I hope Republicans attack her as hard as they can because then Texas will slowly become a swing state as Hispanics become the majority
I could care less about what happens with the supreme court because I don't really care about the social issues. Most of the hot button social issues never really seem to change. Usually state courts are where stuff like gay marriage or gun laws are decided.
Think about it. Over the past 30 years the supreme court has become much more conservative but it never changes THAT many laws. It's funny that many people vote for president just to put liberal or conservative justices on the courts. The House and Senate is where the real legislation is passed.
In summary, I never really care about who's on the court.
2008 Election
As I'm starting this blog, I want to explain my opinions of President Obama. I was hoping that he'd run for president after his 2004 speech at the Democratic national convention. I really expected as soon as he announced his campaign that he'd beat Hillary Clinton. I found it funny how everyone just assumed that Hillary Clinton would automatically become the Democratic nominee. Well I suppose that no one saw JFK coming either.
I was really worried though when the Republicans nominated John McCain because he used to be a moderate. He used to support a cap and trade before he ran for president.
The race seemed to have concluded when two things happened- when Sarah Palin became the VP candidate and the economy tanked.
As the old saying goes people trust Republicans when national security is the #1 concern (2004, 1968) and Democrats when the economy is the concern (1992, 1932.) The recession was obviously the two Bushes and Reagan's fault because they were the ones that deregulated the financially industry and were proud of it too.
Sarah Palin was a real gem of a find for John McCain. She out Qualed Dan Quale on the stupidity barometer. Palin destroyed McCain's argument of experience that he was beginning to build.
At the end of the day, Obama ended the cycle of close presidential elections and won the first presidential landslide in over a decade.
I was really worried though when the Republicans nominated John McCain because he used to be a moderate. He used to support a cap and trade before he ran for president.
The race seemed to have concluded when two things happened- when Sarah Palin became the VP candidate and the economy tanked.
As the old saying goes people trust Republicans when national security is the #1 concern (2004, 1968) and Democrats when the economy is the concern (1992, 1932.) The recession was obviously the two Bushes and Reagan's fault because they were the ones that deregulated the financially industry and were proud of it too.
Sarah Palin was a real gem of a find for John McCain. She out Qualed Dan Quale on the stupidity barometer. Palin destroyed McCain's argument of experience that he was beginning to build.
At the end of the day, Obama ended the cycle of close presidential elections and won the first presidential landslide in over a decade.