I would like to hear what is politically important to you. Just a list would do, but if you wish to talk about them that's fine too. If you know of any congressman that actively share this goal (i.e. proposed legislation) make note of them. I'm not going to attack your ideas, but present them within the greater scheme that is our modern democracy, a word which will soon be in air-quotes permanently. I just want to get a scope of the young American, whom as a group have absolutely no political power outside of elections. Not to exclude older groups, but I'm pretty sure you're Leno fans, and Congress agrees with you. Ginger oppression is the only topic agreed on by Congress.
For the sake of argument, here are my governmental priorities as of now and short explanations.
1)Jobs
For the past decade, the jobs projections have fell short, and the national deficit has increased. The only opposition to governmental jobs programs is that it would increase the deficit. The only reason I'm interested in reform for health care is if it could reduce Medicare and Medicaid costs, thus easing the burden upon our already gun-burdened state. So if we get costs down in other areas, we can promote jobs for the unemployed. What jobs would we create to fix our growing unemployment lines?
2)Environmental and Energy reforms
American companies always get up in arms about this, instead of taking initiative. As much as people can dream, the oil reserves of the world are depleting to levels where they are no longer cost-effective to well. This includes not clean energies, but also finding ways to make coal cleaner energy. Tucked inside this issue are jobs for new developing sectors, economic recovery by selling our ideas globally and having people at work. Their are other issues such as vehicle dependency, carbon footprints, and efficiency. Being a large nation essentially has made us an inefficient one, but as an innovative nation we should attack that head-on.
2b)Transportation network
Sure, we can't use spokes and hub our nation like Europe does. But there is no reason we can't have a high speed rail between major centers. For example, all of California, KC-St. Louis-Chicago, and Texas's cities with Austin as the hub. This would provide cheaper freight, allow greater movement of people, and keep down emissions from car traffic. The problems exist in our own minds, as the United States is emotionally tied to its cars (Scarily the Chinese seem to be also, as my roommates have three cars to drive the distance I walk every day. They're also unathletic nerds, so that might be why.). This is actually allotted for in the 2010 budget, $5 billion every year for the next five years. Light-rail should not only be found in all major cities (I'm looking at you KC), but be expanding to reach more economic and residential areas.
2c)Upgrade the entire electrical system
I don't know much about this, so I'll defer to others. It is inefficient and certainly fixable, but I doubt we'll care until it breaks down horribly.
3)Education
Every time the economy has faltered, prices have fell to meet the current economic climate, except for two sectors, health care and higher education. However, I don't hear any politicians worried about gouging young people of their spending power before they even have jobs. The economy would be better, and people would save more if they didn't leave college saddled with debt.
There are several hard aggressive fixes, which are unpopular (See DC schools). Tenured senior college professors are vastly overpaid for the work they do. Not all, but some rest on their laurels, teach few classes, and don't do the research and writing that earned them such distinctions. The lower level teachers work harder, but are paid less. Education as a whole from Kindergarten to Doctorate programs is loaded with people who not only are drawing salaries, but not effectively helping our nation by being good teachers.
Thankfully, the ideas of teaching Christian tenets in public schools are no longer an issue (until the next conservative president comes into office). Morality is a personal issue that parents, and churches if that is your prerogative, can and should teach. The moral issue at stake is simple: If we teach our children great qualities (loyalty, honesty, work ethic, kindness), and then the schools teach them to effectively use their talents to such standards, how would the world not get better, without needing government enforced moral codes and welfare programs?
4)Curbing government spending
The biggest drain on spending right now is Iraq and Afghanistan, which we cannot take funds away from as long as we have a single troop on the ground. Eventually we will realize that democracy is not ours to give the world, they must find it themselves. The other drains come from simple sources: old people and overzealous companies. The first we can't do anything about (Gladiator battles with sharp walkers?), eventually Social Security will create a deficit unless we keep hiking taxes on it, especially with fewer people being able to hold jobs. The unemployed masses means less taxes and more people willing to take government help as an option.
Government contracts and high Medicare/Medicaid costs can be corrected, although the Supreme Court just put a kibosh on anyone looking to fight corporate interests. Mainly defense contractors are the perpetrators of the most gross crimes, typically not accomplishing anything and still getting paid.
Other Issues
The other issues I care about are non-issues and subplots. Health care reform driven by the Democrats is a mythical creature that will never be allowed to pass in any effective form. Things such as abortion, gay rights, and other "moral" questions belong in the home, not in Washington. Although, they become issues if limited or attacked as it is an affront to equality and personal liberty (Like the Patriot Act?). Sorry, this became long, because I am a long-winded person.
0 comments:
Post a Comment