Last night one of our readers, Sean, posted a comment that I wanted to reply to in detail. However, the story was on SCHIP and the comment and reply are not specific to SCHIP. Instead, it’s a general difference that I have observed about government between Democrats and Republicans. His comment was “Do you really think we can trust our government to run such a program well?”
We have all heard these kind of sentiments. Living in a red state all my life I hear it all the time. Hell, its damn near the state motto. Yet every time I hear someone talk like this it never fails to get me fired up. I’m sure that its not just me, maybe some of you have had the same thoughts. If so I would love to hear about them.
The reason that this kind of attitude bothers me is because it is just a way of accepting failure from the beginning. Why in the hell should we be ok with accepting failure from our Government? Our government is responsible for protecting the health, prosperity, security, and future of our families, children, and loved ones and we’re supposed to be ok with them failing at that?
Failure is what got us 9/11. Failure is why 2 years after Katrina we still are not rebuilt. Failure is why our infant children die at a rate only exceeded by Latvia in the modern world. Failure is why our education system is among the worst in the world. Failure is why our country’s infrastructure is old and failing. Failure is why Billions of Dollars are missing from Iraq. Failure is why we invaded a country without ever taking into consideration what to do with it or how to get out.
Are the Republicans enraged by this incomprehensibly inept administration? Well, if they are they shouldn’t be because they are getting exactly what they asked for. When you expect failure you get failure and that is what we have in the White House now, failure. This Republican mentality of defeat is absolutely destroying this country.
Instead of saying “Do you really think we can trust our government to run such a program well” we need to say they better run it well or we will find people who can. Our government works for us, not the other way around. If they can’t get their shit together then they need to be shown the door. This goes for Democrats and Republicans alike. It is way past time for us to demand success and excellence, our children’s lives will depend on it.
Remember this on election day and if you’re wanting to know our endorsement we will have a monthly feature breaking down each candidate. I can assure you that the ones who win our support will be capable of success.
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2007-10-19 12:28:18
Your view of the government is one of an all-encompassing and all-powerful entity. You are talking about giving more control over our lives to the government. You basically want cradle to grave health care, and schooling. And I guess you wouldnt stop there. You want the government to provide for food to eat and clothes to wear and tell you what is bad for you and what you cant do and what you can do(smoking is bad, drunk driving is bad, remember to floss your teeth, and oh by the way red meat is bad, and sugar foods are bad too, cant have those). Is this your idea of god on earth or what? I can think of a better model of government because the one I think you are proposing is scary and has too much power. This government can be exceedingly abusive.
2007-10-19 13:10:09
“Your view of the government is one of an all-encompassing and all-powerful entity” No, read it again. My view of government is one that is effective, efficient, and useful. I suppose the right wingers will have problems with that but I am tired of dealing with the effects of their view on government.
2007-10-19 13:25:26
I didn’t get any of those things from William’s post. Of course, I know him so I know that what you are saying is the farthest from what he advocates.
I find it amusing that you take his criticism of your, and others’, view of government and make up something completely out of the air to criticize him for.
You’re making “guess(es)” about what William wants that have no grounding in reality. What I think would be a better contribution to this conversation is to address what he is saying about your views. Do you agree with his take on them? Do you think it is positive to seem to automatically believe government will fail?
I apologize if this is written strangely. I have a slight eye injury and it’s difficult for me to read.
Thanks,
Summer
2007-10-19 15:38:32
I appologize for overstating your viewpoint on government solutions for healthcare and education. I put up a quick post of my philosophy and what I intrepreted as yours. So I must have got it wrong in my haste. I will do some reading on the subject and put together some constructive ideas on SCHIP and other similar topics like education. Wow! Our first fight! And it was going so well up until now. ha ha.
2007-10-19 16:44:02
I look forward to reading your thoughts in SCHIP, and I strongly recommend that everyone reads up on it. Its a great program with a long successful track record. I would be more interested in hearing your thoughts on how our low expectations from our government has led to where we are now.
2007-10-19 16:11:17
US Governments only responsibility is to protect our liberties and theyre failing at that.
2007-10-19 16:54:10
Davy; protecting our liberties is by far the governments most important responsibility, but not its only responsibility. Thanks for the comment, your always welcome here. BTW, Ron Paul is my favorite candidate after my Democrats so good luck.
2007-10-21 17:08:28
Nina Owcharenko, a senior policy analyst with the health policy division of the Heritage foundation, explains that the democrat controlled congress, was attempting to expand the scope and cost of the SCHIP bill. She summarizes the SCHIP expansion as creating a new middle class entitlement, where even a family of four earning $62,000 a year would qualify. She states that 77% of the children in the expansion already have private coverage; Half of those children would be pushed into this program. The cost would be 35 billion dollars.
The Heritage Foundation after studying the issue, proposes a straight SCHIP reauthorization, meaning no costly expansion. Also, Heritage recommends creating a tax credit for children’s health care. They estimate that 1.3 million children will get health coverage as a result. While 9 million will keep existing coverage.