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It may sound bizarre but I wonder if all the rhetoric about
our insurance problems as well as many other National concerns
couldn’t be resolved quickly by one or two simple steps.
Health Insurance
If I was given a job that provided lifetime health insurance
at little or no cost to me I wonder how much traction and
momentum I would have in finding a solution that didn’t
directly affect me? What about drug costs? How can the same
pill that the vet prescribes for my dog cost pennies each
while mine is hundreds a year [unless I go over the border]?
If elected officials’ drug and health plans were limited
to the same as those offered to the general public, including
the same deductibles, co-pays, pre-existing conditions etc.
would there be a different clearer fairer sytem out there?
Retirement Pension
If my elected official pension was not a guaranteed lifetime
benefit, but instead I was only covered by Social Security
and my own personal savings would I be more inclined to find
solutions for the pending Social Security crunch? It seems
to me that with more retired receiving benefits than working
paying into the system as the baby boomers reach retirement
age there may be a problem?
Define Representative
If I was paid by the hours actually worked, or dunned for
the votes and debates I did not take part in during my term
of office would I be a better functioning elected official?
Does the word salary not imply a minimum number of hours worked
while government is in session?
continued below -
Tax Reform
If elected officials were mandated to do their own tax returns
would the tax system be simplified?
Popular
Elections
If a true popular vote was held based on residents by existing
zip codes would the political scene reflect the will of the
people without the gerrymandering of districts etc. that is
so prevalent today? Where does one man, one vote compare in
terms of super delegates or even the electoral college?[Try
explaining that one to a foreigner]
Would a national computerized popular vote system allow candidates
to reduce their obscene election and reelection expenses? With
all the emphasis on getting new computerized vote recording
devises, have we lost sight of the need to get the populace
to actually vote? Would a reduction in those millions now being
spent to get elected or reelected better benefit the general
public? Would the recipients of the election funds be less persuaded
by lobbyists who are better funded than others? Do you really
believe that political contributions have no effect on their
official behavior?
Could we ever get an election option labeled “none of
the above” until acceptable candidates received the majority
of votes from their District? Would more people vote if they
had a “none of the above” option?
Could failure to vote be established as a punishable offense?
Some countries do this! Take away the personal deduction or
add a percentage on the tax paid for the following year “if
you don’t care enough to vote you shouldn’t mind
paying a little extra”. Wouldn’t it be nice to know
that a real majority of the nation , not just a mere 25 or 30
% of the nation or state or local region wanted the candidate
to serve! I don’t think that a real majority Presidential
candidate has ever served in my lifetime.
What happened to the “term limitation” lobby? Wouldn’t
that dovetail nicely with a “none of the above”
option but should the seated person remains seated until replaced
by a real majority candidate? No elected representative, no
representation. Would that get the vote out?
Yet when it comes down to the bottom line, this is my country
and yours and if you have traveled abroad you know that despite
is many obvious faults and flaws it still beats out any other
that I have seen!
Donald J Hester
Percy Hoek, Inc.
PO Box 387
Sayville, NY 11782
Phone 631-589-4100
Fax 631-589-4182
Don@percyhoek.com
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