During the recent Healthcare Reform debate, many who opposed the federal legislation referred to their own circumstance as reason for their opposition: They include healthcare insurance among their budgeted items and made sure to provide for adequate coverage. They do not go crying to the federal government for help to meet their healthcare needs. Importantly, they do not see why they should have to pay higher premiums and costs for healthcare services so as to cover those who have little financial means for their own healthcare needs. Further, several opponents to healthcare reform have described most of those who must rely upon the government as slothful, lazy miscreants desirous to take advantage of other people's goodwill!
Their argument has changed as healthcare costs have risen. Particularly, the passage of healthcare reform found the middle class initially in support of the legislation. With the thought in mind that the federal government would lover costs legislation were passed in the medical field, they sympathized with the lower class, until they found out that the government was not really intending to HC lower costs, merely slow down its increases.
Today, there's widespread endorsement of the opponent's claim that the Constitution in no way acknowledges a right of an individual to healthcare services, i.e., does not recognize universal healthcare of the citizenry. Nor may individuals be forced to participate in some healthcare plan for the sake of their own well-being, they aver.
Nevertheless, many opponents contend this is a Christian nation, though no acknowledgement of this proposition exists in legislative documents nor in the Constitution. Citing acts of US charity and philanthropy, e.g., in times of disaster abroad and at time, they argue that the US stands for Christian ideals and precepts. Some cynics counter-argue that the US federal government acts charitably only when it suits them. They contend that there is usually some natural resource the US companies want to tap into that comes into play in considering which country to aid, e.g., natural gas in Haiti; oil in Iraq. And they point to instances where the US has backed away from assisting: the South Sudanese revolt; the Rwanda human travesty.
I think we should become clear to what guiding Christian principle is involved in determining whether or not the United States should be considered a Christian nation. I contend the precept is the Golden Rule: Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.
It seems this precept is motivating in the work of the United Nations. In any case, if adversaries and proponents of Healthcare Reform alike would bring into the debate a desire to make the US into a Christian nation, there could be forthcoming a Christian-based foundation in all areas of US governmental policies, wherein the Golden Rule becomes a guiding light.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Don't fear; the US Military is here!
At a current events discussion group meeting in Santa Barbara last Fall, we discussed the significance of the US debt. Many participants argued that there would be grave consequences reaped upon our children as a result of the debt we are incurring today as a nation; and they expressed fear and hysterical dismay over our continuing to pile up the US deficit.
I encouraged them to direct their attention to the United State Military, which has always stood as a bulwark to protect the country's very existence ever since its founding. Remember, I told them, George Washington was a General!
Personally, I look at the debt situation in the US as a facet of the liabilities appearing on the US financial ledger, but I am reminded that this is only one of two main elements of its balance sheet. I am drawn also to consider the US assets. Now a country's liabilities are its financial obligations--what it owes to itself and to other countries. Its assets I take to be the value of all its properties, including its physical resources such as oil and gas; and its cash. Ascertaining the US assets and liabilities we might then determine the US financial worth.
The current discussion of America's financial picture focuses on the debt issue largely because it has recently ballooned. Certain economists, in an effort to counterbalance the recognized indebtedness of the US, allude to its GNP, the size of the US economy produced by its goods and services as the major indicator of US assets. There are certain problems in using the GNP for this purpose. Firstly, the GNP cannot reference, it seems to me, the value of the manifold properties in minerals, etc. nor estimate the value of goodwill other countries bestow upon the US in an international situation of floating currency. More importanly, the GNP can't contain financial information that might be construed as jeopardizing our international posture and security if made public. Now, the US Military with its tentacles in over 150 foreign countries, prima facie, can't disclose the value of US assets in these countries if already construed as top secret data. Nor could it disclose any financial transactions involving national security and our international military commitments which may be between these countries and the US.
It was rumored at one time that the CIA was actually a profit center for the US in some countries, particularly those in South America. To me it is conceivable not only the CIA but the FBI with its offices worldwide, as well as the US Military are profit centers, servicing countries abroad. I'm not aware of such cases, but if actually happening, any information about such financial dealings would no doubt be filtered before being placed in the public domain.
Be that as it may, the worth of the US states--specifically, whether and when the US might be a debtor nation--is not readily ascertainable, so long as the US maintains its position of leader among nations on the planet earth. The US Military doesn't tell all, for one thing; nor may agencies having to do with national security.
At the conclusion of the session, one of the members summarized, "If we're not privy to all the relevant information, we may never estimate with a high degree of confidence, the US financial condition and its overall financial worth. I raised my hand as a sign of agreement and blurted out, "I'm afraid you're right!"
I encouraged them to direct their attention to the United State Military, which has always stood as a bulwark to protect the country's very existence ever since its founding. Remember, I told them, George Washington was a General!
Personally, I look at the debt situation in the US as a facet of the liabilities appearing on the US financial ledger, but I am reminded that this is only one of two main elements of its balance sheet. I am drawn also to consider the US assets. Now a country's liabilities are its financial obligations--what it owes to itself and to other countries. Its assets I take to be the value of all its properties, including its physical resources such as oil and gas; and its cash. Ascertaining the US assets and liabilities we might then determine the US financial worth.
The current discussion of America's financial picture focuses on the debt issue largely because it has recently ballooned. Certain economists, in an effort to counterbalance the recognized indebtedness of the US, allude to its GNP, the size of the US economy produced by its goods and services as the major indicator of US assets. There are certain problems in using the GNP for this purpose. Firstly, the GNP cannot reference, it seems to me, the value of the manifold properties in minerals, etc. nor estimate the value of goodwill other countries bestow upon the US in an international situation of floating currency. More importanly, the GNP can't contain financial information that might be construed as jeopardizing our international posture and security if made public. Now, the US Military with its tentacles in over 150 foreign countries, prima facie, can't disclose the value of US assets in these countries if already construed as top secret data. Nor could it disclose any financial transactions involving national security and our international military commitments which may be between these countries and the US.
It was rumored at one time that the CIA was actually a profit center for the US in some countries, particularly those in South America. To me it is conceivable not only the CIA but the FBI with its offices worldwide, as well as the US Military are profit centers, servicing countries abroad. I'm not aware of such cases, but if actually happening, any information about such financial dealings would no doubt be filtered before being placed in the public domain.
Be that as it may, the worth of the US states--specifically, whether and when the US might be a debtor nation--is not readily ascertainable, so long as the US maintains its position of leader among nations on the planet earth. The US Military doesn't tell all, for one thing; nor may agencies having to do with national security.
At the conclusion of the session, one of the members summarized, "If we're not privy to all the relevant information, we may never estimate with a high degree of confidence, the US financial condition and its overall financial worth. I raised my hand as a sign of agreement and blurted out, "I'm afraid you're right!"
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