Plans for the future

I have been listening to Al Frankin on radio Air America to catch up with some of the more “left wing” political rhetoric.  Last week Mr. Frankin presented some great ideas for a Democratic Plan for the future.  We keep hearing that the Republicans are off base, but the Democrats have no direction.  I wonder why that might be.  Maybe it is that they just don’t have the nerve to say what they think.  In any case, here are some suggestions that he had concerning what we should be aiming for in the next admistration.

“First insure all kids.”  He is referring to health insurance.  Personally, I disagree with him.  We shouldn’t be insuring kids, we should be eliminating insurance!  Everyone should have excellent, free, health care.  This will eliminate the disparity in health care, take a huge burden off of the shoulders of American businesses (who keep saying that the reason that they can’t compete worldwide is that their health insurance is too expensive.  I say, “Fine, let the government pay for the health care out of tax money.”  This has been shown over and over again to be hugely less expensive than our current plan, will save money for all portions of the economy (except of course the insurance industry), will provide the type of health care that we all believe is appropriate.  Just do it, not just “insurance for kids” but health care for all.
Second, restore fiscal sanity.  Start by repealing the tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans. I am probably in the income bracket that benefits from the tax cuts, but I don’t want the cuts – I want the services from the government that we need , not a cut in my taxes or the taxes of the very rich.  The current approach is just inconceivable, especially in a time of war, problems with health care and problems with education.
Three.  Corruption.  Restore honor and integrity to government.  No outing CIA agents.  Clean up Congress.  Real lobbying reform.  Clean elections – meaning public financing of federal elections.  It will save the American taxpayer billions and billions of dollars a year that get eaten up by special interest tax breaks, earmarks for contributors, and special exemptions from environmental and workplace safety rules.  It’ll save us so much money – get Congress working for us instead of their donors.  Make sure our election results can be trusted.  Meaning a paper trail.
I have no new comments on number three.  It of course makes perfectly good sense – however the corruption is what drives politics and the politicians control the honor and integrity of government.  Fat chance!
Four.  Education.  Really Leave No Child Behind.  Understand that the poorest kids in this country need MORE resources, not less.  Pay teachers more to teach in at risk areas.  Make the best teachers compete to work in at risk neighborhoods.  Don’t make districts rely entirely on their tax base to fund schools.  Lower property taxes, but let’s get serious about education about funding it from general revenues and training the best teachers possible.   

Once again, this sounds right to me.
Five.  Science.  We have to recognize that global climate change exists, and do something about it.  An Apollo program for renewable energy.  Wind, solar, yes, switch grass, ethanol.  Conservation.  Energy independence.  Higher fuel efficiency standards.  Stem cell research.  Adult and embryonic.  Let’s not throw out 400,000 frozen embryos.  Which are made up of about 12 cells.  Let’s use them to find the cure for juvenile diabetes.  For Parkinsons.  For spinal injuries.  MS.
He is of course correct, but actually the list is much longer.  There are some odd things like the need to regulate energy costs and the cost of things like conservation tools, the cost of solar installations, the cost of alternative energy techniques, etc.  We need to further regulate the gas mileage requirements for autos, trucks and other vehicles.  As it is we are in a “what the market will bear” mode on all of these things, not an economy that is based upon supply and demand.  What this means is that large portions of our economy is basically a monopoly, with the providers using all sorts of techniques to prevent a free and open market.  As long as that is the situation, we need to regulate them to make sure we get a fair price and they get enough profits to stay in business.
Six.  Real National Security.  Real port security.  Secure the loose nukes in the former Soviet Union.  WORK WITH OUR ALLIES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL TERRORISM. 
Good idea, we need to work with our global partners, not against them.
Seven.  Stop lying.  Tell the American people the truth.  Especially before leading us into war.
I don’t know if it is especially anything.  I think it is important to not lie to us on everything.  Otherwise we cannot know what to believe or who to trust.  Therefore we can’t know how to make decisions.  Therefore, we cannot vote and express ourselves in a valid way.  Hence, our democracy cannot work.  Honesty and trust are central to the success of our form of government.
Eight.  Fair trade.  Let’s make sure that our trade laws contain labor and environmental standards – so that workers at home and abroad aren’t exploited and the environment isn’t destroyed.
Nine – Pensions.  Make sure that Americans retirements are secure.
I find this list to be a pretty good list of items.  It is a bit short, there are many more things that need to be done, but it gets to some of the key items.  If we could actually accomplish the items on the list we would all be much better off.