1. Healthcare. With our current system, insurance companies are paper pushers who reap 20-30% profits annually (the last CEO of United Healthcare reaped in $1 billion over his ~4 yr term). If we leave it as is, they will continue to manufacture double digit increases each year. As I see it, we have 2 choices: ban for-profit healthcare (did you know most developed nations do NOT allow healthcare to be managed by for-profit co's?) or extend Medicare so that it is Medicare FOR ALL. If you take the time to understand the Affordable Healthcare Act, you'll discover that it includes the things like banning insurance co's from denying care due to pre-existing conditions, offers tax incentives for small businesses so they can provide affordable care to their employees, and mandates that healthcare co's spend at least 80% on healthcare. Reports I have read indicate that it will reduce costs in various ways. Instead of freaking out about it, you should learn how it will benefit you.
2. Financial news. I am sick of the Faux News lies. Every leading indicator I've seen has shown that the US economy is doing better, with lower unemployment & expanding jobs. This country needs fixing--big time--starting with Wall Street. Why aren't those banksters in jail? Who do you think caused the current financial crisis? Why doesn't Congress have the balls to enact legislation banning derivatives and non-business speculation in energy? The answer is that the Congress, the President AND the Supreme Court are controlled by, or at the mercy of, those with the biggest moneybags. I will remind you that, according to our Constitution, the HOUSE introduces all bills dealing with money--not the Senate or President. So, when it comes to spending bills, you must look to the House. If you really are so concerned about the federal deficit, why don't you complain about the fact that Congress just rubber stamped the Dept of Defense budget--without any cuts whatsover. Recall that the US Pentagon spends more than all the countries in the world combined. Couldn't we have cut at least one battleship out of the budget? Read this (from http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Pentagon-F-36-cost-overruns/2012/03/20/id/433286):
WASHINGTON — Future cost overruns on the stealthy new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter built by Lockheed Martin Corp will reduce how many planes the U.S. military will ultimately buy, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley told a Senate committee on Tuesday.
The latest restructuring of the $382 billion program should allow the program to proceed with the "least risk," Donley said a message repeated by the Pentagon's F-35 program manager, chief weapons buyer and the Air Force acquisition chief at a separate House subcommittee hearing.
