Some legislators and citizen groups around the country believe that the Health Care Reform Bill attempts to incrementally remove the rights afforded us in our nation’s constitution. Those rights are clearly defined and rest on our belief in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
For example, the bill says, “Citizens will be required to have acceptable coverage or pay a penalty of $95 in 2014, $325 in 2015, $695 (or up to 2.5 percent of income) in 2016. Families will pay half the amount for children, up to a cap of $2,250 per family. After 2016, penalties are indexed to Consumer Price Index.”
In addition,some are saying if you think that this something you can just decide not to pay, it is important to know that the Health Care Reform Bill allows the government unrestricted and direct access for electronic funds transfer. However, the truth of the matter is provision in the bill provides access for insurers to doctor and other health care providers. Newsweek’s article The Five Biggest Lies in the Health Care Debate dated, Augest 28th 2009 says, ”There is zero provision to include patients in any such system.”

What does it mean to have Health Care rationed? Well for starters, seniors will be interviewed every year for health insurance issues and decisions made on what care they can and cannot receive.

The question, “What is the United States?” continues to baffles people. If you ask, a group of people from different parts of the world to describe the United States you might get a variety of different answers. For example, one might say that the US is a country that manufactures products for sale to other countries around the world. Some would consider US politics and the role it plays at home and aboard as the definitive description of America. While others may want to focus on US military might its size and technology. Some may consider US culture or standard of living as a true definition.

With that said let us look at what we think the US is and is not.

The United States as a manufacturer

The US is a manufacturing nation, right? Yes, we are and we are still the world’s largest manufacturer. The Alliance for American Manufacturing believes that, “Manufacturing in the U.S. generates about $1.6 trillion, or 12 percent of our gross domestic product, accounting for nearly three quarters of the nation’s industrial research and development (R&D), two-thirds of our nation’s total exports of goods and services, and supports more than 20 million high-paying jobs. Manufacturing also ensures we have a strong industrial base to support our national security objectives.”

However, we are not the only big fish in the area of manufacturing. The author of the book, “When China Rules the World states that China, “produces two-thirds of the world’s photocopiers, shoes, toys and microwave ovens; half its DVD players, digital cameras and textiles; one-third of its DVD-ROM drives and desktop computers; and a quarter of its mobiles, television sets, PDA’s and car stereos.”

It may surprise you to learn that Chinese companies, says Fortune Magazine, ”see America as more that a manufacturing center…and have announced plans to build a wind-energy turbine plant and wind farm in Nevada that will create 1,000 American jobs”

For now, the short answer is yes. The US is a country that manufactures products that other countries need and are willing to purchase. With the revenue generated from those sales, some believe the US builds a nation. Not everyone would consider the previous statement to be valid without a qualification, which attempts to address issues concerning policies like NAFTA, CAFTA and GATT. What if, some may say, instead of implementing creative strategies designed to promote increased manufacturing opportunities within the U S we provide redirection efforts to manufacture products elsewhere while at the same time importing gargantuan amounts of manufactured products.

The American Prospect says that the US has lost 42,400 factories. If you are wondering how all of this effects you and I the American Prospect says, “Wal-Mart imported 720,000 containers of sophisticated manufactured products from overseas factories into the United States, followed by Target (435,000 containers), Home Depot (365,300 containers), and K-Mart, which owns Sears (248,600 containers).”

The United States as a Political Power

As part of the United Nations, the US along with 191 other member states all vying for leverage to control and promote their own political agendas. In this environment, the US thrives and with few exceptions manages to overcome most internal obstacles designed to block or alter its plan. In addition, the WTO, WIPO are also organizations sought by countries that play a vital role in how politics are woven into how a country is viewed by others.

The US as a military juggernaut.

Looking back in reverse order Americans were involved in many military activities from helping allies and friends to all out war with other nations. Some of the more resent are Operation Iraqi Freedom, March 19, 2003-Present, Operation Enduring Freedom, October 7, 2001-Present, Kosovo War, in 1999, U.S. Occupation of Haiti 1994, Operation Deliberate Force, the NATO Intervention into Bosnia and U.S. Intervention in Somalia 1992-1994.

It is clear that America will not be bullied.  However, contrary to popular opinion, the US is not the largest military force in the world; the fact is the US is one of the largest military force in terms of number of personnel however; we are second to China and barely edging out India. There are around 2,255,000 active members in China’s army the US has about 1,473,900 and India currently boast 1,414,000. In addition, there is a substantial cost associated with maintaining a large war-time military force on foreign soil. For example, Contemporary Logistics says “a US armored division consumed daily 5,000 tons of ammunition, 555,000 gallons of fuel, 300,000 gallons of water, and 80,000 meals.” Furthermore, the above figures do not include medical, transport or equipment cost.

Some believe it is not necessary for the US to command the largest military force in the world, just the best.

Are we fearful of losing our private health insurance plans? As the  rhetoric between the parties, heats up individual health insurance cost continue to rise.

Politics in Washington may never be the same with both parties deciding to leverage their political ideology by adhering to a policy of voting strict party partisanship. In order for us to understand the debate, we must know what is in the bill. 

As a result, in this article we are providing a short list of bullet points from a well-respected Republican organization next week a well-respected Democratic organization.

The list that follows is provided by www.freerepublic.com they put together a plan English account of the president’s health care proposal or government sponsored medical insurance 101.

• Every person will be issued a National ID Health card.
• All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.
• The “Health care choices Commissioner” will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.
• A government committee will decide what treatment you get (there will be no appeal process).
• Your health care will be rationed.
• Government will consult and instruct regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney etc, mandatory.
• Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them)
• Officers and employees of government health care bureaucracy will have access to All American personal and financial records.

Some believe that “The truth lies somewhere in the middle.” However,  the Health Care Reform bill will undoubtedly undergo significant changes. The truth is government sponsored health insurance may never become law.

Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity are two other conservative professional radio hosts vying for the number one spot. Using TV as a venue O’Reilly and Hannity have access to mainstream America, a path Limbaugh pursued and left behind years ago.
Bill O’reilly’s cable news show The O’Reilly Factor and his radio program The Radio Factor helps to propel him up the political broadcast ladder. His personal philosophy is,” I’m not a political guy in the sense that I embrace an ideology. To this day I’m an independent thinker, an independent voter, I’m a registered independent … there are certain fundamental things that this country was founded upon that I respect and don’t want changed. That separates me from the secularists who want a complete overhaul of how the country is run.” Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.

Sean Hannity has a nationally syndicated radio program which airs throughout the United States on ABC Radio Networks. Various sources purport Hannity signed a $25 million five-year contract extension with ABC Radio.

The prevailing belief is that Sarah Palin will pursuit the presidency of the United States. Although her vice presidential aspirations were dashed while sharing the Republican ticket with John McCain during his 2008 presidential run, she appears to be gearing up for the lead candidate position. After resigning her position as governor of Alaska, some republicans have come to view her as the only viable candidate to challenge Barack Obama for the office in the 2012 election. Well is she? The republican congressional party is in disarray. Their current political strategy based on Nancy Reagan’s mantra of “Just say No” is not providing any new political platforms for members to use as a catalyst to a presidential run.  With no new credible agenda on the horizon, Republicans will unite and focus their attention on core issues such as, smaller government and reducing taxes.  

The only name that continues to attract the interest of republican voters as well as media airtime is Governor Sarah Palin.