Well the Democratic Primary is behind us here in Massachusetts. There were some successors and some failures, my own attempt to secure a position in the State committee met with an unkind fate as the candidate from the largest voting block in the district rolled up a lead that proved impossible to overcome. But the real reason I am commenting today is on the Presidential results. I have tried to remain neutral, not out of dislike of any candidate, no I like them all. I think the real reason isI am being swallowed up by the fear of repeating 04 where we felt certain the country was ready for change and John Kerry was that change and we would sweep into office on the slogan anyone but Bush. Unfortunately we know all to well how that went.
So what did Feb 5 do or not do for us well it left both frontrunners relatively intact but certainly poorer. It left the future uncertain as to who will carry the mantel forward for us and hopefully win in November. It certainly lends credibility to my feeling this last month that McCain / Huckabee is coming at us like a freight train in a long tunnel and that scares me. To many of us seem to be walking the tracks with our heads down and not focusing on the fact that we are in a tunnel and sharing the space with Trains one behind us pushing but one in front stalking us down. We may have some indication in this game of Chicken on who has the stronger case to proceed, in the fact, that we have seen record turn out in most if not all Democratic contests far exceeding the Republican turn out thus far. Yet I have a concern (ok so you knew that was coming) first that the extended race will burn people out we are already seeing this to a small extent, second money. The leading candidates have burned through very impressive war chests in the hope of success but where does that put the well. I think very shallow with the possibility of leaving us cash strapped going into a final election against the party that has never been short funds.
A Republican Party and administration, which in my opinion is going to react like a wounded animal cornered. Willing to pull out all the stops. Lets look at what we know, how about Vice President Chaney’s secret Energy meetings, how about the lying at all levels of the administration about what really led to IRAQ, how about the AG’s office, now lets throw in some of the signing statements on Bills, failure of no child left behind, and a host of other issues I could spend days listing. You know them and I know them so let me save the space. Are any of these issues that charges could follow? I think so as a matter of fact I am sure they do, and trust me they do as well, so are we facing a fight in November count on it. A dirty fight, count on it. An expensive fight yes I am sure of it.
Now I have lead you down this path, your saying ok get on with it, what is the solution.
Well it is a solution that 50% will say your wrong, your crazy your no longer a friend of mine over and some will say your right, keep saying it, make it happen. Yet I think if you take a step back put your heart in your chest not on your sleeve and think about the future not just of today you may, just may, see some logic. I think it is time for Hillary Clinton to take a step back and here are my reasons. First Money she has had to loan her campaign 5 Million in January. Now not a huge sum but significant all the same and at a point when she was thought to be the front runner and poised to throw a knock out on Feb 5, which she did not. This is not a good sign of things to come, She will have to step up fundraising mkeing the corporate interests we want out of washington all that more entrenched. Next she did fail to hold off the charge by Obama although she won key states and held the women’s vote certainly a credit to women who far to often have been a bane to Democratic Politics because they are not consistent in there support. My last reason is Bill lets face it many of us especially me have said time and time again I would support him for President again, I came to the realization that I said that so freely because I knew it could never happen, so I was safe saying it. True the baggage is Bill's not Hillary’s yet it is clearly guilt by association (Think Goore 2000) but all the same he will be come a target as will she and we will have to fight the old fight again and the new fight of defending her record as well. The Republicans are drooling about the very thought of pulling out and dusting off the playbook Labeled Clinton and trotting out what they never got the chance to use against Bill, here you go another shot. Those are the negatives how about the flip side of the coin. I talked about the high turnouts, look who is contributing to these records. Young people and minorities are voting in record numbers. As democrats we ask, hope, and we pray, election after election, for this group to show up, because we know they are critical to our base. Well Barack Obama has struck a nerve with this crowd just the way Democrats were attracting this group back in the 60’s. I can’t tell you how many groups I heard about of young Democrats who ruled local Politics in the 60’s, All as a result of a champion who touched them and empowered them to step forward and take a chance and follow and lead. At 51 years old I now realize the true meaning of the movement of Jack, Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King and how they motivated the young to join with them to make meaning full change and lets admit it if not for the real evils of our society cheating us out of that full potential wouldn’t the last 20 so years have been different. Unless you’re lying to yourself I see a vastly different world if Jack had served 8 years and LBJ 8 and Bobby 8 (1984) wow wouldn’t we have had the opportunity to change the world.
While your day dreaming as I have about those possibilities think about the generation that has rallied to Barack and the message they are sending us. They want the same chance as we did 40 years ago. We missed it because we could not, would not, believe it could be snatched away so easily. No I say to Hillary step aside lets give the kids a chance and lets work hard to make there dreams come true. Face it we thought we were right, and just, and deserving in the 60's so do they today it is their time. It is ours to make sure they get to see it fulfilled unlike ours. Yes I have changed, a week ago I wanted to see us break through another glass ceiling for my wife and my daughter, you know what, electing Barack can do that for them and so much more.
As usual just my opinions
But before you think I am nuts look deep and then tell me what you think
Ed Quinn
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Thursday, November 1, 2007
40B ??? No more American Dream just Drone Bee Hives
I have been a strong advocate against 40B development and will continue to be one. Yet there are some issues overlooked in the discussion that I think bare raising.
First of all 40B is the only pro-housing development program that the state has in place not a sound economic policy in my opinion because of 2 things
First it by it's legislation assures a developer a 20% return on his investment show me where you and I can get 20% on any investment including the Stock market we are more likely to get 3-5% seems like a policy that rewards the rich and takes from the working families to me
Second and I think just as important is the concern with 40B eating into and eating up the single family home stock in and around Boston. We wonder why home prices are so high. Lets look at this in an economics 101 manner. if you have 1000 single family houses for sale and 10,000 families looking to buy one the price will go up as the competition bids for one of these homes. Now a 40B comes in and creates 300 apartments ( not condos or town houses) and in so going buys up the land of 100 of the single family homes in order to build. We have now brought 300 new renters into the area who will soon join the 10,000 families bidding for the now 900 single family homes. Simple supply side economics is driving single family home prices out of sight for the average working family because we are not building more homes we are building more apartments and that is the Government policy.
The question is is this a result of change that government is trying to impose on our society, by this I mean in the 50', 60's and 70's the dream was to own your own home with a lawn and a playset for the kids. In the post WWII days we build large tracts of as we call them Spec homes to accommodate this American Dream. Today our policy is to build more and more rental apartments and reduce the stock or hold steady the stock of single family homes. The purpose of which should be easy to see. Build the Hives for the multitude of worker bees industry wants and keep wages down to maximize profits. Wages stay down because of cheap housing costs when you stop the average American from thinking about owning there own home and living in a hive instead.
I think we should look closely at Economic policy in the commonwealth of Massachusetts and decide what direction we want it to take not the underhanded policies driven by special interest that over the last 50 years have brought back the concentration of wealth not seen since the days of Andrew Carnegie, Rockefeller, Getty etc. It took a depression and 2 world wars to redistribute wealth and to equally share in the success of American Capitalism. Look today and we see Gates, Walton Family(Walmart) , etc.
I believe we are seeing the expansion of the New York city model for Boston with concrete and brick Suburbs of apartments crowded with families unable to own a piece of the American Dream because of inadequate wages.
We need to think about where our policies are leading us and if this is the future we want for our children and grand children.
Thank You Ed Quinn
First of all 40B is the only pro-housing development program that the state has in place not a sound economic policy in my opinion because of 2 things
First it by it's legislation assures a developer a 20% return on his investment show me where you and I can get 20% on any investment including the Stock market we are more likely to get 3-5% seems like a policy that rewards the rich and takes from the working families to me
Second and I think just as important is the concern with 40B eating into and eating up the single family home stock in and around Boston. We wonder why home prices are so high. Lets look at this in an economics 101 manner. if you have 1000 single family houses for sale and 10,000 families looking to buy one the price will go up as the competition bids for one of these homes. Now a 40B comes in and creates 300 apartments ( not condos or town houses) and in so going buys up the land of 100 of the single family homes in order to build. We have now brought 300 new renters into the area who will soon join the 10,000 families bidding for the now 900 single family homes. Simple supply side economics is driving single family home prices out of sight for the average working family because we are not building more homes we are building more apartments and that is the Government policy.
The question is is this a result of change that government is trying to impose on our society, by this I mean in the 50', 60's and 70's the dream was to own your own home with a lawn and a playset for the kids. In the post WWII days we build large tracts of as we call them Spec homes to accommodate this American Dream. Today our policy is to build more and more rental apartments and reduce the stock or hold steady the stock of single family homes. The purpose of which should be easy to see. Build the Hives for the multitude of worker bees industry wants and keep wages down to maximize profits. Wages stay down because of cheap housing costs when you stop the average American from thinking about owning there own home and living in a hive instead.
I think we should look closely at Economic policy in the commonwealth of Massachusetts and decide what direction we want it to take not the underhanded policies driven by special interest that over the last 50 years have brought back the concentration of wealth not seen since the days of Andrew Carnegie, Rockefeller, Getty etc. It took a depression and 2 world wars to redistribute wealth and to equally share in the success of American Capitalism. Look today and we see Gates, Walton Family(Walmart) , etc.
I believe we are seeing the expansion of the New York city model for Boston with concrete and brick Suburbs of apartments crowded with families unable to own a piece of the American Dream because of inadequate wages.
We need to think about where our policies are leading us and if this is the future we want for our children and grand children.
Thank You Ed Quinn
Sunday, September 30, 2007
A great movie that has made me think
Last night my son Ben now 12 took me to see Across the Universe all I can say is WOW and the youth are right as we get older we forget more then we learned. It was a look back at the time when I was Ben's age and reminded me of Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar and Tommy. If you were alive in the 60's and early 70's this is a must see. It will reawaken memories of why we are the generation we were and make you sad at how many of the lessons we have forgotten. The music is and was such a part of our growth process and this movie grabs it and reweaves it for us. But the issues in the theme are what rivet you in your seat. The struggle of youth facing maturity and society and then being brought face to face with war. A war we also did not believe in.
I have to believe that King George and Little Dick were not part of the awakening, so many of us shared in as we watched on TV and in the streets, the unfolding of events that thrust our generation into the mainstream of the Political morass. It made us believe that our voices could make a difference and we did but today so many of us have grown silent.
So if you need a reality check if you need to reawaken a few brain cells as I did and remember the power of your youth and the need to reawaken those qualities we all felt were our responsibility then I suggest you go and see Across the Universe Maybe we can arrange a special White House showing maybe King George will have a flash back oops did I say that
Best to everyone Peace
Ed Quinn
I have to believe that King George and Little Dick were not part of the awakening, so many of us shared in as we watched on TV and in the streets, the unfolding of events that thrust our generation into the mainstream of the Political morass. It made us believe that our voices could make a difference and we did but today so many of us have grown silent.
So if you need a reality check if you need to reawaken a few brain cells as I did and remember the power of your youth and the need to reawaken those qualities we all felt were our responsibility then I suggest you go and see Across the Universe Maybe we can arrange a special White House showing maybe King George will have a flash back oops did I say that
Best to everyone Peace
Ed Quinn
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
A Plan to Save Massachusetts Public Libraries
As the Commonwealth of Massachusetts moves through this period of fiscal crisis and reliance on the property tax as the major funding source for the majority of municipal services our Public Libraries are being thrown to the curb. Governor Patrick your Municipal Partnership statement is right on point and your plan will help cities and towns cope with some of the rising costs but, in the mean time, not including Public Libraries as an essential service is risking an entire generation of children and the enrichment of the educational experience for our entire population.
Public Libraries have been under assault by 16 years of Republican cuts at both the state and local level and find themselves fiscally at a critical point in time. In your statement you mention 4 communities which are facing real fiscal crisis, are you aware that in those communities the Public Library is being closed. In a dozen other communities also facing the fiscal crunch, some you also mention, the library is being devastatingly cut, disproportionally as well.
Who loses, the Low to middle income families, their children and Seniors who can not afford to go out and buy books and computers, Local news papers, their favorite magazine and encyclopedias and the guidance of a Librarian to find the information they are seeking.
Just a few facts that may have been over looked. When a school system looks to increase literacy through assigning summer reading lists where are families going to get the books to help their children? When a teacher wants to assign a book report on a biography of a historic figure where is the student going to get the book? The family that is being squeezed by gas and utilities and food and insurance and property tax costs where will they come up with the 10-30 dollars per book at Barnes and Noble, or Borders or even a local used book store? The choices of to pay the car insurance bill or take the kids down to buy a book is a real one for too many families in the commonwealth. What about the senior citizen who has had to stop the subscription to the local paper because of the high price of their prescriptions and travels to the local library to read a copy to stay up on what’s happening in and to their city and town and even their friends
Here in Massachusetts the public library system is a model for our country in delivering services though out the commonwealth with data base sharing for simple to complex research by young and old, too circulating materials from every library to every citizen through inter library loan a system like few others in our country. The library time and time again is quoted as being a key to equalizing educational opportunity for adults and children from low and middle income families. I am sure we have all heard stories related either at a college graduation address or a political speech where a public library is credited with the advancement, enrichment and opportunity to achieve ones goals in life.
I am advocating for the public libraries as an essential service in all communities and to suggest that the state must remove the base line funding for Pubic Libraries from the property tax and local authorization.
I would suggest that Governor you propose legislation that would create a dedicated source of revenue under local aid for Libraries. 15 Percent of Lottery and Gaming revenue sharing will be assigned for baseline funding for every library in the commonwealth this would not represent a full community funding but in most cases it would guarantee that every library would remain open and serving the public. City and towns that do not wish to match this state funding would be open but would receive a diminished level of service from the state and other libraries but again would remain open and functioning. This would not require the creation of any new State boards it would be managed through the already existing Board of Library Commissioners who would still determine a communities meeting the required municipal appropriation. They would also set the policy of the level of service to be provided based on the level of matching funding by the community. This baseline funding, in most cases, would currently meet or slightly exceed 50% of most libraries current Budget. If a City or Town meets or exceeds the MAR they would continue to receive 100% of services currently enjoyed through the current state system. If a municipality was only able achieve 75% they would receive only data base access and no inter library loan. Below 75% but over 50% they would be self reliant but patrons would have access to collections of other libraries if they went to those libraries to borrow.
Like many of your other initiatives this is a bold plan but these difficult fiscal times require us to take steps to assure every citizen with in our Commonwealth has a right to services that through no fault of there own they are unable to replace based on there economic Status.
I hope others will support my recommendation and realize as I do the importance that life long educational opportunity from our Public Libraries is a key to building a stronger more educated work force and society.
Public Libraries have been under assault by 16 years of Republican cuts at both the state and local level and find themselves fiscally at a critical point in time. In your statement you mention 4 communities which are facing real fiscal crisis, are you aware that in those communities the Public Library is being closed. In a dozen other communities also facing the fiscal crunch, some you also mention, the library is being devastatingly cut, disproportionally as well.
Who loses, the Low to middle income families, their children and Seniors who can not afford to go out and buy books and computers, Local news papers, their favorite magazine and encyclopedias and the guidance of a Librarian to find the information they are seeking.
Just a few facts that may have been over looked. When a school system looks to increase literacy through assigning summer reading lists where are families going to get the books to help their children? When a teacher wants to assign a book report on a biography of a historic figure where is the student going to get the book? The family that is being squeezed by gas and utilities and food and insurance and property tax costs where will they come up with the 10-30 dollars per book at Barnes and Noble, or Borders or even a local used book store? The choices of to pay the car insurance bill or take the kids down to buy a book is a real one for too many families in the commonwealth. What about the senior citizen who has had to stop the subscription to the local paper because of the high price of their prescriptions and travels to the local library to read a copy to stay up on what’s happening in and to their city and town and even their friends
Here in Massachusetts the public library system is a model for our country in delivering services though out the commonwealth with data base sharing for simple to complex research by young and old, too circulating materials from every library to every citizen through inter library loan a system like few others in our country. The library time and time again is quoted as being a key to equalizing educational opportunity for adults and children from low and middle income families. I am sure we have all heard stories related either at a college graduation address or a political speech where a public library is credited with the advancement, enrichment and opportunity to achieve ones goals in life.
I am advocating for the public libraries as an essential service in all communities and to suggest that the state must remove the base line funding for Pubic Libraries from the property tax and local authorization.
I would suggest that Governor you propose legislation that would create a dedicated source of revenue under local aid for Libraries. 15 Percent of Lottery and Gaming revenue sharing will be assigned for baseline funding for every library in the commonwealth this would not represent a full community funding but in most cases it would guarantee that every library would remain open and serving the public. City and towns that do not wish to match this state funding would be open but would receive a diminished level of service from the state and other libraries but again would remain open and functioning. This would not require the creation of any new State boards it would be managed through the already existing Board of Library Commissioners who would still determine a communities meeting the required municipal appropriation. They would also set the policy of the level of service to be provided based on the level of matching funding by the community. This baseline funding, in most cases, would currently meet or slightly exceed 50% of most libraries current Budget. If a City or Town meets or exceeds the MAR they would continue to receive 100% of services currently enjoyed through the current state system. If a municipality was only able achieve 75% they would receive only data base access and no inter library loan. Below 75% but over 50% they would be self reliant but patrons would have access to collections of other libraries if they went to those libraries to borrow.
Like many of your other initiatives this is a bold plan but these difficult fiscal times require us to take steps to assure every citizen with in our Commonwealth has a right to services that through no fault of there own they are unable to replace based on there economic Status.
I hope others will support my recommendation and realize as I do the importance that life long educational opportunity from our Public Libraries is a key to building a stronger more educated work force and society.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Should John Edwards Stay in the race?
I have been struggling with this question since I heard he was holding a press conference with his wife. It is still a struggle for me personally even today. To have your soul mate face their own mortality has to be a sobering moment for anyone. My first thoughts were oh chuck it I am going to sit and watch you every moment I can until your gone. This was as I am sure you now think a morbid thought. Life is meant to Live and to create memories and have dreams of the future and to have goals and ideals. We are all facing a death from the day we are born. Some will come sooner then others but we all get there some day. So John Edwards and Elizabeth have been able to overcome the reminder of this fact and decided to Live and enjoy Life and all it offers. They are holding tight to there dreams and ideals and are moving forward. I now think this is the right course, to chose Life over death to continue to dream about the future and to stand up for your principles and ideals. I have a new respect for John Edwards and Elizabeth Edward and the commitment they have for the Ideals he is running for. True Democratic beliefs, I am going to take a hard look at his campaign again, I am hoping Al Gore considers getting into the race I still think it is his to win if he wants it but if he continues to refuse I now know there is a candidate with the same conviction and ideals as Al Gore and I will support John Edwards instead. I am tired of the two other adolescents running, don't get me wrong they are the front runners but they have failed to grasp that this race is not about there petty differences but of the cry from the middle class for a champion to reshape the course we are currently on, Hilary being stubborn about the war and Obama bomb tossing at here and his refusal to talk about issues off the cuff until he has a written policy (or is that a polished sound bit) shows his lack of maturity and understanding of the cry out there.
No John Edwards to a giant step up in my book and I think we have seen a candidate who is rising to the same level as I believe Vice President Gore was at as he to has matured since his Presidency was high jacked by the Supreme Court and a corrupt Florida Government ( led by another Bush).
Thank you John and Elizabeth Edwards
Just my opinion
Ed Quinn
No John Edwards to a giant step up in my book and I think we have seen a candidate who is rising to the same level as I believe Vice President Gore was at as he to has matured since his Presidency was high jacked by the Supreme Court and a corrupt Florida Government ( led by another Bush).
Thank you John and Elizabeth Edwards
Just my opinion
Ed Quinn
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Why are we SURPRISED by this and Why is government paralyzed on how to deal with it
In my personal life, I find I am being beset with the results of being a baby boomer who is entering the later decades of life and the problems that this presents. Some of you may think instantly, I am talking about illness, and to some extent I am, but on the scale of the forest not a tree.
I have had a number of people comment to me about the out of control Health Care situation here and I have read a number of reports and articles here in Massachusetts that points to the cost of Health care as reaching a breaking point. In 34 communities by the latest count are in trouble financially because of the High Cost of Health care. A couple may be on the verge of bankruptcy or at the least receivership. People are screaming why!
I usually do not like to say this but in this case I need to The Answer is Simple.
First
Health care is expensive! When you need another adult to provide care for you, not in your home, and you want them to earn a living wage so they will give you the best care they can it costs money, a lot of money. Let me also say Health care workers are not getting rich and they work long and hard hours for barely a living wage. Their you have one component of the high cost of health care but it is not the major one. This bares repeating it is not the primary reason for the high cost to our society.
Second
The High cost is a result of....... The aging of the largest generation of all time. That's correct baby boomers are driving up the cost providing health care. The same way as we are going to lead to the collapse of the Social Security Trust Fund. For decades we were young and healthy and working and making lots of money and using little or no services of Social Security or Health Care. Today as we are comfortably into our 5th and 6th decades of life and we are dealing with growing old and having health issues further complicated by all the sins of our youth and the bad decisions we made playing sports, sur-comming to vices like smoking, drinking and eating out night after night all have begun to catch up with us. So the baby boomers instead of net contributors are becoming net consumers and the trend will grow. We really have seen nothing yet. Wait until we are in our 60's and 70's when health becomes a real challenge Cancer, Alzheimer's, Heart Disease, Diabetes, etc. etc. etc. Some of this is a result of Health Care allowing us to live longer. This is happening as very infrastructure of our communities is reaching it's critical age along with us. The cost of repairing it and replacing it are adding to the local fiscal plummet. The numbers may vary to some extent but roughly the mix use to be 60 % workers to 40% retirees. With the baby boomers the numbers flip 40% workers 60% retirees. So like the crisis in Social Security the same circumstances are the driving force to it's publicly discussed approaching collapse the same cause is true for the health care system. There you go the real underlying cause is US
For Economist this is not a surprise but inevitable fact.
OK so simple there is the cause now what is the solution.
Not so simple, there was no reserve fund set up when we were enjoying low costs instead we used these low costs to help balance and maintain a middle class here in our society. We were able to maintain a standard of living on pace with our parents. Yet this generation the 30 and 40 somethings do not have the same benefit and since they are approaching being the major wage earners they have a mounting bill that grows bigger every day and fiscal policy keeps looking to them to pay more. This is where the problems is reaching a breaking point. Their ability to keep up the middle class life style is under assault and they don't like it. In order to pay the bill they will have less, and it is cutting deeply in to their ability to afford the life style of the baby boomer class. They will not keep pace. In communities where the breaking point is perceived to be reached we are seeing the effects. Young families are refusing even attacking the baby boomer generation with changes in fiscal policy and social obligations. They want to kick older employees off of health care to reduce costs they want to forgo services like Senior Centers to save costs, They blame local government for failing to solve the problem.
I will suggest to you here that the government has failed us but on the national scale not the local scale. Locally officials get a bill they have to pay it there is no choice the buck really does stop here. When they don't have the revenue they then have to go to the small group made up of you and I in order to raise the money again they have no choice. Further complicating the process is the limits on how they have to do it. There is no means test they have to take from everyone equally that is the law so the wealthy and the poor pay the same amount that is called regressive.
That is also not a solution but currently it is the only alternative.
There is a solution!
Many with louder voices then just my blog here will say I am wrong, nuts, lack understanding, endangering the American way of life.... and maybe more.
I say listen to them if you like, but they are lying to you, they are motivated by trying to save their own blotted way of life.
We need to Tax the top 1% of the wealth in the United State at a rate that will pay for our obligations to all of our society, and No I am not talking about socialism. What I am talking about is an obligation to share the fruits of our social economic success. Look the CEO making Millions and Billions annually would not be earning this money if it were not for an army of workers beneath him and an army of Support small businesses to provide for his army. When is the last time you saw a CEO or a board member of a major corporation working the line or out making a sale to a local customer NEVER!!!!!
What they fail to realize is if they continue to pit old against new they are leading to there own demise and the demise of the very successes they have created, but since they have made their fortunes why would they care.
What we need are national leaders who will look at this and realize there is no other solution. The pitting the generations against each other is little more then putting father against son on a battle field. This is barbaric and will spell a dark time for our economy and it needs to stop now because no army can sustain itself if it is feeding on itself.
So call upon your elected officials to stop the fighting and get to governing and force a change in tax policy that will create a just system of taking care of our society. Providing for the army that has taken us to these heights and assuring those that follow a life style that is on par with the previous generations. This is the only alternative to solving this crisis to wait until the time of the baby boomers to pass is no solution. For a politician to duck this reality is little more then grabbing the gold ring of the top 1% and ignoring our society. Shame on us if we let them do this and shame on them for putting Father and Mother against Son and Daughter for their own gain.
2008 is upon us the election race has begun it is time to hold our national government to the test are they interested in us for more then our vote or are they interested in themselves. It's time to ask the questions and get the answers. The next time you hear your local government finding a solution to this problem by pitting the young against the old think about the real solution and call your congressman, or US senator or write a letter to the President he lives in your house 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington DC and ask them why?
Check the facts look inward and understand the problem. The solution is right there
Ed Quinn
I have had a number of people comment to me about the out of control Health Care situation here and I have read a number of reports and articles here in Massachusetts that points to the cost of Health care as reaching a breaking point. In 34 communities by the latest count are in trouble financially because of the High Cost of Health care. A couple may be on the verge of bankruptcy or at the least receivership. People are screaming why!
I usually do not like to say this but in this case I need to The Answer is Simple.
First
Health care is expensive! When you need another adult to provide care for you, not in your home, and you want them to earn a living wage so they will give you the best care they can it costs money, a lot of money. Let me also say Health care workers are not getting rich and they work long and hard hours for barely a living wage. Their you have one component of the high cost of health care but it is not the major one. This bares repeating it is not the primary reason for the high cost to our society.
Second
The High cost is a result of....... The aging of the largest generation of all time. That's correct baby boomers are driving up the cost providing health care. The same way as we are going to lead to the collapse of the Social Security Trust Fund. For decades we were young and healthy and working and making lots of money and using little or no services of Social Security or Health Care. Today as we are comfortably into our 5th and 6th decades of life and we are dealing with growing old and having health issues further complicated by all the sins of our youth and the bad decisions we made playing sports, sur-comming to vices like smoking, drinking and eating out night after night all have begun to catch up with us. So the baby boomers instead of net contributors are becoming net consumers and the trend will grow. We really have seen nothing yet. Wait until we are in our 60's and 70's when health becomes a real challenge Cancer, Alzheimer's, Heart Disease, Diabetes, etc. etc. etc. Some of this is a result of Health Care allowing us to live longer. This is happening as very infrastructure of our communities is reaching it's critical age along with us. The cost of repairing it and replacing it are adding to the local fiscal plummet. The numbers may vary to some extent but roughly the mix use to be 60 % workers to 40% retirees. With the baby boomers the numbers flip 40% workers 60% retirees. So like the crisis in Social Security the same circumstances are the driving force to it's publicly discussed approaching collapse the same cause is true for the health care system. There you go the real underlying cause is US
For Economist this is not a surprise but inevitable fact.
OK so simple there is the cause now what is the solution.
Not so simple, there was no reserve fund set up when we were enjoying low costs instead we used these low costs to help balance and maintain a middle class here in our society. We were able to maintain a standard of living on pace with our parents. Yet this generation the 30 and 40 somethings do not have the same benefit and since they are approaching being the major wage earners they have a mounting bill that grows bigger every day and fiscal policy keeps looking to them to pay more. This is where the problems is reaching a breaking point. Their ability to keep up the middle class life style is under assault and they don't like it. In order to pay the bill they will have less, and it is cutting deeply in to their ability to afford the life style of the baby boomer class. They will not keep pace. In communities where the breaking point is perceived to be reached we are seeing the effects. Young families are refusing even attacking the baby boomer generation with changes in fiscal policy and social obligations. They want to kick older employees off of health care to reduce costs they want to forgo services like Senior Centers to save costs, They blame local government for failing to solve the problem.
I will suggest to you here that the government has failed us but on the national scale not the local scale. Locally officials get a bill they have to pay it there is no choice the buck really does stop here. When they don't have the revenue they then have to go to the small group made up of you and I in order to raise the money again they have no choice. Further complicating the process is the limits on how they have to do it. There is no means test they have to take from everyone equally that is the law so the wealthy and the poor pay the same amount that is called regressive.
That is also not a solution but currently it is the only alternative.
There is a solution!
Many with louder voices then just my blog here will say I am wrong, nuts, lack understanding, endangering the American way of life.... and maybe more.
I say listen to them if you like, but they are lying to you, they are motivated by trying to save their own blotted way of life.
We need to Tax the top 1% of the wealth in the United State at a rate that will pay for our obligations to all of our society, and No I am not talking about socialism. What I am talking about is an obligation to share the fruits of our social economic success. Look the CEO making Millions and Billions annually would not be earning this money if it were not for an army of workers beneath him and an army of Support small businesses to provide for his army. When is the last time you saw a CEO or a board member of a major corporation working the line or out making a sale to a local customer NEVER!!!!!
What they fail to realize is if they continue to pit old against new they are leading to there own demise and the demise of the very successes they have created, but since they have made their fortunes why would they care.
What we need are national leaders who will look at this and realize there is no other solution. The pitting the generations against each other is little more then putting father against son on a battle field. This is barbaric and will spell a dark time for our economy and it needs to stop now because no army can sustain itself if it is feeding on itself.
So call upon your elected officials to stop the fighting and get to governing and force a change in tax policy that will create a just system of taking care of our society. Providing for the army that has taken us to these heights and assuring those that follow a life style that is on par with the previous generations. This is the only alternative to solving this crisis to wait until the time of the baby boomers to pass is no solution. For a politician to duck this reality is little more then grabbing the gold ring of the top 1% and ignoring our society. Shame on us if we let them do this and shame on them for putting Father and Mother against Son and Daughter for their own gain.
2008 is upon us the election race has begun it is time to hold our national government to the test are they interested in us for more then our vote or are they interested in themselves. It's time to ask the questions and get the answers. The next time you hear your local government finding a solution to this problem by pitting the young against the old think about the real solution and call your congressman, or US senator or write a letter to the President he lives in your house 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington DC and ask them why?
Check the facts look inward and understand the problem. The solution is right there
Ed Quinn
Monday, February 5, 2007
War with Iran in the Spring!
With the posturing of US forces in and around Iraq and Iran it sure looks like a broadening of the war. War with Iran. The time table looks like this spring, as soon as we are past the critical home heating season for the northern half of the country. Just look at the evidence, positioning of new attack groups of the Navy and Marines moving into the Persian Gulf, King George's rhetoric, and the denial by his administration of such a plan in existence.
I am more convinced then ever that King George and and his War mongering administration wants to wage war on all of the oil countries that have not allowed American Oil Companies back in to rape them of profits on the oil fields they believe should be theirs to control because they discovered back in the 30's-40's and 50's.
Before this country is drawn to the brink of disaster, We the People must stand up as one against Mobile Exxon, BP and Shell before life as we know it is over. It is time to call for the impeachment of King George before he can launch us into a conflict that will destroy this country and our way of life.
WE NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS PLACE
Just my opinions as usual
Ed Quinn
I am more convinced then ever that King George and and his War mongering administration wants to wage war on all of the oil countries that have not allowed American Oil Companies back in to rape them of profits on the oil fields they believe should be theirs to control because they discovered back in the 30's-40's and 50's.
Before this country is drawn to the brink of disaster, We the People must stand up as one against Mobile Exxon, BP and Shell before life as we know it is over. It is time to call for the impeachment of King George before he can launch us into a conflict that will destroy this country and our way of life.
WE NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS PLACE
Just my opinions as usual
Ed Quinn
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