US: Obama’s Presidency at 10 Months (Richard Hancock, US)

Richard Hancock writes:

I have read that a successful president is one who accomplishes no more than three objectives during the course of his first four years. I believe that Obama suffers from trying to accomplish too many things at once. I believe that he should have concentrated on (1) healing the country’s financial problems, (2) winning the war in Afghanistan, and (3) making inexpensive health care improvements. I will give Obama credit for making strong steps to accomplish no. 1 but, so far, his performance on Afghanistan is inconclusive, as are his efforts on health care. I have great doubts about placing great priority at this time on climate change and a card check to enable the easier unionization of workers. He certainly has not been a strong advocate of a balanced budget or programs to improve our deficit trade balance. His commitment to raise taxes only on those making more than $250,000 now appears to be a mirage and I believe that people are beginning to recognize this.

In the WSJ, Nov. 6, Congressman Shadegg of Arizona offers some sensible suggestions. He is in favor of a gradual approach in changing our medical system. His recommendations are as follows:

1. Do away with state regulations so that the sale of health insurance is placed on a national scale which would serve to lower premiums.

2. Give employees the right to buy health insurance on their own and to receive an income-tax deduction the same as the employer does for company-supplied health coverage.

3. Establish restrictions on “runaway medical practice litigation.”

Mr. Shadegg states that the above changes could be made at no cost, and that people have reason to be suspicious of the “expensive, untested, new health-care system” which is now before Congress.

Richard Hancock comments: My wife and I have health coverage which is written off on our taxes because we own and operate a language-translation company. Why should not any wage earner have the same privilege? We, along with about 80% of the American population, are satisfied with our current health care and have great misgivings about what this 1900-page monstrosity now in congress might bring us.

JE comments: A Poli Sci 101 question: wouldn’t Rep. Shadegg’s proposal to “do away with state regulations” on health insurance be an infringement on States’ Rights? Republicans (Shadegg is from the GOP) usually profess to favor more local control and less federal oversight.

As long as we’re putting things on a national scale, I offer two proposals:

1) A standardized, national driver’s license. Think of how many Americans are forced to apply for a new license just because they move to another state. It is wasteful to have 50 different sets of driving laws, regulations, sanctions, and “points.”

2) A national 10-cent deposit on beverage cans and bottles, like the one that’s worked successfully in Michigan for thirty years. While we’re at it, why not make it 25 cents? Think of the recycling advantages and the reduction of litter. Garbage is a huge problem. If garbage is worth money, it ceases to be garbage. Problem solved.