I seem to remember what I believe is in the M.D. Creed which includes the phrase “First do not harm.” Sometimes when I go to a doctor I wonder if they remember that code. The doctors that take good care of me which number about six, do remember and have taken good care of this 83 year old body even when I haven’t follow their advice to the letter.
I would like it if the Senators and Representatives in our State and Federal governments to have those words added to their oaths when they are sworn into office. For instance it is ridiculous to have this fight over the economy once of twice a year. We always agree to pay for what we obligated our self to pay. We can’t do anything else. We have to pay our debts. To stall one side or the other and make adjustments under pressure that should be negotiated properly as obligations and income dictates is endangering to our economy for the next year which causes our national debt to raise even higher.
I heard a Republican Representative interviewed recently, and he said very directly that the rich should not be taxed. I wonder where his money to be elected comes from. Every Republican congress has raised our national debt more that the Democratic congresses have done. That does not mean they are not both guilty of raising the debt ceiling, but neither has addressed the infrastructure until last year. If we are having difficulty meeting our obligations now how much more difficult is it going to be if the Republicans get their way.
If we continue down the path of self destruction we will have to import everything we need for a good existence. A good deal of the problem lies in the tax benefit corporations get by supporting manufacturing outside the United States. Therefore we import more than we export which is a trade deficit. This is a subject most people don’t talk about because it is something they think is the responsibility of the rich and powerful. They are right in this thinking because it is. However they can do something about it by voting for candidates that take our way of life seriously and want to keep our nation’s wealth at home.
Let us suppose we are an island and our product is fish and pineapples. We are doing well we eat the fish we catch and sell what we don’t need to eat and the same with our pineapples. We decide to increase our production and enlist China to help us financially.
We grow to the point by borrowing funds we cannot repay but we still own our fish and pineapples, but they are mortgaged to China. We are now working for China and own nothing. That is what a trade deficit can do.
Jerrymandering voting districts is another harm caused by congress. This is an attempt to support the rich and their corporations. If our corporation actually supported the United States we would not be wearng cloths made in other countries and eating food we grow processed by foreign countries or companies owned by foreign countries.
Buying from China, Japan, France, Spain, or England is a good thing as long as we have trade balance functioning well.
Interfering in medical diagnosis is another harm caused by congress. I began my writing today with an analogy of “First do no harm”. Our medical professionals are the best in the world. We have insurance companies second guessing diagnoses of people they have never seen. Often the final diagnoses is what the insurance companies say.
We need insurance companies because prices are more than they average person cannot afford. However the insurance companies make more money from investments that they do from their prime source of insurance premiums. The insurance companies are largely unregulated.
I would have to be a lot smarter than I am to solve all these and other problems facing congress every day. Also I am just scratching the surface of what needs to be done. However, the things I have mentioned are very important.
The answer can only be solved by you and me.
Jim Headrick's Blog 