The two party system that we have is failing us. The U.S. is faced with some of the biggest challenges of our short existence. These include - social security, healthcare, and peak oil.
The government has failed to address any of these problems. The nation faces a collapse from any one of these problems, much less all of them. These issues should be the main topics of conversation for all political figures and the nation as a whole. We are headed down a path that leads to destruction. The solutions are not easy.
Social Security - Raise the age that benefits are recieved. Don't give benefits to the rich. I realize that this is not what the people who paid into this scheme signed off on, but this is the only option.
Healthcare - Limit the care that the elderly recieve. Cut back on procedures that have a low percentage of success. Make prevention a priority.
Peak oil - Aggressively raise the miles per gallon requirments for cars in the U.S. Invest in alternative fuels. Invest in public transportation ugrades. Invest in a better railroad system.
At this point, no one would get elected if they ran on these issues. U.S. citizens don't react until things get bad. We are on the verge of things getting really bad, if action is not taken soon.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Food & Terrorists
Food prices are soaring.
The reasons:
1. Ethanol Production
2. Australian Drought - poor crops
3. Oil prices at $125 per barrel
Most of the world lives paycheck to paycheck, if they get a paycheck at all. Many of the poorest people in the world spend 50 to 75 percent of their paycheck on food.
When food prices double that means that they cannot afford to buy enough food to keep a healthy diet or it means that all their money goes to food. There have already been food riots in many countries and the World Food Bank been working overtime to try and ease some of the pain.
One of the problems associated with this crisis is the ablility of terrorists to recruit these starving people into their organizations. A person that is faced with death is easily swayed to join an organization that they feel might bring about change for their people. It is an easy sell to say "Come fight with us against the infedels that are putting your grain into their big SUVs.
The reasons:
1. Ethanol Production
2. Australian Drought - poor crops
3. Oil prices at $125 per barrel
Most of the world lives paycheck to paycheck, if they get a paycheck at all. Many of the poorest people in the world spend 50 to 75 percent of their paycheck on food.
When food prices double that means that they cannot afford to buy enough food to keep a healthy diet or it means that all their money goes to food. There have already been food riots in many countries and the World Food Bank been working overtime to try and ease some of the pain.
One of the problems associated with this crisis is the ablility of terrorists to recruit these starving people into their organizations. A person that is faced with death is easily swayed to join an organization that they feel might bring about change for their people. It is an easy sell to say "Come fight with us against the infedels that are putting your grain into their big SUVs.
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