re: Gov't

From: <SMabel555@aol.com>
Subject: re: Gov't
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 19:40:36 EDT

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>Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 09:05:56 -0700
>From: elaine steward <esslady@ix.netcom.com> Subject: Re: Social Security and
>our govt
>
>That's because in other countries either the tax rate is higher or the
children
>die.  I, too, think this is disgusting, but I also think that since
individuals
>and/or communities aren't able to resolve the problem(s) that the Gov't must.
>
>elaine

Greg.Panayotti@wdr.com then wrote

>>I don't agree.   

>>The government does what we want it to do - eventually.  If
>>everyone decided tomorrow that something like this was intolerable and must
>>stop then govt would stop screwing around with things like independant
council 
>>i.......  Seemingly,  the people's only power is to threaten to use their
one weapon --> the vote. 

>>And since the people we're talking about (low income wage earners) for the
most
>>part don't vote, I guess you have the answer right there. 

Excellent point Greg.  You don't vote, you lose.    I have another thought
regarding infant mortality and public policy:  (Understand this sounds cold,
but think before scolding me)  

To what extent do we continue to fund eternal life?  The elderly and babies
die because that's how God (or evolution) set us up.  John Silber lost the
Mass Governor's race a while back for merely suggesting we "ration"  health
care.  Granted, Silber wasn't subtle,  but how long can it go on?  As the
population ages, medical costs go up.  Something like 80% of our medical
spending goes to people in their last year of life.  As they age,  SS costs
and other entitlements go up.  We fund more research, and the population ages
more.  Infant mortality is lowered.  We fund more research.  We buy fans for
hot people in Texas, because "we can't let them die of the heat".  They live
longer.   We pay more.  We complain about it...

It's cold and cruel, but I'd rather fund education or the environment than
never-ending research that feeds entitlements and continues the cycle.  (I
know this'll strike up some controversy, but I'm speaking as the 'brother' of
a  still-born and with three 80+ yr old grandparents)


Back to the original point:  Vote.   And if you really want to fix poverty,
vote to educate everyone and support forced welfare-to-work plans.
Scott



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