Based upon polls, a large segment of our population continues to be concerned about the health care legislation that was passed last year. Now that the House of Representatives has repealed the legislation, efforts will likely take place in the Senate to do the same, but repeal in the Senate does not look promising. Furthermore, the President threatens a veto if repeal occurs in the Senate.
Because so much dissatisfaction exists with the new health care legislation, it creates a prime opportunity for the President to lead Congress through another look at the health care law and enact changes for the better. This would be a much better alternative than veto threats, along with the Senate refusing to budge.
The health care legislation has many flaws that need to be corrected. Too much Federal Government control was built into the law which over regulates doctors, patients, and insurance companies. The law fails to effectively reduce costs for all patients, while mandating that we purchase insurance regardless of the fact that premiums are likely to increase. Most of the debate severely critized insurance company policies, without dealing with increased costs generated by the rest of the medical industry.
It is very possible to remodel the legislation into a law that is more palatable to everyone, and that meets the needs of our society. However, it will take leadership on behalf of the President and Congress to get this done. We hope they are capable of doing so.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The Grange Should Be Congress
After completing the annual session of the National Grange, it is comforting to know that we can bring delegates together from the Grange states, discuss a variety of issues, and develop a unified legislative policy.
While the delegates are in session, it does not matter who the Democrats and Republicans are. Nor are the delegates concerned about who may be liberal, moderate, or conservative. Disagreements usually occur, but in the end, the attempt is to make the best decisions possible on behalf of our organization and the members that are represented.
The National Grange legislative process could serve as a good model for Congress. Operating in a non-partisan way is always better because all voices are brought to the table and all viewpoints are considered, rather than that of one particular group. Political favors and maneuvering do not rule the decision making process. The right thing to do dictates the decisions that are made within the Grange organization.
With the Republicans now in control of the US House, and Democrats controlling the Senate, will Congress serve us better in the next two years? We can only hope so, but both parties appear to be deeply entrenched in their opposing ideologies.
So, my message to Congress is simple - send any issues that cannot be resolved to the delegates of the National Grange and we will take care of them for you in a non-partisan, unified, efficient, timely, and decisive manner. In addition, because we operate in a grassroots manner, an effort that begins in communities across the nation, our constituents are more likely to be pleased with decisions made because their voices are part of the entire process!
While the delegates are in session, it does not matter who the Democrats and Republicans are. Nor are the delegates concerned about who may be liberal, moderate, or conservative. Disagreements usually occur, but in the end, the attempt is to make the best decisions possible on behalf of our organization and the members that are represented.
The National Grange legislative process could serve as a good model for Congress. Operating in a non-partisan way is always better because all voices are brought to the table and all viewpoints are considered, rather than that of one particular group. Political favors and maneuvering do not rule the decision making process. The right thing to do dictates the decisions that are made within the Grange organization.
With the Republicans now in control of the US House, and Democrats controlling the Senate, will Congress serve us better in the next two years? We can only hope so, but both parties appear to be deeply entrenched in their opposing ideologies.
So, my message to Congress is simple - send any issues that cannot be resolved to the delegates of the National Grange and we will take care of them for you in a non-partisan, unified, efficient, timely, and decisive manner. In addition, because we operate in a grassroots manner, an effort that begins in communities across the nation, our constituents are more likely to be pleased with decisions made because their voices are part of the entire process!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Responsible Spending
It is a simple fact that if I consistently spend more than I receive in income, I will bring myself to financial ruin. If businesses in this country adopted the policy of spending more than revenues will allow, there would be no more businesses to provide goods and services for us. Yet, Congress, on a consistent basis, continues to spend more than is received in revenue. Hopefully, our federal legislators and President are able to balance their personal check books, but most of them do not see the necessity of balancing the federal budget.
Our country now has a budget deficit that exceeds $1.5 trillion, and America is borrowing staggering amounts of money from other countries. This is irresponsible and dangerous. We should not be this deep in debt, and our dependence upon the other countries that hold our debt is undesirable.
The North Carolina State Grange advocates for a balanced federal budget. However, we are partly to blame for the budget deficit, because of our dependency upon services provided by the government. Imagine if in the next few years Congress decides to balance the budget, it would generate an outpouring of complainints from us because some service that we like has been eliminated or reduced.
What are we willing to give up in order to have a balanced budget? Should we reduce or eliminate the military, medicare, medicaid, education spending, farm subsidies, transportation funding, social security, NASA, environmental funding, or other entitlement programs? Some terribly difficult decisions would have to be made as part of balancing the budget. Furthermore, the State Grange advocates for adequate funding of many of these programs. As unpleasant as it would be to lose something that we value, and even greater concern are the problems created by us that we will hand down to the generations coming behind us.
My first grandchild is 6 months old, and I cannot help but be concerned about the problems she may face in the years ahead because of the conditions we are now creating. It is extremely important that we make every effort to fix those things that we know are broken so that my grandchildren and yours have a brighter future ahead.
Our country now has a budget deficit that exceeds $1.5 trillion, and America is borrowing staggering amounts of money from other countries. This is irresponsible and dangerous. We should not be this deep in debt, and our dependence upon the other countries that hold our debt is undesirable.
The North Carolina State Grange advocates for a balanced federal budget. However, we are partly to blame for the budget deficit, because of our dependency upon services provided by the government. Imagine if in the next few years Congress decides to balance the budget, it would generate an outpouring of complainints from us because some service that we like has been eliminated or reduced.
What are we willing to give up in order to have a balanced budget? Should we reduce or eliminate the military, medicare, medicaid, education spending, farm subsidies, transportation funding, social security, NASA, environmental funding, or other entitlement programs? Some terribly difficult decisions would have to be made as part of balancing the budget. Furthermore, the State Grange advocates for adequate funding of many of these programs. As unpleasant as it would be to lose something that we value, and even greater concern are the problems created by us that we will hand down to the generations coming behind us.
My first grandchild is 6 months old, and I cannot help but be concerned about the problems she may face in the years ahead because of the conditions we are now creating. It is extremely important that we make every effort to fix those things that we know are broken so that my grandchildren and yours have a brighter future ahead.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Drilling for Oil off the Coast?
On a recent trip to Alabama, we were able to see the oil stained beach at Gulf Shores, which is normally a beautiful beach. We were there on a particularly hot day as workers withstood the extreme heat while methodically working toward cleaning the sand. To see this creates instant sadness. It is certainly an opportunity for environmentalists and those opposed to offshore drilling to sieze the moment and plead their case for discontinuing the process of obtaining oil from under the sea. On the other hand, American energy has been constructed around oil, and the need for this resource is great.
In the midst of this oil leak tragedy is the need for expertise and capable leadership. The problem goes unsolved while huge amounts of crude enters the ocean each day. Neither BP nor Federal leaders have performed well in dealing with the problem. Passing blame and finger pointing continues, but to date, the act of blaming others, speech deliveries, Congressional hearings, nor political maneuvering have led to a successful solution.
When the tragedy occurred, the first thing that our President should have done was to contact the CEO of BP to set a cooperative tone and offer appropriate federal assistance. Instead, no communications took place between the two for a long period of time, and an adversarial atmosphere was established. Working together in a mutual effort to solve the problem would have been much more desirable.
Whether or not to continue off shore drilling will continue to be a significant issue. NC State Grange policy does not oppose off shore drilling, but does state the following: "....move cautiously in allowing oil and natural gas exploration off North Carolina's coast." It will be interesting to see if any new resolutions come forward regarding this issue for consideration at our State Grange Convention in September.
In the midst of this oil leak tragedy is the need for expertise and capable leadership. The problem goes unsolved while huge amounts of crude enters the ocean each day. Neither BP nor Federal leaders have performed well in dealing with the problem. Passing blame and finger pointing continues, but to date, the act of blaming others, speech deliveries, Congressional hearings, nor political maneuvering have led to a successful solution.
When the tragedy occurred, the first thing that our President should have done was to contact the CEO of BP to set a cooperative tone and offer appropriate federal assistance. Instead, no communications took place between the two for a long period of time, and an adversarial atmosphere was established. Working together in a mutual effort to solve the problem would have been much more desirable.
Whether or not to continue off shore drilling will continue to be a significant issue. NC State Grange policy does not oppose off shore drilling, but does state the following: "....move cautiously in allowing oil and natural gas exploration off North Carolina's coast." It will be interesting to see if any new resolutions come forward regarding this issue for consideration at our State Grange Convention in September.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Annexation Reform Needed Now
In North Carolina, citizens can easily be made subject to a change in governance with little power to do anything about it. Municipalities have the authority to take your property into city limits through forced annexation with approval of a city council that does not represent you, and is made up of representatives that you did not have the opportunity to elect. You can object, but opposition means very little because the existing annexation laws are designed to favor city governments. You can voice your opposition at public hearings where time limits are placed on the speakers, and as history has proven, your viewpoint will be ignored by city leaders.
Your property does not have to be connected to land that is already within city limits. There is a procedure called "Satellite Annexation" that allows outlying areas to be taken into city domain as well. So, you do not have to live adjacent to a city to be safe from annexation.
North Carolina remains one of the few states that allows involuntary annexation. The State Grange along with other groups, including a coalition known as Stop Involuntary Annexation Now, is very active in providing a voice for those who oppose this forced action against citizens. There has been a public outcry through communications, publicity, as well as public hearings against forced annexation. However, it has been an uphill battle to convince the General Assembly to act because so many of them are listening to the cities, rather than the citizens.
Forced annexation is arguably one of the most blatant legal acts in this state that succeeds in removing individual liberties from the citizenry. It simply establsihes citizens and cities as adversaries in an unfair arena, because the laws are biased toward the municipalities.
A simple solution is to allow landowners affected by possible annexation to vote on whether or not they want it to happen. However, city leaders do not want this to happen, because they realize that in order to get a positive vote, they will have to make annexation attractive. It would also reduce power, which can be difficult for anyone to give up. All of us have to be accountable for our actions. What would be wrong with municipalities being accountable to citizens by being required to make annexations attractive in order to get a positive vote?
Nothing. If the annexation is not worthwhile to the citizens affected, it should not happen anyway!
Your property does not have to be connected to land that is already within city limits. There is a procedure called "Satellite Annexation" that allows outlying areas to be taken into city domain as well. So, you do not have to live adjacent to a city to be safe from annexation.
North Carolina remains one of the few states that allows involuntary annexation. The State Grange along with other groups, including a coalition known as Stop Involuntary Annexation Now, is very active in providing a voice for those who oppose this forced action against citizens. There has been a public outcry through communications, publicity, as well as public hearings against forced annexation. However, it has been an uphill battle to convince the General Assembly to act because so many of them are listening to the cities, rather than the citizens.
Forced annexation is arguably one of the most blatant legal acts in this state that succeeds in removing individual liberties from the citizenry. It simply establsihes citizens and cities as adversaries in an unfair arena, because the laws are biased toward the municipalities.
A simple solution is to allow landowners affected by possible annexation to vote on whether or not they want it to happen. However, city leaders do not want this to happen, because they realize that in order to get a positive vote, they will have to make annexation attractive. It would also reduce power, which can be difficult for anyone to give up. All of us have to be accountable for our actions. What would be wrong with municipalities being accountable to citizens by being required to make annexations attractive in order to get a positive vote?
Nothing. If the annexation is not worthwhile to the citizens affected, it should not happen anyway!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
The state of Arizona has taken the bold step of controlling illegal immigration. This new law is controversial, and has sparked debate on both sides of the issue. Is this action taken by Arizona the right thing to do? Time will tell. However, they have taken action that they feel is needed in the midst of our federal government failing at any attempts toward immigration reform.
For years now, Congress has danced around the issue of immigration issues, fully realizing that reform is needed, but failing to act. Some measures have been taken toward border security, but even with these measures there remains a large influx of illegals into this country. This is not only an economic problem, but also a national security issue.
NC State Grange policy supports efforts to control the influx of illegal immigrants into the country. We recognize that it would be extremely difficult to achieve this on a state-by-state basis. A partnership between states and the federal government, operating under effective and common sense legislation, will be the ideal path toward controllng illegal immigration.
For years now, Congress has danced around the issue of immigration issues, fully realizing that reform is needed, but failing to act. Some measures have been taken toward border security, but even with these measures there remains a large influx of illegals into this country. This is not only an economic problem, but also a national security issue.
NC State Grange policy supports efforts to control the influx of illegal immigrants into the country. We recognize that it would be extremely difficult to achieve this on a state-by-state basis. A partnership between states and the federal government, operating under effective and common sense legislation, will be the ideal path toward controllng illegal immigration.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
NC Education Lottery - A Question of Ethics
Included in today's Charlotte Observer is an article about an individual who through some type of numbers game has greatly increased his chances of winning. He has won several times in the last month, so he has been barred from participating in the lottery. Whether or not lottery officials are justified in this action, I do not know. Were rules broken? I do not know this either.
In the article, an unidentified spokesman for the lottery stated, "We can't have people winning the lottery. It's like stealing money from kindergarteners." This philosophy creates a dilemma for those who purchase lottery tickets. They aren't suppose to win. However, if they do, they are stealing from our students. To date, I haven't purchased an NC lottery ticket, but my wife has! It's a good thing she didn't win because I would not want this heavy burden of guilt thrust upon her.
The State Grange opposed the lottery from the beginning. The act of gambling is ethically questionable, in addition to taking advantage of those citizens who may not need to spending their cash on lottery games but hope to win big someday. Ironically, unethical tactics were used by the General Assembly to get the lottery passed! The vote was taken while opponents were absent so that enough votes could be gathered to pass the legislation.
Even though I have not purchased a lottery ticket yet, I am less likely to do so in the future because I am not suppose to win. If I were to win, I would not want to be labeled as a person who stole from kindergarten children. I will probably do more good, and feel much better about purchasing something from a local school fundraiser!
In the article, an unidentified spokesman for the lottery stated, "We can't have people winning the lottery. It's like stealing money from kindergarteners." This philosophy creates a dilemma for those who purchase lottery tickets. They aren't suppose to win. However, if they do, they are stealing from our students. To date, I haven't purchased an NC lottery ticket, but my wife has! It's a good thing she didn't win because I would not want this heavy burden of guilt thrust upon her.
The State Grange opposed the lottery from the beginning. The act of gambling is ethically questionable, in addition to taking advantage of those citizens who may not need to spending their cash on lottery games but hope to win big someday. Ironically, unethical tactics were used by the General Assembly to get the lottery passed! The vote was taken while opponents were absent so that enough votes could be gathered to pass the legislation.
Even though I have not purchased a lottery ticket yet, I am less likely to do so in the future because I am not suppose to win. If I were to win, I would not want to be labeled as a person who stole from kindergarten children. I will probably do more good, and feel much better about purchasing something from a local school fundraiser!
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