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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JohnM who wrote (2998)	7/1/2003 4:37:42 PM
From: greenspirit	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793903

John, it is indeed a huge ideological divide we have. Such is life in political America these days. Something I find interesting about your answers though, is the way in which you dodge points, which counter your vision. For instance, in my post I addressed the lingering problem of sustainability in the current Social Security System and you neglected to address it. Obviously, if we are going to design a system and pretend it's some sort of retirement safety net for the elderly, we should design it so it works. The model social scientists and supporters of Social Security are clinging to does not work. Major structural changes will have to be addressed as the baby boomers come of age. Either we are going to raise taxes, change the age of eligibility, or reduce the benefits. The same can be said of Medicare. The model is simply unsustainable. Therefore, we have a choice as a society. We can either saddle the next generation with these failed models, or we can look at the flaws of the systems honestly, and address them in a way which allows the next generation a decent quality of life, without ultra-high tax rates. And yes John, ultra-high is what they will be. You speak of caring, and the underlying assumptions seems to be "right wing people who believe in free enterprise don't care". Nothing could be further from the truth. I spoke of linkages, not pure capitalism, but linkages between capitalism and socialism, where we can take a part of both worlds. Your assumption seems to be one of black and white. Either we have pure capitalism, or we have pure socialism. No gray can truly exist, no linkages. The fact is some of the best systems we have in America are linked systems whereby capitalism and socialism co-exist. Higher education being one that comes readily to mind. Would higher education be better off in America if we made it completely free for everyone to attend, and the government owned every educational endeavor? I don't think so. And I don't believe you do either. These same kind of creative solutions are what divide the right and the far left. The far left has largely given up on finding creative solutions toward are social systems, such as Social Security, public education, Medicare, etc. And seek to demagogue anyone who cares enough to alter the present un-sustainable model. It's pure public education or the sky is falling and no one gets educated, it's pure Social Security or the elderly go back to the 20's and starve to death, its medicare and prescription drugs run purely by the government, or everyone gets left on the street to die. These kind of arguments simply don't hold-up in the arena of ideas today. In fact, they are false assumptions largely shaped and rekindled by the hard-left in America who seek power at all cost. Lastly, in regard to my mother. She worked all her life and receives her own social security. My stepfathers has now gone. That's how the system works John. It's criminal that someone who puts into the system for 50 years, cannot leave a dime to their loved ones when the pass away. I care enough to change the system, and I support President Bush who has had the courage to open the political dialogue around allowing a portion of someone’s income to go toward their own private fund. We should be able to share responsibilities in taking care of the needy by thinking more creatively than simply "pay more taxes". We are a smarter society than that. That's one of the great things, which separates America from the rest of the world. We think creatively, and we believe there are unique American solutions to America's social challenges.