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Politics : The Citizens Manifesto -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Amy J who wrote (97)	6/16/2005 4:45:04 PM
From: TimF	Respond to of 492

Here's what I propose: Medicare coverage for only those people that are accountable for their behavior by exercising 1 hour per day, maintain a healthy weight range for 75% of the time (not too thin, not too overwt, but allowing for exclusions due to medical reasons such as thyroid or metabolism medical issues), and do not smoke. I understand the attraction of this idea, why pay for people ruining their own health, but I don't think I can support it. Its bad enough that we have to report our income and other financial information the government, I don't want to also have a government office in charge of keeping tract of our weight and fitness. : the ratio of white and asian people having children in this country to other races is 1/3. Basically, this statistic suggests that an economic force may be preventing white and asian people from having as many children... ...I do believe the birth ratio disparity figure should be addressed in govt policy. I don't. If we for some reason it was felt that the government should encourage people to have more children it could encourage everyone instead of having a program encouraging certain races to have more children. Not that I would support a more broad based program either (more nanny-state intervention) but at least it wouldn't have a racial component. I think for the most part the government should take no official notice of race. It should treat people as people, not as whites, or blacks, or asians, or hispanics. Tim

To: Amy J who wrote (97)	6/18/2005 8:27:55 PM
From: Road Walker	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 492

re: Here's what I propose: medicare coverage for only those people that are accountable for their behavior by exercising 1 hour per day, maintain a healthy weight range for 75% of the time (not too thin, not too overwt, but allowing for exclusions due to medical reasons such as thyroid or metabolism medical issues), and do not smoke. It's a free country; I don't think we can legislate what or how much people eat, or how much they exercise. If we tried, people would object (including me). re: this thread's header is missing is govt policy to address the following statistic: the ratio of white and asian people having children in this country to other races is 1/3. Basically, this statistic suggests that an economic force may be preventing white and asian people from having as many children - you probably are already familiar with the statistics that show a country will have less children when economic hardship is harder. You'll note how Europe's birth rate has declined and so has Japan, as economic times become harder. Possibly they are working longer hours in order to pay taxes for others to have children under welfare. I do believe the birth ratio disparity figure should be addressed in govt policy. Just because these people are white or asian, doesn't mean their ratio doesn't matter. If they weren't white, but were on aggregate poor minorities instead, we'd have all the news networks all over this issue. Just because they are white or asian, doesn't mean they should be ignored. Again, too personal. I certainly think that we should make it easier for middle class (and those that aspire to the middle class) to afford to have kids. We can try to legislate better compensation, but I don't think we can approach it from ability to bear children. I think it would actually piss people off to have the government involved in that decision... don't you? re: On a different issue... Listen, we're trying to accomplish something here. The best way to do that is to keep each post to one issue, the same as you would with an interoffice memo. The absolute best way to do that is to: 1. State the problem 2. Recommend a specific legislative solution 3. Discuss the positive and negative ramifications 4. Ask for negative and positive feedback No criticism of your post, I'm just trying to make it easier to get to a list of pragmatic positive solutions that benefit the middle class and those that aspire to the middle class. This is not a thread for whining and complaining; it's a thread for suggesting solutions to real problems. It's pretty simple, just try to move the thread forward to it's goal. John