A letter to President Obama

Dear Mr. President,

On November 6, 2012 you made history and I helped you, as I did in 2008. But this time I expect more. 

I don't want to see a grand bargain that includes you selling out the people who elected you. The election really was a clear choice and voters said, we want a government that helps us up, rather than shuts us out.

I voted for you because you are supposed to support and defend the things Democrats believe in, like Pell Grants, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. You are supposed to keep our environment clean and safe from people who want to pollute it for profit.

Now is your time to prove that you will not bend to the will of the losing party. America does indeed want to move forward.

So, Mr. President, stick to your guns and break the gridlock because the best way to tame a spoiled child is to simply say no.

• ·       No to cuts in Social Security and the chained CPI index.

• ·       No to education cuts.

• ·       No to Medicare and Medicaid cuts

• ·       No to more tax cuts for the rich

And most importantly, say no to John Boehner and his Tea Party caucus. Just because they refuse to listen to the voice of voters doesn't mean you should go along for the ride.

Image: Wiki file

Is there an easy way to solve the budget deficit and healthcare crisis?

There is an effective way to address the US budget deficit and deal with the healthcare crisis at the same time. The problem is, it would require a level of political strength that no one in Washington appears to have.

Healthcare costs continue to rise because insurance companies looking to make a profit by cherry-picking who and what they will cover are controlling everything from legislation to pricing. Nowhere else in the civilized world is this allowed to happen except in America.

Escalating healthcare costs are driving up the federal deficit. However, the single payer healthcare system that conservatives are fighting would go a long way toward stabilizing costs. In a Medicare for all scenario, the negotiating power of the US government to stabilize costs would dramatically increase. Medicare already has set fees in place for what they will pay doctors and hospitals.

In a more perfect world, lobbyists would not be running America by writing their own legislation and throwing money at the candidates that they believe will then force them into law. And that is exactly why the United States may never enact the legislation needed to solve both the budget deficit crisis and healthcare crisis, which are very much related and easier to fix than most politicians are willing to admit.

Fallout from Obama tax cut deal rattles democrats, breaks GOP promises to reduce deficit

Critics on the democratic side have had a lot to say about President Obama’s decision to give in to republican demands and extend the Bush tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans.

The compromise bill seems like a one sided deal to democrats. Republicans held their ground and got exactly what they wanted, despite the fact that the electorate did not agree. According to recent polls, less than 40% support extending the Bush tax cuts to the top 2%.  Additionally, the millionaire tax cuts will add some $450 billion to America’s debt, which will have to be borrowed from the Chinese and other creditors.

Political pundits agree, the high end tax breaks will not create jobs as republicans pledged, and it raises the deficit, which is an issue the GOP campaigned against. The Bush tax cuts will put an extra $104,000 per year into the pockets of those with incomes of 1 million dollars.

The compromise deal has not yet been finalized, but few expect Lame Duck democrats to attempt to block Obama’s agreement with republican lawmakers.