Health Care in America

Oprah had an excellent show today about health care. I am glad she is helping to focus the national discussion on this issue. Democratic Presidential contenders are talking about this. Republican Preidential hopefuls are attacking it. Our nation has not engaged in a serious debate.

Our own Congressman, Pete Hoekstra, has certainly let down his constituents in this area. How can any decent, compassionate man believe in a system where the daughter of a regional sales manager can receive treatment for cancer but the daughter of a gas station clerk is left without medical coverage? Shouldn't we care for each person equally?

Those of us who love America need to band together in a call for civil discourse. We need to discuss important issues of our day. Try it. You will find it extremely hard to do. Count how many times an intelligent discussion will be blocked by name calling. "Socialized Medicine" "Socialism" Often the name calling ends any coherent conversation. But what happens when we think through this logically without the name calling? When your house is on fire and you call the fire department are you a socialist using a government run agency? There was a time in this country when fire protection was a private industry. When you see your neighbor's house being vandalized and you call the police are you a socialist using a government funded agency? What about private, for hire, security services? When your 4 year old says, "Daddy, take me to the library on Saturday. I want a Curious George book" do you explain to her that she is a godless socialist who hates America?

America needs civil discourse. We need to be able to discuss ideas intelligently, without name calling. I believe in the importance of America's ability to defend itself. I am proud of that "socialist, government run" miltary we have. Unfortunately people like me are loosing the argument. Private militia groups like Blackwater are replacing our American military even as I write this.

Republican Dirty Tricks in the County Building

When a candidate runs for office they need to get a nominating petition and then collect a whole bunch of signatures. It is pretty simple really. Just go into the County Clerk and pick them up. Right? Apparently that is not the case in Manistee County. In Manistee County our County Clerk doesn't have them, know where they are, or how to get them.

By the way, did I mention that the candidate is a Democrat and the County Clerk is a Republican. After 2 months, lots of run around, and some calls downstate to key officials, the proper papers were finally acquired from our County Clerk's office. How, you wonder? No thanks to the County Clerk, who still was no help. However, an assistant was able to walk over to a file and pull them out, when shortly before the Clerk said she wouldn't be able to supply them.

Those who know our clerk insist it is not incompetence. Instead they point to a disturbing pattern of her using her public office for partisan purposes. Shame on you, Marilyn Kliber.