How to solve our national problems?

[Senter]

Here is a short list of problems that plague us. Please address any or all of them and tell us, in a phrase or a sentence (no elaboration necessary) how you think, in a general way, each can be solved IF you think they should be solved.

INCOME AND WEALTH INEQUALITY

HIGH COLLEGE TUITION DEBT

GETTING BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS

COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE

IMMIGRATION POLICY

RACIAL JUSTICE

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL

HIGH PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES

 

[dogtowner]

INCOME AND WEALTH INEQUALITY
Eliminate welfare. If people have to work to eat they will discover education matters. If kids do nothing more than graduate high school they dramatically increase their earning power. If they do not then they adopt a simpler lifestyle akin to what the Mexicans do.

HIGH COLLEGE TUITION DEBT
Work or save.

GETTING BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
Prohibit advertising that does anything other than state a candidate's platform.

COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE
Blow up the sun, problem solved.

IMMIGRATION POLICY
Enforce it.

RACIAL JUSTICE
Do what the cop says.

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL
We already had it without the overhead.

HIGH PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES
FDA needs to rethink the process. Patients need to take ownership of their healthcare decisions.

 

[Old_Trapper70]

Here is a short list of problems that plague us. Please address any or all of them and tell us, in a phrase or a sentence (no elaboration necessary) how you think, in a general way, each can be solved IF you think they should be solved.

INCOME AND WEALTH INEQUALITY

HIGH COLLEGE TUITION DEBT

GETTING BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS

COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE

IMMIGRATION POLICY

RACIAL JUSTICE

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL

HIGH PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES

Under the current system none can be changed, modified, or replaced. Globalization has taken over, and the wealthy love it since it means the literal enslavement huge groups of people. It is actually "communism" on steroids.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dylan-ratigan/the-cost-of-corporate-com_b_312516.html

Then there is this:

https://prezi.com/giekv3sbq4dn/modern-day-slavery-behind-the-curtains-of-globalization/

 

[Old_Trapper70]

INCOME AND WEALTH INEQUALITY
Eliminate welfare. If people have to work to eat they will discover education matters. If kids do nothing more than graduate high school they dramatically increase their earning power. If they do not then they adopt a simpler lifestyle akin to what the Mexicans do.

Right. Ignore the reality that the vast majority of those now receiving government assistance are the elderly, the retired, the disabled, etc., and, as usual in your world, the "poor" rich people "deserve" more then the 65% of the countries wealth they are now taking.

HIGH COLLEGE TUITION DEBT
Work or save.

Yep. Wouldn't want to touch that 2 Billion dollars in the alumni fund of Harvard by lowering the cost of education. Why, at the 0.25% interest rate most banks are paying it would only take about 1000 years to sane enough money. As to the "get a job", the vast majority of jobs now don't pay enough to pay ones rent much less leave anything to save.

GETTING BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
Prohibit advertising that does anything other than state a candidate's platform.

Yes, censor another's speech. Kind of sounds anti-Constitution to me. Now, a much more effective way would be to eliminate the two party system, eliminate corporatism, and return to a free market system not funded by government. Thus corporate America could not profit by buying politicians.

COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE
Blow up the sun, problem solved.

Besides being simplistic, childish, and impossible, the real answer lies in technology, and a growing reliance on the suns power for our energy source rather then fossil fuels. That sort of innovation would allow for even more to have electrical power, and thus there would less reliance on corporations for ones energy. It would also reduce the amount of pollution being caused today by the burning of fossil fuels.

IMMIGRATION POLICY
Enforce it.

Or forget it. No fence, wall, or whatever, is going to keep illegals out. Corporations enjoy the cheap labor so they aren't going to do anything about it. Might as well make it easier for the laborer to get a permit, cross the border without repercussions, and then pay taxes.

RACIAL JUSTICE
Do what the cop says.

And when they are still killed? Do you really want that kind of power in the hands of a bigot?

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL
We already had it without the overhead.

More bull pucky. When the ACA was passed there were an approximate 54 million with no health insurance. And the only requirement for a hospital emergeancy room was to stabilize the patient. After that, NOTHING was required. Name a time when there was coverage for all.

HIGH PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES
FDA needs to rethink the process. Patients need to take ownership of their healthcare decisions.

Patients are not trained in the medical field. While there are certain actions one can take, like exercising, quitting smoking, diet, etc., there are now viruses/bacteria that are drug resistance. This is largely due to doctors over prescribing medications. And as more rain forests are being destroyed diseases we have never seen before are appearing. And international travel is also spreading diseases to far parts of the world where they flourish, and grow. Kind of like small pox, and the Native Americans. Even so, here again the greed of the corporation has spread its fingers at the expense of the peoples health.

 

[BigRob]

INCOME AND WEALTH INEQUALITY

I don't view this as much of a problem.

HIGH COLLEGE TUITION DEBT

Focus on alternatives, such as technical certification, associate degrees, dual credit expansion, and other vocational training. A four year degree is not for everyone.

GETTING BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS

This is not a problem at all.

COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE

I don't care about this issue very much. I haven't done much research into it. That said, every solution always seems to be "spend trillions of dollars." I'd like to see some data on what humans can actually do in this regard.

IMMIGRATION POLICY

Actually enforce the law is a great place to start.

RACIAL JUSTICE

I am not sure what this even means.

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL

I do not believe healthcare is a right - but I am all for driving costs down. That said, who out there doesn't have healthcare at this point - and those that do not have it - how many of those are making the choice not to have it?

HIGH PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES

There are no real easy answers here...

 

[Senter]

I don't view this as much of a problem.


Focus on alternatives, such as technical certification, associate degrees, dual credit expansion, and other vocational training. A four year degree is not for everyone.


This is not a problem at all.


I don't care about this issue very much. I haven't done much research into it. That said, every solution always seems to be "spend trillions of dollars." I'd like to see some data on what humans can actually do in this regard.


Actually enforce the law is a great place to start.


I am not sure what this even means.


I do not believe healthcare is a right - but I am all for driving costs down. That said, who out there doesn't have healthcare at this point - and those that do not have it - how many of those are making the choice not to have it?


There are no real easy answers here...

LOL!!! So in all cases you either don't grasp the problem and think there's none, or you have no solution but to ignore it, or you are happy to stay with the status quo. Life is nice when you see no problems, isn't it?

 

[BigRob]

LOL!!! So in all cases you either don't grasp the problem and think there's none, or you have no solution but to ignore it, or you are happy to stay with the status quo. Life is nice when you see no problems, isn't it?

I said two of your issues were not an issue. Just because you say it is a problem does not make it so....

Let's look at income/wealth inequality. I have yet to hear any real argument for why this is relevant, outside of some social construct debate. So, let's hear it from you. Why is this a relevant measure of anything?

Or the issue of "money in politics"... Let's hear your arguments for why suppressing free speech is a good thing. I am all ears.

 

[Senter]

I said two of your issues were not an issue. Just because you say it is a problem does not make it so....

You didn't find any to be a problem needing fixing.

Let's look at income/wealth inequality. I have yet to hear any real argument for why this is relevant, outside of some social construct debate. So, let's hear it from you. Why is this a relevant measure of anything?

A shrinking middle class is a problem. Studies show that as the middle class in a country shrinks, democracy is diminished. Excessive wealth concentrated in fewer hands leads to less democracy as wealth is used to buy political policies (consider A.L.E.C.). Wealth concentrated in fewer hands means less revenue available for governmental functions like infrastructure maintenance, so in response the rich and their party calls for elimination of programs needed by people so more is available for the greedy rich. Wealth accumulation leads to oligarchy and diminishing tolerance by police. We know that grocery store chains typically charge higher prices in poverty areas. Icreasing income and wealth inequality means poorer nutrition for everyone but the rich who can pay the highest prices for the best foods and chefs to select and prepare it. And finally increasing financial inequality means shrinking opportunities for the people as they can afford less and less, like a higher education for example.

Or the issue of "money in politics"... Let's hear your arguments for why suppressing free speech is a good thing. I am all ears.

Good. Let me give you an earfull. Maybe it will take just a tiny bit longer for it to trickle out the other ear as you forget. Money in politics means the buying of politics, but you want to pretend you don't know this. And free speech? I never mentioned free speech. I'm all in favor of anyone speaking all he wants about whatever suits him. There's no connection to money.

OH!!! BUT YOU WANT TO PRETEND THAT MONEY IS SPEECH???? Money is a medium of exchange. Speech is expression. Speech cannot pay the bills and money is used to purchase things, like political power. The S. C. was wrong in saying money is speech. VERY obviously it is not speech.

 

[BigRob]

You didn't find any to be a problem needing fixing.

...if you read what I wrote, you will find I mentioned only two that were not an issue. I might not have an answer for the cost of prescription drugs (no doubt your solution is government driven), but that is not a disagreement that it is in fact an issue.

A shrinking middle class is a problem. Studies show that as the middle class in a country shrinks, democracy is diminished.

This is a social argument.

Excessive wealth concentrated in fewer hands leads to less democracy as wealth is used to buy political policies (consider A.L.E.C.).

This is a social argument that doesn't even make any sense.

Wealth concentrated in fewer hands means less revenue available for governmental functions like infrastructure maintenance, so in response the rich and their party calls for elimination of programs needed by people so more is available for the greedy rich.

This is another social argument and it also flies in the face of reality. Tax collections are at record highs, while the left also claims that wealth and income inequality is at record highs. This doesn't seem to support your theory.

Wealth accumulation leads to oligarchy and diminishing tolerance by police.

Another social argument.

We know that grocery store chains typically charge higher prices in poverty areas. Icreasing income and wealth inequality means poorer nutrition for everyone but the rich who can pay the highest prices for the best foods and chefs to select and prepare it.

Life expectancy is hitting records, we continually have better outcomes in healthcare, the list goes on and on. Maybe a possible solution here is to change SNAP rules to only allow certain types of healthier foods instead of just allowing it to be spent on most anything.

And finally increasing financial inequality means shrinking opportunities for the people as they can afford less and less, like a higher education for example.

More nonsense. As the left continues to make this argument the data continues to do the exact opposite. Enrollment in higher education for 2015 high school graduates was 69.2% in 2015 (according the Bureau of Labor Statistics)...that is about 1% off the record high of 70.1%, and has been steadily trending up for years...over the same time period you argue wealth and income inequality has exploded.

Good. Let me give you an earfull. Maybe it will take just a tiny bit longer for it to trickle out the other ear as you forget. Money in politics means the buying of politics, but you want to pretend you don't know this. And free speech? I never mentioned free speech. I'm all in favor of anyone speaking all he wants about whatever suits him. There's no connection to money.

OH!!! BUT YOU WANT TO PRETEND THAT MONEY IS SPEECH???? Money is a medium of exchange. Speech is expression. Speech cannot pay the bills and money is used to purchase things, like political power. The S. C. was wrong in saying money is speech. VERY obviously it is not speech.

If I asked you to explain Citizens United...what would you tell me?

 

[Senter]

...if you read what I wrote, you will find I mentioned only two that were not an issue. I might not have an answer for the cost of prescription drugs (no doubt your solution is government driven), but that is not a disagreement that it is in fact an issue.

Wow, it's true, you do spin things into what they're not. That is dishonest discussion for you. I said you didn't find anything that needs fixing in my list. Am I right? Let's find out. Here are the issues I posted and your response. Let's look for any indication of agreement that any is a problem needing fixing:

INCOME AND WEALTH INEQUALITY
I don't view this as much of a problem.
One.

HIGH COLLEGE TUITION DEBT
Focus on alternatives, such as technical certification, associate degrees, dual credit expansion, and other vocational training. A four year degree is not for everyone.
Two. Nothing about ending the high debt.

GETTING BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
This is not a problem at all.
Three.

COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE
I don't care about this issue very much. I haven't done much research into it. That said, every solution always seems to be "spend trillions of dollars." I'd like to see some data on what humans can actually do in this regard.
Four.

IMMIGRATION POLICY
Actually enforce the law is a great place to start.
Preserve the existing laws. Just enforce them. No attention to the 15 million we already have in the U.S. and the existing law doesn't address them. So "five".

RACIAL JUSTICE
I am not sure what this even means.
No recognition; no problem recognized; no solution to what is not recognized. So "six".

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL
I do not believe healthcare is a right - but I am all for driving costs down. That said, who out there doesn't have healthcare at this point - and those that do not have it - how many of those are making the choice not to have it?
"Who out there doesn't have healthcare...?" No recognition; no fix seen to be needed. So "seven".

HIGH PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES
There are no real easy answers here...
There you are. A failure score of 100% and you try to push the idea that you only had nothing for two of the eight. But I'm confident you'll have another excuse.




(You: "Let's look at income/wealth inequality. I have yet to hear any real argument for why this is relevant..."
(Me: "A shrinking middle class is a problem. Studies show that as the middle class in a country shrinks, democracy is diminished.")

This is a social argument.

Democracy is political, not social.

(Me: "Excessive wealth concentrated in fewer hands leads to less democracy as wealth is used to buy political policies (consider A.L.E.C.)."

This is a social argument that doesn't even make any sense.

A.L.E.C. is a social organization???? Our diminishing democracy is a social issue???? LOL!!! Anything . . . ANYTHING . . . to minimize and avoid and dodge what's "inconvenient".


(Me: "Wealth concentrated in fewer hands means less revenue available for governmental functions like infrastructure maintenance, so in response the rich and their party calls for elimination of programs needed by people so more is available for the greedy rich.")

This is another social argument and it also flies in the face of reality. Tax collections are at record highs, while the left also claims that wealth and income inequality is at record highs. This doesn't seem to support your theory.

More revenue is temporarily needed as it was in the case of the Great Depression. But if revenue is at record highs, then why is the right calling for cuts to S.S., welfare, Medicare, food stamps, and other "entitlements"?


(Me: "Wealth accumulation leads to oligarchy and diminishing tolerance by police.")

Another social argument.

Threat of an oligarchy ending our democracy is not a "social argument" It's political.


(Me: "We know that grocery store chains typically charge higher prices in poverty areas. Increasing income and wealth inequality means poorer nutrition for everyone but the rich who can pay the highest prices for the best foods and chefs to select and prepare it.")

Life expectancy is hitting records, we continually have better outcomes in healthcare, the list goes on and on. Maybe a possible solution here is to change SNAP rules to only allow certain types of healthier foods instead of just allowing it to be spent on most anything.

Gosh, you just said life expectancy is high (it isn't) and we have better outcomes in healthcare (we don't) and then you offer a "solution"? Why worry about SNAP if things are so great?

The U.S. is 43rd in life expectancy and trailing the socialist countries. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html

On healthcare outcomes the U.S. trails the socialist countries again - http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/health-outcomes-report-cards-by-country/
and is 37th in a more inclusive list: http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html


(Me: "And finally increasing financial inequality means shrinking opportunities for the people as they can afford less and less, like a higher education for example.")

More nonsense.

Increasing poverty and unaffordable continuing education is "nonsense"??? Only to someone reaching to avoid the truth.

(continuing....) As the left continues to make this argument the data continues to do the exact opposite. Enrollment in higher education for 2015 high school graduates was 69.2% in 2015 (according the Bureau of Labor Statistics)...that is about 1% off the record high of 70.1%, and has been steadily trending up for years...over the same time period you argue wealth and income inequality has exploded.

So to you, a "higher education" is high school? I think you stand alone.

If I asked you to explain Citizens United...what would you tell me?

You don't know? Here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._FEC

 

[BigRob]

Wow, it's true, you do spin things into what they're not. That is dishonest discussion for you. I said you didn't find anything that needs fixing in my list. Am I right? Let's find out....

INCOME AND WEALTH INEQUALITY
I don't view this as much of a problem.
One.

Agree - one.

HIGH COLLEGE TUITION DEBT
Focus on alternatives, such as technical certification, associate degrees, dual credit expansion, and other vocational training. A four year degree is not for everyone.
Two. Nothing about ending the high debt.

Alternatives are dramatically cheaper. Associates degrees eliminate thousands of dollars in costs, dual credit saves thousands before you even start college, technical schools are much cheaper.... alternatives to a 4 year degree eliminate the need to take on large amounts of debt. So no - this is not "two."

GETTING BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
This is not a problem at all.
Three.

No - Two.

COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE
I don't care about this issue very much. I haven't done much research into it. That said, every solution always seems to be "spend trillions of dollars." I'd like to see some data on what humans can actually do in this regard.
Four.

Yes - I don't care about the issue very much - but would be interesting in seeing data presented.

IMMIGRATION POLICY
Actually enforce the law is a great place to start.
Preserve the existing laws. Just enforce them. No attention to the 15 million we already have in the U.S. and the existing law doesn't address them. So "five".

No - existing laws do account for people already here. We just ignore them. Enforcing the law and securing the border is a critical first step - without doing that the rest of the equation is pointless.

RACIAL JUSTICE
I am not sure what this even means.
No recognition; no problem recognized; no solution to what is not recognized. So "six".

I am not sure what the issue you are driving at is....I would expect if you ask 20 people what racial justice means they would tell you 20 different things. You need to expand on the issue here.

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL
I do not believe healthcare is a right - but I am all for driving costs down. That said, who out there doesn't have healthcare at this point - and those that do not have it - how many of those are making the choice not to have it?
"Who out there doesn't have healthcare...?" No recognition; no fix seen to be needed. So "seven".

Wrong again. I am all for driving down prices and bending the cost curve. Those are worthwhile goals. I would be interested in seeing stats on the people that do not have healthcare, what their basic profile might look like etc... Not sure why asking data means I don't recognize the problem.

HIGH PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES
There are no real easy answers here...
There you are. A failure score of 100% and you try to push the idea that you only had nothing for two of the eight. But I'm confident you'll have another excuse.

There are no easy answers...that is a fact. Is it a problem - yes. Are there easy answers - no.

(You: "Let's look at income/wealth inequality. I have yet to hear any real argument for why this is relevant..."
(Me: "A shrinking middle class is a problem. Studies show that as the middle class in a country shrinks, democracy is diminished.")

Democracy is political, not social.

(Me: "Excessive wealth concentrated in fewer hands leads to less democracy as wealth is used to buy political policies (consider A.L.E.C.)."

A.L.E.C. is a social organization???? Our diminishing democracy is a social issue???? LOL!!! Anything . . . ANYTHING . . . to minimize and avoid and dodge what's "inconvenient".

Great so you made a political argument for why income and wealth inequality are relevant. Until someone makes a compelling economic argument - I will continue to view it as irrelevant.

(Me: "Wealth concentrated in fewer hands means less revenue available for governmental functions like infrastructure maintenance, so in response the rich and their party calls for elimination of programs needed by people so more is available for the greedy rich.")

More revenue is temporarily needed as it was in the case of the Great Depression. But if revenue is at record highs, then why is the right calling for cuts to S.S., welfare, Medicare, food stamps, and other "entitlements"?

Revenue is at record highs - that is a demonstrable fact. As for cuts - its a bit simplistic to just claim Republicans want to "cut" all that. But the fact does remains, despite collecting record tax revenue, we are $19 trillion debt and running a $450 billion deficit. You say we need "temporarily" need more revenue...please expound upon that with dollar amounts, programs, phase outs etc.

(Me: "Wealth accumulation leads to oligarchy and diminishing tolerance by police.")

Threat of an oligarchy ending our democracy is not a "social argument" It's political.

Great - you made a political argument.

(Me: "We know that grocery store chains typically charge higher prices in poverty areas. Increasing income and wealth inequality means poorer nutrition for everyone but the rich who can pay the highest prices for the best foods and chefs to select and prepare it.")

Gosh, you just said life expectancy is high (it isn't) and we have better outcomes in healthcare (we don't) and then you offer a "solution"? Why worry about SNAP if things are so great?

Life expectancy in the US is hitting record highs (that is what I said)... healthcare outcomes are dramatically better. And if you want to put a focus on better nutrition for lower income people SNAP is low hanging fruit to run pilot programs.

(Me: "And finally increasing financial inequality means shrinking opportunities for the people as they can afford less and less, like a higher education for example.")

Increasing poverty and unaffordable continuing education is "nonsense"??? Only to someone reaching to avoid the truth.

So to you, a "higher education" is high school? I think you stand alone.

You might reread the stats I posted. I posted the percentage of high school graduates that are enrolling in higher education - and noted (correctly) that they continue to be near record highs. The trend line has been steadily increasing over the last few decades.

You claim income and wealth inequality will lead to less opportunity for people to pursue higher education. The data however shows enrollment trending up near record highs over the same time period you claim income and wealth inequality has exploded. You need to explain that.

You don't know? Here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._FEC

I am well familiar with the case - I am curious to hear your explanation.

 

[Old_Trapper70]

Great so you made a political argument for why income and wealth inequality are relevant. Until someone makes a compelling economic argument - I will continue to view it as irrelevant.

Aside from lower consumer spending?

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/dec/09/revealed-wealth-gap-oecd-report

 

[Senter]

Agree - one. etc etc etc.

Wow. Spin after spin. Dodge after dodge. You are not an honest debater and I feel no need to get into an "argument" of "yes you did. No it didn't. Yes you did. No I didn't." etc etc etc.

Think what you want.

 

[dogtowner]

Biggie is not obligated to provide responses that you want.
You two disagree on the nature of these things. You did point out in the op that not a problem was an anticipated response.

 

[Senter]

Biggie is not obligated to provide responses that you want.
You two disagree on the nature of these things. You did point out in the op that not a problem was an anticipated response.

Well, I guess I was right then. With all that is happening, all the division, all the racism, all the economic troubles, all the healthcare disagreement, the verdict is "no problems. All is well."

If "Biggie" does see any problems worth fixing aside from the existence of liberals, I'd like to know what they are.