Radical Change

DAVID LEONHARDT provides a good expression of current avant garde economic proposals in vogue, but may not express the exact context of political alignment, their reaction to these economic proposals, and any realistic result which may come from such interaction. Democrats will be gun-shy about any immediate increase in Taxes, knowing they will be crucified in the media by their Republican opponents. They will be looking for less sensational Correctives to Budget woes at the start, and in new Designs of older programs to save Taxpayers dollars and reduce the Deficit. Here presented stands my view of how the Democrats should approach their reorganization of Government operations.

Fiscal Responsibility should become the watchword of the Democrats. Organization of the Congressional Committees need be the focal point of Engagement. The foremost effort in the reorganization is removal from the fiscal and Armed Services committees of as many advocates of the military/industrial complex as is possible; pick inner-city Representatives and Senators from States with little Federal military spending (remember: these Companies contribute almost twice as much to Republicans as Democrats). The Key to fiscal responsibility is to cut military spending by at least one-third, none of it coming from current Operational potential, and almost all the Cuts coming from advanced Weapons systems designed to fight a World war–currently unnecessary. Delight in Election results must be curbed with Restraint, as all Senators and Representatives want the prestigious Committee seats, but individual Cash flow stands less important than Public fiscal responsibility.

Publicly announced concentration should be on correcting old deficit-spending programs, rather than creation of new programs to spend more Public funds. Options here can be listed:

1) establishment of a standard Social Security benefit, based upon a Minimum Cost of Living standard. It would be available to All who have paid in, but no one allowed a greater payment. It can be passed by grandfathering current benefits at current rate (no increase until it is no higher than the uniform benefit which receives Cost of Living increases or COLAs). Justification can be raised that none of the contributions match health care Cost increases now.

2) Passage of legislation completely separating Doctor/Clinic/Hospital payments from Medical service payments. The former would be paid solely per visit or Day, Doctors to receive a per hour Wage of surgical attendance. Medical service payments to be paid by a national schedule set by a national medical board. All Drugs paid for by any Government service or program will be paid a uniform Dosage payment across the board for any and all Drugs; I would suggest something like $12 per Dosage. Federal legislation should preclude any subordinate Government agency paying more, and forbid any Medical Provider from billing Patients for any more.

3) I personally would be radical in operation, and pass legislation stating all Federal Enactments will be null and void by the termination of the next Congress, if not repassed under its original language, or supplanted by superior legislation.

Does it sound crazy? Won’t it take a little crazy to cure the current fiscal debacle? lgl