Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

It is claimed that 47 million people have no health insurance.  However, federal law insists that U.S. hospitals cannot turn anyone away.  In reality, the poor are funded through Medicaid.

Law abiding immigrants and illegal aliens who come to the United States are aware of how quickly they can qualify for Medicaid.  Some churches offer what they call "sanctuary", which naturally encourages illegal aliens to slip in and use a church as a refuge.

Perhaps this is part of the point made by some powerful religious leaders to insist that those wealthy nations are obligated to share their wealth with those who have less.  Could that line of reasoning to some degree explain why illegal aliens have invaded the U.S. until our own resources are strained and drained?  

To obtain Medicaid health care an individual must have very few assets - no home ownership, very low cash reserves and, of course, no medical insurance policy.  The hard working U.S. citizen who has a job, is paying on a home mortgage, and paying expenses for his wife and children, often finds health care coverage for himself and family too expensive for his limited income.

Does it seem fair to provide the poor who may or may not work with Medicaid health care, while the middle class working family is ruthlessly priced out of health care insurance?  

Do those vaunted religious leaders who speak of "sanctuary" for illegal aliens think this ludicrous arrangement is fair?  

Take the disability insurance individuals whose health insurance is all taken care of.  A realtor who sold my condo was a healthy looking man, but he said he was on disability.  When asked how he qualified for disability insurance, he explained he had been a Brooklyn police officer and that tension relating to his job caused great stress for him.

No doubt that could be accurate.  But does stress on difficult jobs, when you have quit that job and moved on, qualify one for disability insurance?

Millions of Americans claim disability.  They don't need to worry about the rising cost of health insurance.  It isn't exactly heaven providing for them, but an often-misused governmental program, which if properly utilized can be a fair and just program.

All over the U.S.A. the homeless are in great need.  

Outsourcing U.S. factory jobs to Mexico, India and China has left a large segment of U.S. workers jobless.  General Motors and Ford Motor Company used to be world leaders in the auto industry.  Now Toyota has taken over the lead.

War-connected businesses are booming.  As the Iraq War widens and U.S. foreign policy, which may have generated a civil war in Iraq, instead of democracy, costs taxpayers such staggering amounts of money that the U.S. debt is now rapidly approaching $8.7 trillion and will soon be over $10 trillion.  

Now we have something to look forward to - millions of baby boomers retiring shortly.  They are anxious to obtain Social Security money and Medicare while having their prescription drugs partially paid.  

U.S. A. Today on January 23 had a front-page story revealing that retirees hadn't saved enough money for their retirements.  They explained some of the reasons why this tragic situation took place.  

When the Bush Brigade took over, the economy was turning sour with the stock market slide, losing retirement funds for millions of senior citizens.  

Alan Greenspan, like a knight in shining armor, came to the rescue.  In his position as Federal Reserve Director he recognized that desperate times call for desperate measures.  Alan Greenspan devalued the U.S. currency - making interest rates drop to their lowest level in 40 years.

The British pound is currently almost twice the value of the U.S. dollar.  The Euro, which had been the equivalent of the U.S. dollar, jumped 40 percent higher than the dollar.

Foreigners rushed in to buy U.S. properties at fire sale prices and flip them over for quick profits.  

The Administration boasted that we had a sound economy, which was an absolute falsehood, as phony as the "weapons of mass destruction" that plunged us into a colossal debt, the greatest on the planet.

Dead U.S. service personnel from the Iraq War now number over 3,500.  The injured number over 22,000.  Some claim that 650,000 Iraqis have died since the initial "shock and awe" attacks were unleashed and American troops invaded Iraq.  Death statistics are soaring daily.

Seniors rejoiced when they saw some of their homes skyrocket in value.  They hastily obtained equity loans.  Many retirees could not pay these loans off.  Foreclosures increased!  

Now the baby boomers are ready to retire while food, home, heating and gasoline costs have skyrocketed.

Federal programs are now being cut back.  Reality is finally setting in!