Good Neighbors...more

I did promise I would writ more about being good naighbors..you have to read the first blog. There, I discussed the US proximate neighbors, Mexico and Canada. Canada is a very good neighbor and Mexico is well a bit of a problem neighbor.

The world is a smaller place, now, globalization, air travel, even the internet. What does that mean? It means we can visit our global neighbors without leaving out living room or in my case, my easy chair. True we get to spy on the global neighborhoods without going there. It is fun, really. But let's pretend for a moment we are restless and want to see if there is better neighborhood. A good neghbor is one you can trust to have over for coffe, chat and not worry about your silverware being stolen. With that in mind, let;s load up the car and take sdrive through the global neighborhoods.

Central America:

I know you want to visit the nicer neighborhoods..but I am driving so we leave our lovely NAFTA neighborhood and drive to the closest neighborhood....so let's wave to Mexico and visit Central America. Alright, we are not getting out of the car. The neigborhood is a mess. The kids are noisy. Each neighbor is ready to pick a fight with his neighbor. Nicauaraga is ready to get into with it El Salvador. Gualtalema is a broken home.,,,ready for a divorce and Panama, well forget it. Then, as we are about to leave we see Costa Rica..the front yard looks great. The kids are neatly dressed. We stop to chat for a while.

Invite them over for coffee, you have to be careful with the silverware, linens and well lock the pantry. Lesson...suddenly you understand Mexico and thankful they are there to keep out these nighbors..ok we will not complain so much about Mexico.

South America

We continue south and wecome upon South America. This neighborhood is a patchwork of large opulent homes. Problem is Brazil and Argentina, among other can't pay their mortgage or taxes. Columbia and Peru are disasters and the Venezuela house has a strict father. Our initial impression is well it is nicer than Central America but not much nicer. We drive around more and suddenly we come on Chile...a nice house and we stop and chat. The house is busy...the kids are clean. We actually sit down and have a coffee. It is obvious they hate the neighborhood, In fact they keep asking if they can be part of our neighborhood (NAFTA). We say why not, the coffee is great. Their big secret is a huge fence to protect them from the rest of the neighborhood,,,the Andes Mountains. They say it works,,,,we nod in agreement.

So would we have the rest of South America over for coffee. I guess we would, well everyone except Venezuela and maybe Columbia or Peru. The silverware is safe. In all likelihood they will insist on bringing wine and dessert and you know iti s going to be a long night.

Europe

Ah, the EC, this has to be good. It is. The neighborhood is pristine. You drive around. The people are friendly and remind you so much of the folks back home. Evertone invites you over the coffee. You like it here but you do notice the houses are close together and everyone os on the front porch. So you stop, everywhere for coffee. They ta;l all about themselves ask you questions.... after a while and another glass of wine, it starts. The French tell you secrets about the Germans. The Germans tell you the Italians do not have a very nice house. England tells you can't trust Germany...your head is spinning. Let's face it this a great neighborhood but really we need more space between each other.... also, you know they are talking about us behind your back.

So, yes we would have coffee...but you have to be sure to have coffee with everyone and not to offend anyone,,,and if you invite France, be sure you invite Germany or they will be upset at you. You will not have to worry about the silverware..well some may decide to bring over their own silverware....and don't be surprised if they drop in unannounced...

the rest for another blog

Stand up,stand down, yeah when do we leave?

With all the news from Lebanon /Israeli conflict and the latest terrorist plot foiled, this may be good time to remind everyone our troops are still risking their lives in Iraq.....with no prospect of coming home.

Mr. Bush has filled our heads with rhetoric...we won't cut and run. If we do the terrorsits will win. When asked directly, the response is when Iraq stands up, we will stand down. I continue to hear news repotrs of Iraqi citizens being murdered in great numbers. I also read about American troops getting killed. These troops are the sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and parents of Americans at home...and for the love of God, please don't show their family saying their family memeber belived in the cause but drown out the voices of those who say they believe their loss was a waste.

Now, I don't speak rhetoric or BS fro that matter, so what does when they stand up, we will stand down mean anyway, what are the measures? How are we the average citizen supposed to keep score? Is there a number of Iraqi troops and police officers that ned to be trained...if that is the case..then please let's have them come to the US for Boot Camp and Police training..at least they will be safe while in basic training... We can measure that and the country will behind it. It would be welcomed. is it when the terrorists are stopped as measured by a stopage in IED's and bombings....Let me say, the IED's may stop when we leave nad the bombings will go on forever until the Sunnis. Shites and Kurds get along...good luck. In fact, why would Iraq wish us to leave, we are providding free security. If you are waiting for the government to say leave..good luck..and if they ever did, it would not be because they like us. Let's face it, many cities would love to have the full force of the US army enter some of the inner city neighborhoods and not leave until all crime is stopped. They would save a ton of money if police protection. You have a very similar situation on Iraq,,,are these insurgents are gangs. AS time goes by, I believe the latter. So you have left us on quagmire by trying to change this country. You have left this mess to the next president.

Here is my exit strategy. It is bold. Let's begin with the truth. Iraq is not a country. It is a creation of the British Empire. The Yugoslavia of the Middle East.It is composed of Sunnis, Shites and Kurds. So let's fix what we can. Allow the Kurds to establish their own country, Kurdistan. Once you do that, dangle the NATO membership carrot. Really, they will become members of NATo. That will offer them protection from Iran and Turkey. Turkey is a NATO member. They may balk at having Kurdistan in NATO..but it does provide them a measure of security....and then the oil can flow through Turkey. Turkey and Kurdistan become friendly and Iran stands ground. Iran does not want to have the full force of NATO come down on them if they even look at Kurdistan the wrong way.

So, now we have saved Kurdistan. Now we deal with Southern Iraq. The goverment now has tow real factions Sunnis and Shites. Here is the truth. These two sides may have to have a civil war. That is what is happening now, our troops are in the crossfire. At this point, you need to involve our friendsin the region, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait et al. Now, they have a formenting insurgency next door. Their job is to assist in quelling the insurgency. We did our job..we got rid of Saddam Hussein's regime. Thye can sit by and watch the remaining part of Iraq adopt another Saddam or help the country become like them..not a democracy but at least friendly to the United States. After all, we call Saudi Arabia, a friend but they are not a democracy...why are forcing Iraq to become a democracy?

What Health Care Crisis?

There is a crisis but it is definitely a Health Care crisis in this country. Canada and the UK have a first world Health Care crisis. The system, while availablle to all, is not functioning correctly. The system is inadequately funded. The evel of health care has been comprimised. There are indeed waits for operation. That is not to say if you are gravely ill you do not get treatment but if you need a replacement knee, or worse yet open heart surgery, you may have to wait. Your quality of life is comprimised. That is a first world health care crisis. That situation would be totally unacceptable in the United States..se what do we have..we have a health insurance crisis and here is my stump speech..any serious candidate for office should feel free to borrow these ideas. I wish you would.

The USA has more than enough healthcare facilities. It has on fact the best healthcare in the world...really, I know, for a fact. But the means by which we obtain healthcare, through health insurance is failing and failing terribly. In fact, it is UnAmerican. You see most of us do not own our healthcare policy...think of it, if you get health insurance from your company whose name is on the card...quick check..aha..in most cases, you see the company's name. Where is your name? Now look at the driver's insurance, whose name ison that card..your name..wowwhat a revelation. So you have healthcare because you are presently part of a large group. Now tell me, how many choices do you have whne you get health insurance from your employer...two, maybe three, if you're lucky. Now if you are let go, leave or get fired what happens uh you lose your policy.. excuse me that was never your policy to begin wiht anyway. We live in thta dred every day. I hate my job but I need the benefits. Doesn't that sound lovely....

I want companies out of health insurance. What is wrong with a plan where the company issues you a voucher for healthcare that coveres whatever insurance policy you currently have. Now, you can stay in your current plan or buy another policy..now the policy has your name on it. The fact is your company sees paying you health care benefits as an expense and thus motivated to reduce this expense. It is usually reduced by increasin your deductible or reducing your coverage.... hey,,,I can do that or not.

Now here is the beauty of the voucher..now every company that provides their employees healthcare, will provide vouchers..so if you leave company A for company B..you carry your policy with you and guess what company B provides you a voucher, part of your employment terms. It gets better, really. Small businesses are creating most of the new jobs in this country. Really they are, including self employed people. Now, they do not have to compete with big companies to provide healthcare,,they can provide vouchers for their employees because thise employees will already have their own health care policy. Of course, all those people in HS in health benefits can start working in more productive areas.

As individuals, we have responsibility, yes we do. At the same time we have control of our own healthcare. But wait there is more.....We all get concerned if we arelet go, how do we keep our health care or under my system...voucher.... the state provides unemployoment insurance,....well the health insurance voucher is a large part, now of your salary. You pay separately for Unemploymeny Health Insurace....you got it. You lose your job this insurance continues to pay your voucher..you are basically covered.

Oh, I hearit now..but if I try to buy health insurance on my own it is so much more expensive. Of course, it is, the system has been distorted to where heath insurance is provided through massive groups..no one wants to deal with the individual...but once you do....well that little salamander will be calling you and offering you quotes on lower cost health insurance. The plan is radical but it is American..individual ownership, self responsibility and taking charge of your own destiny.

Hey it's radical..but any other way and we will be continuing to talk about a healthcare crisis.

Good Neighbors

As I reaad and watch endless news coverage of the Isreali Lebanon ( Hezbollah ) crisis or war I find my self saying Lebanon needs to a better neighbor. Yes, they brats, Hezbollah running around throwing racks at their neighbor and doing nothig about it. So all Israel can do is teach your kids a lesson. Then again I do not live in Israel or Lebanon. This I feel somewhat detached from the entire crisis. I live in the United States of America. So what do I think of our proximate neighbors. I doubt Canada or Mexico will be attacking the US anytime soon but are they good neighbors. Let's see..oh yeah..the world is smaller place, so I guess I have to write piece on the world..but you can't drive to say France or Russia. but you can drive to Canada and Mexico or they ca walk here, so I will be a simpleton and focus o the proximate neighbors or overland neighbors.

CANADA

I have to admit to be born in Canada, so yes this will be toattly objective. Canad is a good neighbor. They do a pretty good job of keeping out the miscreants and other low lifes... mostly they do a decent job of protecting the US from well, terrorists. IN fact they actually break up terrorist plots. Mind you, the most recent ones are charmingly referred to the gang that couldn't shoot straight.

Of course, with gay marriage, decriminalised marijuana and a lower drinking age, one has to imagine Canada as the neighbor who is throwing a wild party, hippie commune and den of iniquity. It may seem that way but they are polite and are certain to turn off the loud music by 10 pm. Alos, Canada has a pretty nice house lots of land, aside from cheap cotton goods and shrimp, there is very little Canada covets from the United States. Of course we all know of the unlonest unprotected border in the world. Let's leave it that way...a fence would hurt the view from the kitchen.

So Canada is a good neighbor or neighbour, to keep them happy. They throw a heck of a party and yes all Americans are welcome, just remember to clean up after yourself. And the neat thing is you can do anything there and no one will tell.....

MEXICO

OK not a very good neighbor, not your Lebaono neighbor but let's face it. They have a messy backyard and they want all our stuff. They really do. We would prefer they fix up their place. Imstead, they would rather play in our backayard and pool. Some people let them provided they clean the pool and mow the lawn, literally. Then you have those Americans who tell Mexico to go get their own pool.

Now Mexico covets everything America has...hey we sent them WalMarts isn't that enough? Also, they trespass and really don't even ask..really, drink your lemonade. Whenever Mexico throws a party, America pays..it just does not seem fair....then again look at Mexico's neighbors and one can appreciate their own dilemna.

Canada is by far the luckiest countrry in the world if you think about it. They only have one neighbor, the US of A