Our Founding Fathers agreed with you 100%. People are in more danger from the state, than any other source! That is why the founding documents limit the power of government, and doubly limit the power of a central government!
If you don't like central power in the state, you are NOT a liberal these days. They would say you are coming over to the dark side, but we know you are moving to the light. Freedom is a personal thing, and different for everyone. They want to issue you the "freedom" they think you should have, which has NOTHING to do with real freedom!
That is also why they set up a Representative Republic; to keep the federal government out of our faces! >:(
Well, this is why I have had to become a leftist anarchist. I don't trust the state at all. They're doing an awful job right now and have been for many, many years. Of course the left is also the same as the right in almost every way at this point. They're all corporate sell outs now. However, I don't want to leave a state system in charge with no regulation, particularly on business. I don't trust businesses to care for our planet or worker's rights. So, leftist anarchy is all that's left. No government, but we all come together to agree that we care for each other and the planet. Most of my left stuff is social justice issues, but letting the state manage that stuff is an even worse nightmare. Homeschooling is now against the law in many European countries. That mess scares me.
The more power the government gets, the greater danger we are in. I have never seen any good from a union, or from a government regulation. The way to control business, is to stop buying from any business that does bad things! This does not work if you do not tell them they are banned, and why!you no longer buy from them. The bad thing about government is that they are unable to do anything correctly. They screw up everything they touch, and produce nothing.
They are not a solution to ANYTHING, and present US Citizens with the single greatest risk to their future, than any other thing.
>:(Well, I agree about governments for the most part. I will say that when we were poor and had Medicaid and food stamps, both programs ran smoothly for us. My children got medical care they otherwise would not have had access to. So I don't think they're totally awful at everything, but they are certainly inefficient. I think we can do better. My step mom has MS also, and was diagnosed right when she and my dad started dating. She was a lawyer, and she dissolved her practice and firm to retire early and protect her health. She was covered for a short time after that under cobra or whatever it is, but it didn't last long, and because she had a pre existing condition, dad couldn't cover her. Even under Obamacare, the penalty for no insurance was cheaper. Luckily she decided early on to steer clear of pharmaceuticals, and she has mostly remained healthy, though it's been more than 20 years. But at some point she will need medical care, and it will destroy them. I think we can do better than that. I think we have to.
As far as businesses go, I just don't think many people are mature enough to stop buying from unethical corporations, and many are too poor to concern themselves with anything other than cost.
I do believe unions have been important. 8 hour day, health insurance, child labor laws, workplace safety laws - none of these were benevolent gifts of enlightened management. They were fought for, bled for, and died for. The Lawrence massacre, the great Ludlow strike, lots of people gave their lives to create a better life for others. I think it's good to acknowledge that history, but moving forward I think worker cooperatives are the way to go!
I have had people who were Union, act completely Evil during a strike, dumping nails across the driveways and smashing windows. When the strike was over, honey would not melt in their mouths. They said it was all over, and all was good. I am remembering the direct assaults, a week before, and I am wondering if these people are insane.
My next run in with Unions was with My Mother In Law. My Father in Law told me that his Union would take care of her after he passed. I was the POA, and fought to make them take care of her as they were supposed to. I fought them for two years, they were 100% useless. After I lost her, they said they were wrong, and were ready to set her up properly, and restore her benefits.
So I am not very impressed with Unions thus far, based on my experiences with them!
But if we can get the government off of our back, we will have a better chance.
Medicaid was good for basic medical, but does not go into more advanced procedures. They also were famous for skimming large amounts from the program, so if it cost $100 for the medical, they would take $300, and pocket the difference.
There's always people who get nasty or greedy. That's for sure. My mom had the same problem with the VA. My grandfather was a wwII vet, so my grandmother was entitled to benefits. She never really needed them until she went to assisted living. My mom had to harass them for more than two years to get those benefits. It was ridiculous! They lost paperwork, changed rules and supervisors. My poor mama was so frustrated.
Without question, the medical and pharmaceutical industries are absolutely horrid about milking as much money as they can. Then Medicaid pays less so private payers have to make up the difference. I was grateful for the care my kids received, but I know for sure that doctors did unnecessary stuff just to pocket extra cash. I also know because I worked in elder care that Medicaid doesn't come close to covering the cost most of the time. When I worked in assisted living, Medicaid paid something like $1100 a month. That meant private pay folks paid $3000-$4000 to make up the difference, and this was just to pay the bills because it was a nonprofit, and the founder was deeply committed to the sacred work of elder care and not trying to scam anyone. She wanted to ensure everyone could have proper care, regardless of their finances.
I have worked with Nursing Homes for many years, and they have special problems, and always fight financial problems.
ANYONE who makes it work well; in that industry has my respect!I made equipment for them for several decades.
It is a hard, unforgiving, business!
:'(I totally agree. It's a brutal business, especially if you have any kind of heart. So many places just can't afford to take Medicaid patients because the reimbursement is so low. I told my parents I'd never put them in a home. I worked with too many awful people in that business. At one place we had people selling and smoking crack at work and stealing patients' pills. The pay is so atrocious, though! It's hard to get good people to work for so little money. I'm not sure where all the money goes, but it isn't to the staff!