ON THE ISSUES
AFFORDABLE & ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE
As far as healthcare, I believe that a single payer system similar to that in Canada is worth studying. I am often told how terrible the Canadian system is by Americans, but not by Canadians! Even here at Roanoke College I have students who are just getting by on a scholarship and that have NO health insurance. NONE. They can get some basic services here but God forbid they are in an accident.-Angela, Salem on Apr 16
Response: Our healthcare crisis in America is paralyzing for so many citizens. As the richest country in the world, it is sad that we are unable to provide medical care to all of our citizens. So many other developed nations have come to the objective conclusion that they have a duty to their citizens to provide medical care. The United States should be following that lead.-Sam, Apr 16
The ACPJ hosted a very informative forum on healthcare which was lead by Dr. Ross Isaccs from the University of Virginia. Dr. Issacs was the source of a great information: Over 47 million uninsured Americas (9 million are children) and about the same number who are underinsured. Poverty is a transmissible disease (great point). The United States is 42nd in the world in the category of Infant Mortality and 48th in Life Expectancy (we are the richest country in the world, so no excuse). One billion people world-wide have high blood pressure. More people died from preventable chronic disease last year than from ALL WARS we have fought as a nation combined! Our country had more people internally displaced from Hurricanes Katrina & Rita than other region of the world. 10% of the world's population is in Sub-Saharan Africa, but that accounts for 60% of all HIV cases. Emerging economies have the highest rates of obesity in the world. Cuba has the lowest Infant Mortality in the Western Hemisphere. Healthcare is more than just an issue, it is a right. Being the most prosperous nation in the world, we should have great emphasis on improving our healthcare system. Something must be done.-Sam, Mar 27
The average American spends $2,000 a year on healthcare. With forty-six million people without healthcare it would cost $92 billion dollars to create a fund for which every uninsured American can have access to $2,000 per year so that they can receive basic medical coverage. Each American family can receive $2,000 of healthcare for every uninsured person in their house so that parents can choose to spend more on their kids and less on themselves if they wish. To pay for this we could charge big businesses a healthcare tax, requiring them to pay more into the system because they require more to be on the system. We could pay down our interest on the national debt which cost us $160 billion in 2004, and remove the Bush tax cuts on those who make over $200,000 a year.-Matt from Salem, Mar 17
Response: Great use of hard numbers to derive a potential solution to our rising healthcare crisis. This great video explains what the Bush tax cuts really did for America: BUSH TAX CUTS Another potential solution is the implementation of HR 676, which presses for Universal Healthcare. You can read more about that bill and how it would be implemented here. Just below I have a link to my editorial on child wellness-- it is shameful that the United States ranks so low in the world when it comes to the health of our children. We must change that together and make this concern a national priority!-Sam, Mar 18
Editorial: Sam's Editorial On Child Wellness,-March 6
Piecemeal attempts at providing healthcare is so unfair. Why does one group merit some amount of coverage and not others? People 65 and over have Medicare to cover some of their costs, although this could be improved upon. Some poor children have some type of coverage. But why not everybody? This is a wealthy country. It is imperative that the government find a solution to the disgraceful situation of having millions of our citizens not covered medically. If other industrialized countries can do it, then we can too. If the government leaders can't come up with ways to do it, then go to Europe and talk to leaders of those countries. I think that the will of those governing us is simply not there. I would bet that if our representatives didn't have automatic coverage, they would be more sensitive to the need for coverage of their constituents. We need people in government with real leadership skills who can find solutions to this inexcusable situation and cover everybody, not just certain groups.-Frederick, Mar 12th
Response: I have long believed that sickness is a basic part of humanity. We as a society, as the richest country on earth, have a duty to provide medical care to all of our citizens. Medical care should be classified with likes of food and shelter, and is a basic necessity of human life. The United States must derive a plan to make medical care affordable and accessible to all, instead of choking the life out of middle America. The hard working families and children of America deserve this much.-Sam, Mar 12
I hope Congress finds the funds to help the state run child healthcare programs that are running out of funds in 17 different states. Billions earmarked, put into pork projects, and funding war, but our children our in danger!-Sam, Feb 28th
I hear many parents cannot even take there kids to the doctor, because they can't afford to take time off from work. Could there be a program where volunteer/subsidized doctors or nurses could come to schools for routine check-ups or diagnosis?-Roanoke, Anonymous on Feb 19th
Response: Great idea. This is exactly the type of thinking we need. For example, the Christian Free Clinic of Botetourt has just opened in Botetourt. Doctors and nurses volunteer their time once a week. (Many thanks to those volunteers.)-Sam on Feb 19th
What the idea of new nursing schools operated by local universities that offer reduced healthcare costs to individuals that are cared for by the student nurses and doctors?-Feb 20th
Could we bundle insurance for healthcare providers to lower their costs to help dampen increasing costs?-Feb 19th
Does capping the litigation limits on mal-practice lawsuits help to keep healthcare costs down?-Feb 19th
I believe that the revenue lost from the Bush tax cuts for the rich, could have gone toward supplementing state funding for our schools. Now the states and localities must bear the burden and juggle education, transportation, and healthcare issues. VA could raise the gas tax if our country was doing more to limit the record profits of oil companies (e.g. Exxon $39 Billion last year). WAKE UP AMERICA, WAKE UP VIRGINIA...THIS IS NO GAME! OUR WONDERFUL COUNTRY IS IN THE HANDS OF THE GREEDY. We must help our children in education and focus on worker initiatives such as healthcare, and be proud to stand for these righteous ideals-Sam, Mar 10th
I am sorry to the students of the Roanoke Valley, especially Roanoke City, that we are not doing more to help increase the low graduation rate (57%). You are our future and we should be fighting harder for you.-Sam, Feb 25th
A UNICEF study from a few years ago ranks the United States 18th out of 24 nations in five different areas with regards to education amongst teens: http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=11609 -Sam on Feb 20th
A great website for an organization that sponsors entrepreneurship in California is www.tiesv.org. They mainly focus on Silicon Valley, but have a great program.-San Jose, CA, Manu on Feb 17th
Response: This would be a great idea/model for something in the 6th District. These are the types of initiatives this area needs.-Sam on Feb 17th.
Today I met with the leaders of local unions. Our local unions are fighting for the issues that we all care about, better healthcare, increased wages, improvement to our social systems, and better education. The unions offer a voice to thousands of workers, to be able to speak to and bargain on behalf of workers. In many ways, this seems as though it is a fundamental necessity for many industries to protect the rights of the workers. The leaders brought to my attention the Free Choice Act, which would make it easier for workers to organize and to unionize. This bipartisan bill seems very fair and should be brought to our attention. We should do more to help middle class America and the hard-workers of our great country!-Sam Mar 29
The Meyerson piece in today's WaPo (Washington Post) illustrates the damage done to our middle class workers lives by the conservative, right-wing ideologues. It's more complex than parental guidance and video games. ['Family Values' Chutzpah is the name of the article]-Peter, Blue Ridge on Mar 7
Response: One of the underlying causes with many problems in America is INCOME DISPARITY. All three major parts of my platform are issues that stem from the increase in income disparity over the past 30 years. This difference in income is derived from the vast increase in income from the top 20% of Americans and stagnant wages for nearly everyone else. When both parents must work just to pay the bills, who is going to raise the children?
Editorial: Sam's Editorial On Child Wellness,-March 6
UNICEF just released a report last week and the United States ranked 20th out of 21 "rich" countries, studying the well-being of children in six different dimensions. This report is fascinating: http://www.unicef.org/media/files/ChildPovertyReport.pdf. We have some work to do and we need some spirit to do it. As the best and richest country in the world, lets do something about it and not give in.-Sam Feb 20th
Recently Shannon Valentine, House of Delegates, gave a speech about submitting her legislation which tried to make the Virginia Retirement System divest from foreign companies that did business with the government of Sudan. Some facts: More than 400,000 people are dead from the genocide in Darfur. 2.25 million people have left homeless due to the ethnic cleansing sponsored by the government. Ninety percent of the villages in Darfur have been destroyed. A modern day holocaust with little being done in the name of human rights. We should all support Senate Bill 831. Please visit http://www.sudandivestment.org/home.asp for one way you can help. - Sam Mar 28
Hooray to the Bush Administration for wanting to talk to Iran & Syria, instead of implying war. Talk is good!-Sam Feb 28th
I'd like to know your position on eminent domain, especially when it comes to government taking private property and giving it to another private entity.-Lee, March 2
Response: The purpose of eminent domain is for the government to be able to confiscate land from private land owners, or other entities for the purpose of benefiting many. But the land owner must be compensated at fair market value. The problem is defining two things, "benefiting many" and "fair market value." When you have a system of politics that is reliant on outside funding in order to campaign for office, it is inevitable for large private entities to make friends and apply pressure through fundraising dollars. These firms "convince" public officials that taking this land is in the best interest of everyone. The question of "benefiting many" can always be interpreted as subjective. Our interstate system is one of many government projects that have benefited this country in many eyes, so eminent domain is not the enemy. The problem comes when individuals place fundraising dollars for personal gain ahead of "benefiting many." The only type of solution that really can be reached is the involvement of truly independent third party consultants that the government and individual advocacy groups can agree upon to try to objectively determine if a situation involving eminent domain truly benefits many.-Sam, March 2
And, of course, do you know the difference between a sin and a crime? Usury is a sin, but it is not a crime. It used to be but the bankers' lobby took care of that one year ago. -Lee, March 2
Response: I think that it is good that our society has easy, nearly instant ways of providing funds to those in need. This can be a double-edged sword, making it easier for lower income individuals to become more entrenched in a culture of debt. In modern economies, progress is many times based on ROI or return-on-investment. The desired ROI is calculated based on what an investor deems is a comfortable return, plus a risk premium added based on the conditions of the investment. Certain types of investments (lending) can carry considerable risk, but when we bypass this system of risk calculation to potentially take advantage of an individual, a certain line has been crossed. Individuals do have a choice when asking for any loan, but in business law these types of contracts could be considered unconscionable, meaning the amount of calculated interest would be so grossly unfair that there is "void of conscience."-Sam, March 2
From the film, "THE POWER COMMUNITY: HOW CUBA SURVIVED PEAK OIL." Peak oil is a concept defined as the point at which the level of production of oil ceases to increase. The peak production of oil in the United States was reached in 1970. The world is expected to reach peak oil in the year 2010. The world consumes 5 barrels of oil for every 1 barrel we find, giving as all an idea of the finite amount of fossil fuel energy on our planet. Farmers are one of the highest paid professions in Cuba. Over 50% of the agricultural needs of Havana comes from urban agriculture (from city limits). Over 80% of Cuban agriculture is organic. In the United States, our food travels over 1500 miles on average to get to our plate! We should do more increase local food supply. -SAM, May 10th
I am very concerned about global warming and feel that it is perhaps the greatest threat to mankind in history. I would like to hear more of your thoughts on the issue, particularly how you feel about the various alternatives to fossil fuel power generation; nuclear, wind and solar in particular. -Oakey, April 15
Response: The single biggest problem with the issue of global warming is that the warming of our planet is bigger than one administration or even one country. With that in mind, it is difficult for many to comprehend the potential severity of the situation at hand until the scales have truly tipped and we are too late to act.
I believe that alternatives to fossil fuels are most certainly a great start, but there is so much more that needs to be done. We should demand more from our vehicle manufacturers with regards to fuel efficiency in the short-term, and encourage investment in alternative fuel sources, not just pin our hopes on ethanol. We truly need a complete overhaul of our energy consumption in this country.
Wind and solar power do not face real opposition in the general public and we are becoming more efficient with these power sources. Nuclear energy does draw red flags for many, but we must understand that there has been great strides with regards to nuclear energy over the past several decades. Nuclear energy has enormous potential, and one important note is that we know exactly what and where the by-product is. America must recognize the amount of energy in the fundamental building block of matter, the atom.-Sam, April 15
PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS INFORMATION: Winter 2006 was the warmest on record; January 2007 was the hottest on record; 10 of the warmest years in recorded history have come in the past 14 years; NEW--the rate of global warming has increased 300% since 1976; 2004 had the first ever hurricane in the South-Atlantic; there were a record 1717 tornadoes in 2004; In 2006, Mumbai, India had a record 37 inches of RAIN IN ONE DAY; 20% of the polar ice caps have been melted since 1976; 70% of the emperor penguin population has perished since 1976; Out of the 928 scientific studies conducted in the past 10 years about global warming, NONE (0) have concluded against global warming. We must realize the consequences of our actions.-Sam, March 26
Where do you stand on gun control?-Scott, Salem on April 4
Response: Thank you for your question. Gun
violence in America has spiraled out of control. We have so many
more gun related deaths than any other developed nation in the
world. It really saddens me to hear the statistics, BUT I
do not believe that the government should have the right to take
away gun rights from law abiding citizens. We should
preach gun safety and promote economic development so that
people are not pushed into a life of crime.-Sam, April 5
