Don
columnist: donspoliticalblog

When all is said and done we will have chosen a new President who will be expected to guide us through the next four years. This person has to be very careful as we are in such a vulnerable stage in our country. We have a financial crisis on one hand and an on going war against terrorism on the other. We have just had our House vote a 700 Billion dollar bailout supposedly for the banking industry to keep this crisis from effecting us poor folk on Main street. From what I can tell there seems to be some added pork to this program. We cannot gut the military to survive this economic slow down. That would put us at risk every day for a terrorist attack. So where is it going to come from? The easiest way I know is to build the economy and get industry rolling again. Here are a couple of ways to do just that.

The thing no one is really focused on in this blame game called campaigning is real heath care solutions. Obama seems like he wants to promise everything to everybody and we all know that socializing medicine is not going to work, McCain hasn't focused on the problem yet so what needs to be done? As a business man employing over 20 people I can tell you the cost for medical coverage is totally out of hand. The way it works now is that 2 or 3 people have medical conditions that drive up the cost for all employees. Should I lay off those with conditions? I think not, these people have been with us through thick and thin and they would be unable to obtain insurance on their own. I believe that if the government is going to subsidize health care one way it could be done is through employer medical plans. I have had to change our policies as a company to avoid layoffs. Once upon a time we were able to pay 100% of the employees health care policy and 60% of the family. We are now only able to afford 70% of the employee and 40% of the family. This has created hardships for several of our people as well as the company this year because costs have skyrocketed. We have had a few drop from the program and I am sure are going without. If you want the government to create a medical assistance program do it by offering a special subsidized package through Medi-care for those hard to insure employees. This will allow much lower rates for the rest of the crew. It would also be a huge benefit if we could put a cap on medical damage awards that drive up Doctors malpractice insurance. Fat chance for that with the world being run by lawyers but worth a try.

Economic help for existing small business; Instead of putting all the 700 billion into the hands of wall street and a few pork driven projects maybe we could save a few small business' by loosening up the SBA and funding a program for quick financing up to $500,000 for small business. I have heard just this last week of many companies who have survived for years closing their doors for lack of financing. Downturns like this one really have a terrible affect on small companies. Business drops off and the overhead goes on. Usually they try to hang onto their employees too long and pay the consequences. These would be good risk loans compared to some that the government is planning to bail out. This would also create a surge in business by maintaining employment strength in an area. Car Dealers all over the country are failing because of this lack of consumer credit availability. You may think it doesn't matter if a car dealer fails but what about the hundreds of families that it affects and the related business' that suffer? What happens when you go to buy your next vehicle and there is no competition for the surviving dealer, whoops there goes the price.

I wish we could get this election over with and start our recovery. The problem is the election won't stop partisan politics it never has and nothing good will come without both sides working together. Term limits is sounding better and better.

And that's my opinion,
Don