Independent Voters View | Time To Stay Focused!

A great victory has been won this week in Massachusetts. Senator-elect Scott Brown (R), will by all indications take his seat expeditiously, at least so far as the Massachusetts State Government is concerned. It is a time for all of us to keep a watchful eye on how the Senate handles this. It is also a time to see if we can now get our government to heed the independents message this election has so clearly enunciated.

First we must keep the pressure up to ensure the back room slight of hand dealings are stopped in any attempt to pass the current healthcare reform legislation. These abominations to free markets, freedom o f choice, and healthcare quality of service must meet their well deserved fate and be killed, now. Independents must now determine where their own congressman stands on the Senate Bill and apply pressure to ensure they vote no on the senate bill if they try to pass it in the House of Representatives. They must know vote by vote what they will lose in November should they lose site of the will of the people they represent.

We must also train our sites on the Cap and Trade legislation now pending before the Senate as well. This is a sure bet to increase costs for everyone,. Independents should insist instead on legislation that provides job building incentives for conversion to Natural Gas, in the power, and automotive industry, a National Pipeline Distribution System, increased domestic drilling and energy independence, along with Nuclear, Solar, and wind power initiatives. All focused on growth incentives, both near and long term. The job potential in this arena is huge.

The next focus for legislators, should be oversight of what should be the Administrations primary focus; our National Defense. The attempted in flight bombing last Christmas day, shows clear and convincing evidence of a resolute lack of integrated, focused, and interpreted intelligence in the counter terrorism system and needs to be fixed so it can focus like a laser beam on our enemies. Say what you will about President Bush, his administration kept these forces at bay for remaining seven years and four months of his term after the attack of Sept 11^th 2001.

Now just in case some might misunderstand and think this is a call for grid lock on Capital Hill. Let me say clearly it is not. Here are things that can be done and should be done.

Health Care Reform – Legislation should be developed that accomplishes the following, inter state open boarder competition in insurance. Remove the Anti Trust Exemption for insurance companies. Open the Federal Health Benefits Exchange for nationwide participation by small businesses. Legislate Tort Reform but with acceptable limits to ensure the victim is fairly compensated in the event of malpractice, but not to excess for the lining of the lawyers pockets; (you could do this by limiting lawyers fees to say costs plus 5 % as opposed to the more common 30-40% of the award). Look for real cost savings in Tricare, Medicare and Medicaid, through automation, and reductions in bureaucracy, and materials, not benefits and reimbursement. There are many more things that all of us can agree upon but fundamentally it must be done in an open and fair way that treats all Americans the same. (Think CSPAN).

Redirect the 600 Billion or so iof the remaining Stimulus funds to three things, jobs, Jobs, and JOBS! Think about some of the alternatives in Cap and Trade above, or turn our attention to the crumbling bridges throughout the country. There are some real ‘shovel ready’ projects and needs out there that will eventually require about 5 Trillion in funding over the next 10-15 years. Start now.

I’m sure there are more things that can be done and needs doing. These are just a few that occur to me. The fact is that the congress and the president could start with these and look  to a better future for our country. If you refuse or lay down and do nothing the great independent majority will be looking for your name in November and your replacements on the Ballot.