Well, if your going to swim in the deep end you have to be prepared for trouble. I'm going to hit on topics no sane "politician" would touch with a 10 foot gavel, but then again, I'm not a politician. So here we go on Stem Cells, Abortion, Social Security, and Healthcare. There's more to come folks. You want to know where I stand on the issues? I'm not afraid to stand up and let you know.

Stem Cell Research

US news headline “NIH chief says stem cell ban hurts U.S.” Hmmm, is there a ban on stem cell research? NO!! There is a ban of Federal FUNDING of stem cell research. If stem cell research is as great as it is then why isn’t every drug company in the world jumping on the wagon? What about Federal funding on umbilical stem cells or adult stem cells? What has that led too? How much federal funding was there for Viagra??? This is some of what if really ticking off most Americans. Why can’t “headlines” and “politicians” speak the truth. Why do we have to “translate” everything? Another “headline” “Circumcision Increases Aids Transmission”. Wow, the fact was that it was easier for a WOMAN to get aids if having sex with a circumcised partner that had NOT HEALED yet. Hmmmm, open wound anyone? Stem cell research is a political toy. Just another sound byte, something to make the news.

You want money spent on stem cell research? What else do you want YOUR money spent on? My policy will be to let the drug industry research the heck out of anything they want to research on. Don’t you think if stem cell research would lead to massive cures there would be a profit in it? Will the drug companies make a deal that ANY federal funds used for research will be RE-PAID with a percentage of profit? If the federal government invests in research then the federal government should OWN a portion of the results.

That brings up another point, flu vaccine. The latest headline “30 million” doses to be thrown out this year. Will you see that on the mainstream media? It’s all political folks, say what you will to make someone else look bad. I’m tired of it. I think politicians should do there job and quit pointing fingers at each other.

Abortion

This is a tough one. Personally, I don’t agree with abortion. I think it’s wrong. I think too many people use abortion as birth control. I don’t think the government should be involved in this, either way. I believe it is a personal choice. Unfortunately it is a big issue, so this is where I stand. If you are a victim of rape, incest, or your personal health (and I DO NOT MEAN sagging breasts) is an issue then you should have the choice. If you decide not to have your child and wish to abort, then that is your decision, I don’t agree with it, but it is your decision NOT MINE, and you have to live with it. I think you should make up your mind with in a reasonable amount of time. Partial birth abortions is an abomination to God and to our own humanity. It should be punishable by imprisonment to the mother and to the doctor. There is no justifiable reason for it (except for health reasons) and only the mother should decide if she is willing to give her life for her child.

Government paid abortions? I have a tough time with that. If you want the government to pay for your abortion then the government should pay for ONE. You will have the choice of having your tubes tied and then un-tied at a later day, at government cost. The government should not sponsor abortion as birth control. If you have had your one and declined to have your tubes tied, then the next ones can be picked up by an organization willing to support your right to get pregnant and then kill the child.

Social Security

What a scam! This scheme would be illegal any where else in the US. Our politicians should be ashamed over this scheme. Okay, we’ve got a pig in a poke, now what do we do about it. Well, someone is going to get the short stick. To everyone at AARP, it won’t be you. I’m going to be a member soon. You get to stay in and stick it to the next generation. Actually our kids are the next generation so we have to take that into account. Fact is, someone is going to get stuck. But you guys raised us so it is our turn to take things over.

We have to wean ourselves off of this one people. To put it simple, our last crop of politicians have “borrowed” this money and spent it. Actually, our politicians have been spending this money since the 60's. Bridges to nowhere ring a bell? Can you say “pork”.

I think we have to start putting our money where they can’t touch it. We have to get it out of their hands. We will have to come up with a plan where if your under 25 your out and we will set up something different for you. 25-45 you get a credit on what you paid (say 60% of what you’ve paid in, with interest) and if your over 45 your stuck with the current plan. The guy who is 44 will win out, but most of you don’t want if fixed anyway. These are just some ideas, but it is something that HAS to be fixed. It’s like a tooth ache, if the politicians had left things alone and kept brushing we wouldn’t have a problem, or if they would have pulled it 20 years ago, it wouldn’t have hurt as much, not the darn thing is abscessed. It has to go.

Health Care

It sure would be nice if medical care was free. Nothing in life is free. Medical care is no different. Does our current system work? Well, maybe not that great, but who has a better system? Show me facts people, I’ve already been to some of these countries and I’ve seen the stats. If you are in Canada and need open heart surgery what are the odds you are going to have it in Canada? “But Ray, Canadian drugs are sooooo cheap. It’s not fair to us”. Well if they are so cheap why is the Canadian government threatening to cut them off to the US? Because they are selling them less than cost because the Canadian Government is subsidizing the drugs!! If they were really so cheap they would be shipping them down here in truckloads to sell and make a profit. Smell the coffee people. It’s just another scheme.

You want cheap drugs? Buy them from Mexico. You want the RIGHT drugs? Buy them from the US. Why are they expensive? Because drug companies spend millions to research and test them. They have to get their money back or would you rather the “efficient” federal government tax you and then fund the drug companies?

We have great doctors. Why? Because they can make a good living here in the US. Do you think you have access to the same doctors a senator or congressman has? Maybe now you do but if the government gets into the healthcare business you can be they are going to suck up the best and base them in DC.

I’m truly sorry folks but this is just another pie in the sky plan to turn our country into a socialist Mecca. Free healthcare does not exist. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists will not work for free. These are hardworking and smart people. They are out to make the best living they can. If they can’t make it in the medical field they will find another field to do it in. Setting wages will only lower our level of care not increase it.

Where will it end? Does everyone have the right to liposuction? Do we all have the right to tummy tucks? Can we really afford to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on every person to extend what may be the last month of their life? There is a statistic where 80% of all the money spent on your personal care is spent in the last 6 months of your life. I am NOT advocating ending life. It’s a cold hard fact though. We cannot justify total resources to everyone. If you can pay for the insurance or your employer offers the insurance, then fine. If you do not provide a service or have not planned or put yourself in a position for expensive care then that is your choice.

Basic healthcare is doable. My wife currently works for a hospital that takes in ANY patient that cannot pay for healthcare. It’s not the Hilton by any means, but it is healthcare. You will get your medication, and you will be looked after. It’s reality. Some of her patients are homeless but have the choice to detox and move into a home that will teach them a skill and find them a job. Most of them decline. I believe they have that right but they also have to pay for that right.