Healthcare

There was an article this week on Yahoo News that reported on findings by the Health and Human Services Department that found that . . . healthcare will cost more money than was estimated. Umm . . . did someone really need to tell us that? The healthcare bill is infuriating to me for several reasons, but one thing that I don't understand is why in a less than wonderful economy our representatives (and I use that term lightly) voted something in that obviously was going to cost beaucoup bucks. My feelings are that if we don't have the money, we shouldn't - not to mention can't - spend it. And yet, the current administration (and I suppose I should include our entire nation - that's probably the core of the problem) has no problem doing just that.

Prop 100

There is a Proposition on the ballot right now that would increase the sales tax here in Arizona to help schools not lose the devastating amounts of money they will lose without this sales tax. I am curious to know how you feel about this. I feel like there are many people who support the proposition. I also feel kind of heartless, especially because I am in the field of education, but I am opposed to the tax, and this is why:

Once a tax is added, it seems like it never goes away. I think this is supposed to be a temporary tax, but I don't know if I really believe that's what it will be. Or even if it is temporary, what will happen when the increase is dropped?
I feel like we probably have money to do what we need to, but we just have too much of a bureaucracy, and the money doesn't go where it is really needed. I wonder if it is going to take things crashing in a major way to get us to get the money where it really needs to go and to cut out the things - or jobs - we don't need.

The reasons I feel bad about not voting for the tax are these:
Without the tax, there will be way less money for the kids - like, A LOT less money for the kids. Even if the proposition passes, there will still be less money for the kids, just not nearly as much less as there will be without it. Education is important and I believe society will only benefit from offering children a good education.
A lot of teachers are being let go. If I was one of those teachers, would I still hold to my convictions?

I think this proposition is a hard one, but I feel like adding taxes just perpetuates the problems by allowing us to be less responsible with what we have. What do you think?

A Few Links for Framework

I think it is important for you to know where I am coming from - why my feelings are as deep as they are regarding this country and its life. Therefore, I am including links to the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.

I think it is very important to be familiar with these documents in order to understand where we (Americans) come from and why many of the things that are happening today are so frustrating to me. I love our nation's history. I love where we come from. I believe that the men wrote these documents were very intelligent, inspired men. When we depart from the principles we were founded on, I have big problems with it because I love and believe in those principles.

Fed Up

I decided recently that it was time for me to start a political blog, where I can vent my frustration and hopefully help spark greater political interest in others. Welcome! I hope you will contribute.