US Elections D-Day

Both types of health care naturally have their pro's and con's, but being a socialist kinda guy by breed... I prefer our system (the social one)

Around here in the Netherlands, our healthcare costs about 80 euro's per month minimum (if you don't make much money, the government will pay half of that, sometimes even more) so I now only pay 40 euro's per month for my insurances, (I chose not to include dental care, as I don't need it much...otherwise it would be slightly more) For that wee bit of money, im covered for everything (got a nice chance to spend it 4 years ago when I splintered my vertibrates with some snowboarding "tricks" If I were to pay for that myself, it would have cost me far to much, meaning a loan or worse... I walked out rather quick, but my uncle spent about a year in the hospital, due to a faulty heart, and some complications. He doesn't make that much money, and would certainly have died if not for this system - he now walks around, without debts or financial problems, just a slight lack of vitality due to a year of bedrest (doesn't seem to afflict his witty remarks though... he still harasses us at every family gathering )

The same system goes for social housing, If you cannot afford your rent, you will not get kicked out, you can apply for financial aid, and if in dire need, you can even get into anogher care system, which would supply your every need (1080 euro's per month, which is the minimum needed to live around here)

Ah yes, and schools are a lot cheaper! a mere 1500 euro's per year for university (all three levels of them - it's slightly different here than stateside) and perhaps some books, but mostly it's the beers that make it expensive haha

this all sounds fairly nice, BUT, brings along those who profit from it, and try to exploit. and seeing as this government income gift is enough to live on, people can get kinda lazy, slacking and what more.

To this end, I would like to see our economies a bit more on the free side of things, though I will always remain a socialist. - even though it might result in paying 60% taxes when I make more money...



ON topic

I think Obama's victory might prove usefull to the states, as he might look more to the States themselves, and the problems they are facing internally (schooling, housing, healthcare and jobs) then to the outside world.

around here, we allways felt during the bush administration, that they were covering up their own shitty situation by focussing on the world, the wars and whatmore.

I hope Obama might change the economy a bit to be less dependant on the giant military machine and the supporting economy of military technology (even though it has brought us much other good -jeej for the internet, tefal layers and cell phones- I am not looking forward to a new missile screen next door, or more and more pointless wars, which no-one can withdraw from, but no-one either dares to fully occupy or root out the locals... - and besides that, I'm a pacifist by nature.

Well, there's a whole lot of other things on my mind, but this crappy keyboard is not helping... hahah

Obama can not change the economy. The economy is global, every nation must be involved, not just the USA. All nations must monitor their banks and other financial instituions.

Please don't forget we have a Congress and Senate that help pass laws, it is not just the president.

No one person directs all.

(added) McCain also could not have changed the economy. It will take years and a lot of work.

I voted for Obama, so I'm naturally happy that he won. In general, Democrats support programs that help poor people, so I will benefit from his policies. Teachers get paid crap for doing more hard work and contributing longer hours than most brainless jobs. The key issue for me was the impending appointment of 2 new Supreme Court Justices. At the moment it is some what balanced, but if McCain had won he would surely appoint 2 conservatives and tip the balance. Speaking of balance, I don't approve of the shift in the house. The democratic majority undermines the checks & balances.

My 2 cents.

Da Bank wrote:

Obama can not change the economy. The economy is global, every nation must be involved, not just the USA. All nations must monitor their banks and other financial instituions.

Please don't forget we have a Congress and Senate that help pass laws, it is not just the president.

I know, what I meant was the local economy (around here, we're not that dependant on military for our economy) and even though you still have to pass Congress and the Senate, an inspiring leader can convince the people to think different, and the Officials will have to follow..

Further, a different foreign policy (less wars, no rocket shield (?) in eastern Europe) will, for example, automatically reduce the military production, as there will be less weapons bought by the government. The same would happen if we didn't prevent cluster bombs from being banned, even though I bet that this has nothing to do with German corporations producing them...
Of course, you'd need a global effort to radically change the economic system.

EDIT: Uh oh, seems as if California sadly did vote for 8...