United States – Government Shut Down

January 19, 2018

United States – Government Shut Down

Padmini Arhant

 

United States government shut down is unfortunate and apparently a routine event considering the last one in 2013.

The members in the United States Senate unable to reach an agreement on issues of their choice demonstrates the lack of commitment to serve the American public without any disruption contributing to financial losses from the gridlock in the Senate.

Surely, the deal could have been struck among lawmakers in prioritizing issues and addressing relevant concerns on all sides amicably in electorate and national interest. Instead, the members blaming one another for their own favorite issues do not reflect well on the government and the nation delivering a negative image on performance.

The inaction to fund government impedes various activities again resulting in economic liability at tax payers expense that could have been averted by coming together and working out the best possible solution on major and minor aspects of the funding bill.

As such the public opinion on congressional stalemate is well known and accordingly the legislative and the executive branch coordination on the government funding bill is necessary without further delay in order to avoid indefinite breakdown for such situation serves none in politics.

Whoever is responsible in exacerbating the present crisis are not going to benefit in any manner and certainly not in political mileage this election year. The electorate backlash could have serious repercussions with public frustration mounting over legislators’ inability to reach an agreement on matter concerning all citizens affected in the preventable shut down.

Hopefully the members’ constitutional oath to serve the people of the United States without causing or allowing obstruction in government functionality and service to the nation would be maintained leading to the reopening of the government.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com

 

 

 

United States – 2018 Mid Term Elections

January 17, 2018

United States – 2018 Mid Term Elections

Padmini Arhant

The public issues directly affecting ordinary citizens would determine Congressional elections outcome this year.

The issue such as restoring net neutrality wrongfully repealed by FCC currently awaiting Congressional bipartisanship in the bill introduced under The Congressional Review Act (CRA) in the United States Senate is just short of one vote to reach 51 votes in the simple majority process. The bill would then proceed to the House of Congress and finally to the White House.

Those who aspire to Make America Great Again and interested in maintaining majority rule in the House and Senate would place people needs and rights over special interests, political party and personal career. The net neutrality is not partisan matter as it affects citizens across the spectrum with or without political affiliation.The internet freedom is the last bastion in claiming United States a free country with the first amendment protecting free speech enabled via internet in the easy unrestricted and uncensored access to internet in the Information Age.

The DACA legalizing resident status for the Dreamers with the path to citizenship is pragmatic offering a permanent solution. The immigration policy accommodating border security with the Wall appears to be acceptable with bipartisan backing that includes DACA and border security.

The White House shying away from this opportunity to seal the deal is hard to comprehend especially President Donald Trump campaign in 2016 pledging to get things done averting government shut down and gridlock in Congress. Now when the White House is presented the moment to do so, the administration backing away with unconvincing explanations reflect the Washington contagion effect on members to miss the flight allowing the issue to linger on adding to economic liability and social dilemma.

In other matter, the federal proposal to verify Californians citizenship in the 2020 Census survey likely to inhibit significant immigrant population from participation as there are many awaiting citizenship following permanent resident status that do not qualify them until completion of five years residency in total since obtaining green card in the United States. The rule differs from other western nations like Australia with only two years requirement of continuous residency post permanent resident approval.

The White House step would further exclude other legal residents in different immigrant category contributing to the state and federal income tax depriving them from Congressional representation. These unwanted maneuvers adds to the contentious immigration debate stalling the current government funding bill in Washington D.C.

The White House census move possibly contracting representation in the House of Congress combined with substantial financial loss in federal funding for the State of California is an unnecessary quest and pronounce unique gerrymandering in the mid term election year.

California is not only the largest economy in the nation, the golden state with vast immigrant population also ranks within top ten in the global economy. The federal interception to alter political configurations leading to under representation or lower count forcing the state to lose a seat in Congress and billions of dollars in federal funds as a result of this experiment is unwise besides not being prudent in political as well as economic terms.

Similarly, the Department of Justice (DOJ) Attorney General Jeff Sessions targeting actions adopted by California and other states in legalizing medical marijuana to alleviate pain and suffering among young and old patients diagnosed with life threatening illnesses like cancer and other disease undermines state autonomy in evaluating the benefits and costs on such decisions.

In case the argument is to leave the medical marijuana intact and focus on concerns about recreational marijuana use, even then the federal intervention on citizens lifestyle regardless of potential harm in long term use conflict with democratic system and practicality.

One might say alcohol consumption that exists in various proportions causing health hazards for those exceeeding the limit should perhaps be included in the federal law on marijuana. The same topic could be extended to unhealthy junk food prevalent in the daily diet for urban and poorer segments in society. The lifestyle choices should be left to citizens discretion with adequate health warnings and information rather than imposing regulations that would only prompt illegal approach with no real data on sale and consumption.

On Obamacare, as discussed in length on this website regarding this health care law, the legislation failed to hold the key players – the health care industry comprising corporations and medical foundations in health care management along with Big Pharma and the other being the health insurance industry in meeting their end of the bargain to make health care affordable.

The health care costs and life dependent prescription drugs for cancer and terminal disease is alarming due to extraordinary profits aimed and reaped with price gouging on the rise by big pharmaceutical companies prioritizing mega profitability over patient care and survival.

The problem not addressed in the Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare is leaving patients and families to choose between medical expense and essential items like food and basic needs with insurance coverage unable to match the rapidly increasing price tag on these medications. When major companies in the pharmaceutical industry are positioned to exploit the situation against market affordability, consumers dealing with life and death scenario are vulnerable to soaring price enhancing corporate profits at consumers plight that ultimately impact demand.

Accordingly, the Carers Act in the health care law would be appropriate to streamline burgeoning drug and health care costs making health crisis management and wellness programs truly affordable.

In conclusion, America can become great only when representation in government and society is committed towards progress leaving behind none with fairness and equality guaranteed through individual freedom and economic prospects for all.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States – Frankly Speaking on President Donald J. Trump Administration

January 14, 2018

United States – Frankly Speaking on President Donald

J.Trump Administration

Padmini Arhant

Frankly Speaking, the current administration headed by President Donald J. Trump has enormous potential to achieve goals in national and international interest provided the President’s public statements and views are strictly confined to issues and matter relevant to the subject refraining from unnecessary comments that immediately attracts media and world attention.

The achievements in the first year such as tax laws though favoring the wealthy and corporations continued from previous administration extending Bush tax cuts to the wealthiest hopefully have corporations invest the tax incentives in the economy for job creation and sustenance as expected in this bill. Again, any default or failure on the corporations not sharing the public dollars in enhancing job growth and American economy would impact American business and long-term prospects. Accordingly, the companies as beneficiaries of tax breaks distributing the tax dollars among members of work force all the way to the bottom unlike the trend to benefit top 1% would be wise and pervasively productive.

President Trump’s proposal on health care requiring able bodies to earn health insurance coverage with more than 10 or 12 states having come forward to enact this rule is prudent. The recommendation exempting elderly, disabled, pregnant women and children while having healthy members to earn the health plan coverage not only encourage young and not so old participants to avoid being branded as social welfare recipient which would be the case in this instance but also allow them to contribute to community service and the system.

Those who oppose the suggestion claiming that this would prevent these groups from active job search and the other scenario being there are individuals already working in other fields and therefore would not be possible for them to comply with this requirement.  With the former, the job seekers without insurance qualifying under this program could always fulfill the community or service obligation and organize for job interviews on mutual arrangement between them and wherever they are working that should accommodate requests within reasonable timeframe. In doing so, they might be able to assist the job seekers on community and other social service to move into full time employee status in the work force saving the health insurance coverage for others in worse situations. As for the latter, the employers should be incentivized with necessary tax deductions and use them towards insurance plan for the employed members without insurance coverage. Though this is a standard practice with most companies offering minimum health plan for their workers and staff, the ones yet to assimilate in this category should be advised to do so with tax benefit.

The objection raised in expecting healthy citizens to work for insurance plan is partisan politics. There has been similar proposition in place under earlier administrations like the former democratic President Bill Clinton justifying such requirement on college students qualifying for lower interest rates on student loans to return the favor in mandatory community service.

President Donald Trump waiver on Iran sanctions admittedly done with reluctance is a positive step for that is necessary in honoring United States commitment to ease tensions in the Middle East and discourage any nuclear ambitions from Iran agreed to in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015.

President Donald Trump administration on immigration policy in not ending H-1B visas for professionals awaiting permanent status is practical otherwise the measure would have triggered exodus leaving high tech industry and other sectors dependent on highly skilled work force in disarray.

As for the immigrants certified as undocumented and without legal status residing in the United States having arrived at a young age, The Differed Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that was introduced through executive order by the predecessor President Barack Obama granting temporary work permits due to expire in March this year having been an incomplete process in nature appears to be contentious at this point in time.

President Donald Trump’s willingness to derive permanent solution to this issue granting legal status with path to citizenship and the Democrats agreement in this respect along with consensus on border security gaining bipartisan support is a good opportunity to move forward leaving behind the political gaffe and denials as well as misinterpretations of conversations proved nothing more than distractions serving none in politics.

The combined efforts from all members of Congress in the House and the Senate on all issues and averting government shut down with the approval of funding bill incorporating essential needs and addressing DACA together with formalizing the DREAM Act would confirm government seriousness in serving American electorate to the best of ability and reliability.

Finally, President Donald Trump and administration focus on getting things done as witnessed in the first year transcending impulsive reactions and response only providing fodder to factions eager to debate and exacerbate problems would be in the best interest of American public and international affairs deserving attention and meaningful resolutions.

I convey my best wishes in reaching amicable solutions to issues confronting the United States and global citizenry.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com