Solutions for Change

Have Your Say In Congress

2007-05-19T14:44:00.000-05:00

I am committed to reaching out to all Americans to restore trust and confidence in Americas democratic institution. The American people need a Congress that will respond to their needs, not select interest groups. With Congress approval rating at 19% the lowest in history, not any of our political leaders are talking about what can be done to improve the democratic process. Instead our present political leaders want to spend time blaming other political party. It's the negative partisan tone in Congress today that is one of the cause's of the public dissatisfaction with Congress. I thank the real debate should be trying to restore the people's confidence in Congress, not negative partisanship.

In this blog I will be proposing some innovative ideas that I thank could improve the work of Congress and improve the quality life for America today. As your Representative I will seek out long term solutions in solving the problems of today, by studying what really caused the problem or issue in the first place. The problem's with Congress is it tends to be more reactionary, not proactive in solving today's problems. One of the best example recently is Government's incompetence in dealing with Katrina, Mississippi bridge collapsing, Air traffic Control, as well as the Iraq War. America infrastructure is now showing signs of age and deterioration. Now there is a growing doubt about America's ability to be a "can-do" government. It is my hope that I can restore some of that "can-do spirit" back in Congress.

Sincerely Yours!

Meyer

E-Democracy

2007-05-15T15:52:00.000-05:00

With Congress approval rating at 19% our Representatives in Washington should be trying to find ways to regain the peoples confidence and trust, instead of blaming the other political party for the low approval rating As your next representative I will be proposing E-Democracy an innovative program that has not been fully utilized in Congress. By using Digital Dialogues Congress could engage more citizens in the democratic process. Congress should take some much needed steps for understanding and engaging with online communities. A Digital Dialogue project uses online technologies to facilitate dialogue between central government and the public around real policy exercises. Making good information readily available to the public is key to the success of these interactions. The power of information is essential to quality democratic governance, making government more forthcoming with the wealth of data it has available.

Congress Should undertake a pilot of e-petitions; demonstrate that online petitions can be easy to manage, cheap and popular. I would propose parties work together on a trial program of an online petitions system for Congress, something. This is something I After voting, signing petitions is the most common form of political action. Examples from other Representative democracies believe would help in reinvigorate Representative Democracy.

Welcoming Congress online Consultation; Most importantly innovative technology will bring new voices into policy making. People need to feel that their participation is valued in order to regain the peoples confidence.

America's Health Care Reform

2007-05-15T14:47:00.000-05:00

http://www.house.gov/

Marks Marks

Maryland Congress Dist. 8

Taking on Health Care Reform

The most important domestic issues facing society today is the rising cost of health coverage. The United States health care system, while one of the best in the world. simply is not performing as well as it should. The cost of heath care continues to soar and is threatening the bottom line and competitiveness of American industry, leaving many American families uninsured and under-insured. Our health system is facing national crises if action is not taken.

Nationally, the United States spent more than $2 trillion on health care in 2005, nearly $6,700 per person. That will rise to $4 trillion by the year 2015--0r more than $12,300 per person.

As a share of our gross domestic product, health care spending is projected to reach 20 percent by 2015--up from about $16.2 percent in 2005

Medicare outlays will exceed income for the first time in 2012--leading to a 75-year unfunded liability for medicare of $68.1 trillion

These rising costs of health care are not sustainable--not for business, not for government and certainly not for families. As your Representative one of my main priorities will be to find solutions. The American people are ready for their Representative to put their differences aside and work together.

I believe we must build a system that is affordable and accessible for everyone. This can be done with out a government-run health care program that includes the worst aspects of socialized medicine while robbing our nation of its ingenuity in developing new cures and treatments for deadly illnesses.

In the following I have outlined some proposed solutions that have been debated on the Hill. In a later article I will be proposing my own solutions in more detail.

The American government should consider requiring individuals to have health insurance.
Insurance companies should be required to take everyone and be prohibited from refusing to cover pre-existing conditions.
Employers should be required to provide employee heath insurance or to otherwise help subsidize their worker's coverage.
The Government should should consider allowing people who aren't covered through employer to enroll in medicare or the health care system for federal workers or the or either join a group plan through a trade associations.
The government should encourage investment in health information technology as a way to improve the quality of health care and lower the cost.
For the help with the rising cost of medication the FDA should allow Americans to buy their medication from Canada, where the cost is about half of the U.S. cost.

Please fill free to share what your views are. I welcome your comments and opinions on Health Care Reform. Thanks for all your help in restoring good governance Congress.

My Best Regards!

Meyer Marks

Maryland Congress Dist. 8

Restoring America's Democracy back to the People.

Marylanders for Marks

Congress dist. 8

http://www.marksforcongress.blogspot.com/

http://www.marylandersformarks.townhall.com/