Political Views
What Do I Believe In
The role of government is not clearly defined, or even agreed upon. Some people believe the government should be small - responsible for foreign relations, matters of justice and law, and national security. Others think the government should be responsible for a wide range of services - infrastructure, education, health care, a safety net for those who need it.
I think the government and politics are powerful tools, that can be used for the betterment of society. Below I discuss my views on specific issues in depth, but here are a few key points.
Right now, the current state of politics is frayed beyond recognition. The bipartisanship is sickening, it’s driving people out of office, out of service, and things need to change. This isn’t entirely the politicians fault. Money has far to big of an influence, though there has been an influx of candidates who don’t take money from Super PACS or other big donors. Disinformation is another culprit. People need to slow down, talk to one another not with contempt but with open ears, and we can work towards a better society together.
Let’s take care of some easy wins:
Let’s stay on Daylight Savings Time, always. It’s unnecessary and unhealthy and confusing, and benefits almost no one.
Why isn’t there some kind of optional national identity card. Low cost, versatile, informative.
Abolishment of electoral college - senate already gives states disproportional government power to some states, we may as well have the president elected through pure popular vote.
Some important issues that need to be taken care of right away
Comprehensive energy reform acknowledging and taking action on Climate Change
Legalization of Marijuana, reclassification of drug addition as a disorder not a crime, release prisoners unfairly convicted.
Further investigation needed into
Radically shrinking defense budget
Takeover of telecom industry
Election reform - financing, length/schedule
There is a lot to be said, and done. Whatever happens, the best approach to improving the state of things are a) surround yourself with smart people with a diverse range of perspectives b) listen and process information in a way to best benefit the people being represented c) implement policy with confidence but still the ability to adapt.
This is who I am, this is what I believe.
Education
Education should be a cornerstone of who we are. A well-educated population is poised for stronger economic development, more growth, but also allows citizens to pursue their passions without racking up massive sums of debt.
I am not an education expert - I know some teachers, and a librarian, but that’s about it. I will find the most well qualified individuals from a variety of backgrounds and use them as my source of expertise. However, here are my current thoughts.
Free public education from preschool through higher education should be a priority. For the youth, this both forms a strong base of knowledge and understanding while allowing parents the peace of mind of child care at no cost. Further education should be free to challenge the minds of our people to be the strongest minds anywhere.
Private schools should be allowed.
Charter schools - not a fan. Charter schools funnel money that could be used for public schools away from those schools towards independently managed schools.
I think long-term this country needs an education re-haul - less emphasis on standardized testing, more on developing individual talents within kids, streamlining the curriculum so kids graduate at age 17, have a year of service (local/international volunteering or military) and then enter college.
Many other nations have undergraduate programs specialized, like graduate programs in the US. You go right into law, or medicine, without four years of undergrad. This is worth examining.
Traveling will be integrated into the curriculum from a young age starting with field trips, and continuing to overnights nearby and then further away from home.
Healthcare Policy
The Declaration of Independence states that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are unalienable rights. In the preamble of the Constitution, the founding fathers wrote that it is the order of the government to promote the general welfare of the people. These two lines to me make clear that heathcare is a human right, so it is the order of the government to provide healthcare to the people.
Healthcare is something I care a great deal about. I used to want to be a doctor, but then I changed my views, towards enacting policy to change the system. I now am pursuing a Masters in Public Health.
Yes, I think healthcare should be guaranteed to everyone in the US.
The solution is too complicated for a single blurb, and more information will be provided. For now, a few key points.
Already, healthcare spending constitutes almost 1/5 of the US GDP - that doesn’t mean the government spends 1/5 of its money on delivering healthcare, that 1/5 includes private insurance, practices, hospitals, ambulance rides and more.
The private insurance marketplace is profit-driven and thus doesn’t adequately cover patients.
My plan will create a large government payer plan allowing anyone access to great care. Private insurance companies can continue to run but the government is not profit-driven, and thus will focus on the patient experience and efficient administration.
There will be a Medicare-for-All type system where everybody is provided healthcare coverage without having to worry about cost. This will be expensive but investing in healthcare has undeniable long-term benefits.
Plans like this need to be multifaceted, occurring along several avenues. Nobody should fear the costs of going to a healthcare facility. There should be an emphasis on primary care instead of secondary and tertiary care, getting ahead of diseases before they get serious. The government will pay for whatever necessary. No longer will the average citizen have hundreds of dollars a month in health insurance premiums to pay. Some taxes may go up, but only marginally.
HIPPA needs reevaluation - privacy is important but delays in patient care can have serious consequences. A national identity card could contain encrypted health records to expedite quality healthcare..
There will be a renewed emphasis on mental health, dental health, pregnancy, end of life care and other initiatives as fit.
Military
The military is a critical part of our country, but also our military spending is far to high.
Infrastructure
We need a large task force devoted to maintaining the current US infrastructure. Right now it is in a constant state of disrepair.