OpEd:
Don’t Forget The Other Issues
September 21, 2009 by Kyle BradyTags: America, Congress, Issues, Media, Obama, Policy, Politics
As required by the FTC, a Full Disclosure is available - this piece adheres to the Code of Ethics
Over the course of the last few months, healthcare has become the core focus of the media, politics, and the American people – but it is far from the only important and pressing issue. The re-regulation of the financial industry is something that has returned to popular consciousness in recent weeks, thanks to the anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, and it serves as a good reminder that there are other issues that must be addressed both quickly and properly.
When President Obama was campaigning for Office, he understood there were many issues that needed to be approached during his hopeful Term of Office, and was not afraid to speak publicly about them: NASA, Social Security, Financial Reform, Education, Healthcare, and Net Neutrality, to name a few. However, after the Inauguration it became clear that the only issue then-addressable was the economy and attempting to not only prevent its collapse but to start its revival, resulting in months of stimulus packages, bailout funds, and federally investing in corporations - to varying degrees of success. Then, in late Spring, the focus shifted.
Healthcare and insurance reform is important – there is no denying this basic fact. But the issue of healthcare and its related reforms have been allowed to all but eclipse any other issues, thanks to the manufactured outrage and irrational responses seen over the last few months. Yet the final days of these long months seems to be approaching, since the debate within the Senate is now open – something will be passed, and it will happen relatively soon. What comes after healthcare?
The re-regulation of the financial industry is still necessary, evidenced by the skyrocketing profits of banks just months after their existential crisis - profits made at the expense of the American people, with interest rates and fees substantially increasing since the beginning of the financial crisis began so long ago. Is this the way a system meant to be helpful should operate? The obvious answer is “no”, and the bonus-based culture that encourages extreme risk and refuses to admonish abhorrent behavior continues even after these same activities plunged the world into the deep, dark economic abyss. Re-regulation is coming, albeit slightly late, after healthcare is finally laid to rest.
There exists a litany of other issues and problems that requires Congress’ attention, and should not be ignored – there is no reason Congressmen cannot multitask between two or three legislational issues. NASA is still significantly underfunded and has a questionable “moon mandate” based on technology that might not have been properly evaluated by the previous Administration; Social Security continues to exist in a state of suspended chaos, with its demise imminent; the public school system has crumbled to the point of near irrelevancy and produces barely literate graduates; telecom companies feel that they can operate as they wish and ignore the rights and privacy of their customers – these are the the issues that will likely be addressed at one point during the Obama Administration, but the sooner, the better.
Healthcare has shown the ability of the nation to focus entirely on a single issue, which is an admirable trait. In most situations, however, this is not acceptable behavior by Congress, especially when passing a single piece of legislation requires six months of feigned sincerity and circus acts. President Obama seems to realize this fact, having expressed similar concerns in recent speaking engagements, and so the remaining three-and-a-half years of President Obama’s first Term of Office will hopefully be more productive, both in terms of effectiveness and issues addressed.
American news media, you are culpable as well: do not single out national issues at the expense of others for the purpose of ratings – this effects the mindset of many of the nation’s people and is unacceptable. There are always other pressing issues for the President of the United States, Congress, and America-at-large – don’t forget them.
Kyle can be found on Twitter and MySpace, or reached via email.
