I always liked the Republican platform - in theory.  At least, I used to before Bush was nominated to represent the party in 2000 and minimized the emphasis in the platform on reduced government interference in economic and personal matters.

But it always seemed like a cynical promise before Ron Paul , even before Bush.  I may not be that old but I remember being hooked on understanding government from a young age.  I remember watching Reagan deliver speeches before I remember much else, and I remember campaigning for Bush Sr. in 1st grade (and campaigning against him four years later - I learned my Bush lesson the first time.) 

The USA Today is reporting that Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt informed them of Bush's intention to achieve universal health coverage before his term expires.  The move may sound surprising at first, but not only does it offer an opportunity for Republicans to co-opt a main source of Democratic popular support , it provides Bush a chance to do what he loves to do best:  spend taxpayers' money.

Hillary Clinton announced her own version of a "universal" healthcare plan, today.  Like the plans put forward by Edwards and Obama, it will cost the tax payers between $100 and $150 billion every year, and this money will mostly be paid to the insurance companies.  HIllary's announcement on Monday does not outline any specific steps that will reduce costs, she does have some plans to shift more of the burden on to people who use less services.

The poor in this country are the unfortunate few living under the thumb of a theoretically benevolent government. Here's some facts on the 'real' poor.

The chronically poor live in areas that are 'red-zoned' by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a constitutionally illegal federal department that claims to offer affordable (rental) housing for poor people, but really ends up as a way for the government to perpetuate segregation between the racial and economic classes of the population.  Strategies to accomplish this include minimizing infrastructure improvements like roads, schools, and environmental controls; coordinating with law enforcement to increase police activity while persuing increased prosecution and sentancing (More of a Justice Department thing); and setting insurance rates as a high-crime, high-risk area.

Yahoo! News Reports on Edwards plan

John Edwards expanded on his plans for universal health coverage on Monday by suggesting that his plan for universal health insurance coverage would require all citizens to participate in annual check-ups, and possibly may require that patient's accept treatments recommended by the doctors.  "It requires that everybody get preventive care," he said while campaigning in Iowa, "you can't choose not to go to the doctor."

Universal Healthcare:  Biggest Corporate Welfare Ever?  You decide! 

President Bush hinted at a possible role for federal assistance in the faltering mortgage markets today.  Although calling the problems only moderate in terms of total economic impact and rejecting calls to a massive financial bail-out, the president hinted at expanding eligibility for federal mortgage refinancing and easing tax obligations on distressed homeowners.

Senators Edwards and Obama have issued veiled attacks against Hillary Clinton today, as they struggle to gain points in the polls. Although it seems the primary season began earlier than ever, so to will the winners and losers be decided earlier than ever.  By January or February at the latest, we should know who is going to win the major party primary elections and advance to the presidential campaign.  The Democratic candidates are struggling to catch up with Hillary by painting her as an establishment insider, an elitist, and by speaking about the deception and lies that are required to become an 'experienced' candidate.  Whether or not this position will win votes is left to be seen.

China and America have adopted an alliance of competitive equals, and Russia finds itself increasingly irrelevent.  Indeed, the Elder Bush predicted sagely that a New World Order was upon us and the last decade has done nothing but prove him right. 

Clinton's military expiditions ignored old cold war soviet bloc borders and set the stage for the current Bush to act as if Russia was completely invisible in regards to Afghanistan and Iraq.  After fifty years of stalemate under the threat of mutually assured destruction, the United States of America boldly made the first expansionist move in claiming Afghanistan and Iraq.  The move is nothing short of a complete re-writing of global political strategy and the international status quo, and a quiet reminder that China and the United States are allies in competition, in the sense that only they have been able to expand their extra-national influence.

Congressman Ron Paul represents the 14th Congressional District of Texas.  His platform calls for massive tax reduction, free-trade, deregulation of every industry you can name, and a return to states' control over all aspects of issues such as education and health-care.  Ron Paul is against the war in Iraq, and has a consistent record of voting against it in the House.  Although he is strictly against the United Nations and military interventions, he does believe in expanding trade to foreign nations regardless of their beliefs and our alliances.  Some people criticize this policy as naive, but I believe it is effective and the historical proof is that America operated successfully under such policies for many many generations.