Dear Friends,
If you think the following proposal makes sense, do a simple “copy” of the suggestion below. Then go to:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt.
Fill in your zip code, find your representatives in Congress, click on contact, fill in your info and “paste” the suggestion. Please feel free to put your name at the bottom in place of mine.
Jim
Re-Institute the Draft to Cure More Than Just Health Care
Health Care Reform seems to be taking shape. Everyone agrees that the overwhelming and accelerating cost of health care must be slowed. And that it is just plain American to make sure all inside our boarders have affordable health care, no matter how they got here.
I believe reinstituting the Draft, at some point in the not-too-distant future, requiring that all high school graduates serve our country for two years before moving on to the profession of their choice, can’t be all bad.
Before being “drafted” into the Army, our kids should have the option of choosing how they prefer to serve . . . that is, by choosing to enlist in the newly created “Health Care Corp,” the Marine Corp, the Army Corp of Engineers, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, or simply be drafted into the Army by default, for those who don’t have the initiative to choose otherwise.
Those who choose to drop-out of high school will be required to serve their country for four years, instead of two year minimum requirement for high school graduates. Every “illegal alien” will also be required to serve our country for four years whilst they track toward citizenship.
And everyone who serves our country will be given one year of free education, for each year of service, toward the college, or vocation of their choice.
From my high school days, when I was required by local law, to serve in the ROTC for three years, I learned a great deal which I still use to this very day; things like strategic thinking, strategic alternative analysis, and strategic implementation, and execution.
This radical and novel proposal just will not only address our country’s health care problem . . . . but also fix our loss of global leadership in education, immigration, border security, and the economic mess that all people inside are borders are suffering from today.
Serving country, making money, paying taxes, and getting an education from Uncle Sam can’t be all that bad, can it?
James W. Anderson
Cincinnati, Ohio Resident
Jwa2@Indiana.edu
Jim Anderson
513-550-1200
Already a member? Sign in
Welcome to Inspire!
What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.
Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.
How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!
Re-Institute the Draft to Solve Health Care Issues
- By janders199
- Posted July 18, 2009 at 10:43 am · 4 replies
- In Health matters
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
4 replies
- Oldest first
- Newest first
- By Patricia7
- Posted July 19, 2009 at 9:58 am
- Report post
What do you see the Health care core doing? Will all health professionals need to choose that route in order to be nurses, doctors, therapists? Who will cover the cost of all the education required?
Will their be requirements in the draft regarding physical ability, sexual orientation, educational level... what happens to all the folks who do not pass the criteria...what happens to the mounting number of people who do not even get through high school.. or the kids who have children out of wedlock or early in their lives.. do we impose that they not have children until done with the draft service... are we talking men and women in the draft system? Should we take everyone in the system.. even those with disabilities... would that be great, to find a place for everyone...
I come from a military family and married into a military family... I agree that it is a way to learn discipline early in life... I also think that those with money to avoid the draft will do so and send their kids to safer places to be...
I am not sure if it would work... I do think if we start looking at jobs earlier in life.. like middle school where we have workshops and can start to move into professions of our interest... cars, manufacturing, sales, health than maybe we would have better use of all that energy, youth, enthusiasm... I do think that in the distant past we made our youth work too young ( child labor) I think now we keep them kids too long.. 18 and beyond college grads..they become bored of the repetitive nature of the sit down schooling.... but that is another story...
Certainly a lot to think about... I don't particularly care for anything that is mandatory.. but choices , especially early ones with some benefits would be an interesting approach...
- By Globalwoundcare
- Posted July 19, 2009 at 2:50 pm
- Report post
Patricia7, all very good questions. The proposal that Jsanders abbreviated for me and I am recommending is an avenue to increase competition and not decrease. All health professionals (and non health care personal) will have an option to gain their education via the Health Core or via private financing. we are trying to not to limit options. Health care professionals and anyone else who want to work in the private sector will be allowed.
Private health care will not be band. It will openly compete with the Health Core. Tax rebates will be provided to those who maintain their own personal health care insurance.
All citizen will still have an obligation to served our country and they may select which branch they would like to serve. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Health Core.
There will be a different type of basic training for those who are recruited to the Health Core. Basic training may include grooming, computer classes, testing for aptitude as well for preferences, how to budget a home.....as well as physical training that is attuned to each recruits physical ability. We would also include physical evaluation for job placement. With the primary goal of placing persons with physical or mental disabilities.
The goal here is multiple tiered. We want to make health care available to everyone in our country, we want to make new jobs, we want to discourage high school drop outs and the frustration that frequently leads to illegal drug use or alcoholism.
Not all recruits will be health professionals. Some will park cars, some will be facility guides, some will be information clerks, or grounds keepers. Jobs, jobs, all with the potential for advancement and self determination. If you would like a full copy of the proposal, send me your email address and I will send it to you. You can also find it on this forum under my link, globalwoundcare.
I also come from a military family. My father spent 30 years in the Navy. I spent time in as well, as a combat medic and an operating room technician. I used the GI Bill for much of my education.
I do not think sexual orientation should be an issue, any more than religion or race. If we need to separate some recruits, we can do that. This program is aimed at guiding not disciplining individuals. Unlike the true armed forces, we are focusing on the individual, but like the military it will be with in a controlled environment. The amount of control will be determined by the individual. Based more on behaviour and actions. If the individual follows the laws of the state/country, the supervision would be similar as today. If the individual is "lost", has an alcohol/drug problem, more supervision may be required.
We are attempting to avoid a socialistic government, and to avoid taking rights of the individuals away. What we are trying to do is give those high school drop outs, motivation and to relieve their feeling of frustration. Letting these people know that there are ways to get ahead in society and these avenues are readily available to everyone.
Unlike many plans, I am recommending a built in bonus plan that is paid out monthly for those who show "above and beyond". We want to help develop personal drive, we are just going to augment it with financial rewards. Not grandiose as these banks that are going out of business, The bonus would be based on 10% of payroll.
Robert Heinlein once wrote a book that became a movie. I don't remember the title, but in the story, all citizens with the right to vote and receive governmental aid were required to serve time serving their country.
If you had money and wanted to avoid giving service to your country, that is allowable, but you will be restricted from voting and many other benefits, and you would not be a full citizen.
Patricia7, please ask more questions. Feel free to disagree, this is a work in progress. Our country is flailing, we need to start some very aggressive actions to save it. Our politicians are not listening. Talk with your friends and family-keep the conversation going.
- By angelbrd67
- Posted July 24, 2009 at 7:57 pm
- Report post
This is only my own personal feelings not trying to start a war of words with anyone.
This is something I don't agree with. We are retired Navy.. I came from a Air-force house hold as a child. Not everyone can serve in the military.. Not everyone can handle it. It is a stress filled lifestyle not only for the service member but also for their family. You have to have a strong nature to survive the military lifestyle.. with out it you sink fast. Putting people in service who can't hold up or who really don't want to be there puts our nation at risk. Now I agree that they should not limit people who "WANT" to go in and find jobs that suit them. There are many jobs in the Military that the disabled can do damn well and should be aloud to do with honors. They do let them go in as a government contractor though for some jobs.
In the world we live in now it would be like a death sentence to our youth forcing them to serve....Only health care issue I can see it promoting is less people alive to use the health care system. Daily we read in the papers of our soldiers getting killed over in Iraq and Afghanistan... You ever notice that most of them are fresh out of boot camp or very young.. These are guys and gals who needed more time in to grow and learn before being tossed into the middle of a war. Two months of boot camp doesn't do it..It doesn't prepair a soldier to take and cope with all they have to out there.. I was all for the military when the world was not like it is today and now with the messed up politics I just don't see it as a safe place for anyone.
Now it does offer awesome health care after you get out. While your in you receive the kind of care you get when you go to a beauty college .. one teacher and lots of people with stethoscopes going "ooohhh what do I do next"... its scary!!
No matter what they do with the health care system we will end up paying for it in the long run one way or the other. Put them all in the military... someone's gotta cover the bill.... HEY that's You and Me!!!!
- By Globalwoundcare
- Posted July 25, 2009 at 9:35 am
- Report post
Angelbird67, I am looking for input either positive or negative to fine tune this proposal. The draft I felt in the late sixties, when it affected me, upset me on many levels and for many reasons. At the same time, I used to be major supporter of the Unions. Times have changed and rules and laws must follow these changes. (don't think I am against Unions, I just feel that they are no longer fighting for their members as much as they are fighting to control industry)
We have more young people dropping out of high school than ever before. If you look at it statistically, you will see even that has escalated. Is it a lack of personal drive, lack of motivation or an attitude that education won't help their lives? I don't know the answer, but re-instituting the draft would help this problem.
Not every one is cut out to serve in the military-I 100% AGREE! That is why the training and testing in the Health Corp would be set up more to atune to the needs of the individual.
By buidling into the pay scale a bonus system that is determined by both your clients (not all involved will be patients), your co-workers, your work performance,and your attention to cost. This hopefully will help us to avoid the worker mentality that you see in many goverment facilities. We are also going to try to motivate clients and workers with good public relation personal, social services and what ever else we will need. When you think about much funding will be availble after we consolidate Medicare, Medicaid, VA and what ever other govermental medical funds are out there with the 1% sales tax, our Health Corp will be well financed
I am sorry, but I see the next new industry of our country to be Health Care and I do not feel that we need to curtail health care cost. What is the expression? When life gives you lemons.... I want to take a financial burden and make it a money making industry.
We need to expand our health care, increase our research and plant our seeds for a new industry. Please do misunderstand, I still feel judical spending is required with oversight, but not without compassion and vision.
Also, keep in mind the significant increase in work force we are going to have that will be paying into our Country's tax base as well as the sales tax.
If this plan is allowed to develop without our current goverment overly involved, I can forsee each American gettiing Health Care rebates, as we will be generating more income that we will need.
Add to the discussion