How to Select an American President: What purpose seniority in government?

How to Select an American President: What purpose seniority in government?: Donald Trump wants to "drain the swamp" in Washington. What does he mean by that? Change the leadership Abandon traditions De...

What purpose seniority in government?

Donald Trump wants to "drain the swamp" in Washington. What does he mean by that?

1. Change the leadership
2. Abandon traditions
3. Defenestrate obsolescence
4. Introduce radically improved systems and solutions

Those are things that executives might intend to do. In the American political system that is a product of the U.S. Constitution governed by laws and regulations, making change begins by understanding the capacity to do so. Constraints include the debt and deficit. Other constraints include time and ability to engineer systems and solutions that manifest in laws, regulations, and processes including enabling people and technologies.

Stacked alongside legacy obligations from which priorities are determined, change and improvement are a discretionary investment.

The starting position for the Trump government includes:

• Deficiently prepared cabinet
• Misaligned Executive Branch and Congress
• Deficient and controversial popular mandate
• Inexperienced and unknowledgeable President

Underlying this chaotic starting position is a bureaucracy that is staffed by a seniority system with certain rules. The seniority system is also prevalent in Congress. Seniority implies higher rank based on having served longer. Often, that condition portends that the incumbents are more knowledgeable and experienced about how that system works. Of course, there are downsides because when there is an insufficient movement among the senior incumbents, the system stifles upward mobility and progress.

President Trump declared that he wants term limits in Congress, for instance. That is his shot at seniority. It is also a shot at the dynamics that ensure continuity in the performance of government.

The American political system that is our government is not something that a newbie President should be tinkering with lightly.

http://www.slate.com/

How to Select an American President: My Worst Day as an American

How to Select an American President: My Worst Day as an American: I can't get over it, and won't accept it. Donald Trump's behavior and history are so morally corrupt that he cannot be tolerated...

My Worst Day as an American

I can't get over it, and won't accept it. Donald Trump's behavior and history are so morally corrupt that he cannot be tolerated as the President of the United States no matter how the votes are counted. The outcome proves some things.

• The process of selecting candidates for president is catastrophically flawed and obsolete. 
• Political parties that govern the process of candidate selection are ineffective and obsolete.
• There are no standards for evaluating candidates.
• There is little understanding about the jobs that are sought by candidates by the voters who must evaluate candidates.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Ignorance about our government and process that is essential to selecting and electing superior candidates is without excuse.

The American electorate may not be more ignorant than the past. However, the electorate is not keeping pace with what is needed to select and elect excellent candidates for public office intelligently.

What can be done about it?

Legally, we are stuck with Trump at least for four years. His moral integrity as a person and role model cannot be improved.

We the People can demand improvement from both political parties. We must audit their performance, their systems, and leadership from bottom to top. We must become better educated about what is the need to address the considerable needs of the nation. We must select and elect candidates whose personal constitution aligns with our highest ideals.

I am going to do something about it.

How to Select an American President: Conspicoulously absent

How to Select an American President: Conspicoulously absent: While it is clear that the Republican Party is hostage to Donald Trump and a separate band of right-wing conservatives, the Democratic Party...

Conspicoulously absent

While it is clear that the Republican Party is hostage to Donald Trump and a separate band of right-wing conservatives, the Democratic Party is in the same bad shape. What they have in common is brand erosion. That is, Republicans have lost the middle ground.

Democrats have a sharp edge among the creative left wing. However, they "manned it" with Bernie instead of Elizabeth Warren. Both are too old for the next move. The party is stuck with old-guard Hillary and all of her personal baggage.

Hillary needs African Americans and Latinos to win, as well as millennial voters. Where is the appeal?

Michelle and Barrack Obama have made an effort for Hillary. You can sense Michelle's heart is in it, but Barack is more passive. Where are those Latino leaders who were present early in the campaign?

Joaquin and Julian Castro could have made a big difference. Where did they go? They stayed home because Hillary left them on the curb.

Where is Lujan Grisham, US Representative from New Mexico and Leticia Van de Putte from Texas?

The real trouble is that most of the up and coming Latinos are Republicans and not Democrats.

Where is Oprah? She is protecting her nest egg and reputation.

Can't leave anyone behind

Affordable Health Care for all Americans

Who believes that it is a national imperative to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable care? Do Republicans and Democrats believe it? If they do, that should be included in their party platforms and their candidates' manifestos. Let's see.

From reviewing Donald Trump, his view parallels that of the GOP in believing that ensuring all Americans with affordable care is too expensive. He believes that the free market approach is best. That is the more competition among health care insurance providers the lower the cost for all. He believes that insurance should be tax deductible.  He appreciates the Medicare model and wants to protect and expand it. He believes that the Affordable Care Act is a deficient law and that it should be rescinded. The question for him, and for the GOP remains, how will you address the 30 million Americans who could not afford health insurance? What is your legislative solution?

Hillary Clinton has studied the need and problems for many years. Analysis of her concerns seems to segregate the prescription drug cost component from medical services. She believes that children come first and that they should never be without health care. She believes that health provisions should not be up to insurance companies. She believes that health care should be a legislative mandate to employers and individuals such that everyone participates according to their means. She favors a managed-competition model. As it is, Obamacare costs appear to be increasing, and health care in America is deficient when compared with best-in-the-world models. What is your legislative solution?

Donald Trump on Health Care: 

• The whole of ObamaCare was a fraud. (Oct 2016)
• Educate public on value of comprehensive vaccinations. (Oct 2016)
• Lack of mental healthcare is greatest tragedy today. (Oct 2016)
• Focus on greatest bang for the buck, not public health. (Oct 2016)
• Let vets see private doctors or VA: that's not privatization. (Sep 2016)
• Create V.A. mental health division to reduce veteran suicide. (Sep 2016)
• Keep pre-existing condition coverage; not individual mandate. (Feb 2016)
• Removing cross-state barriers solves many insurance issues. (Feb 2016)
• Taking care of poor sick people isn't single-payer. (Feb 2016)
• Insurance companies love a lack of competition. (Nov 2015)
• Stockpile treatments against future pandemics & bioterrorism. (Sep 2015)
• Ebola virus in America is Obama's fault. (Sep 2015)
• I'm for vaccines, but in smaller quantities to avoid autism. (Sep 2015)
• The insurance companies have total control over politicians. (Aug 2015)
• Don't cut Medicare; grow the economy to keep benefits. (Jun 2015)
• Make health insurance premiums tax-deductible. (Mar 2015)
• Save Medicare & Medicaid without cutting them to the bone. (Jan 2015)
• Increase insurance competition across state lines. (Dec 2011)
• 1988: Flew sick kids cross-country on his private jet. (Apr 2010)
• We must have universal health care. (Jul 2000)
• ObamaCare
• ObamaCare will never work; repeal it and replace it. (Oct 2016)
• Chief Justice Roberts: a disaster who gave us ObamaCare. (Feb 2016)
• Replace Obamacare with Health Savings Accounts. (Oct 2015)
• We didn't have a free market before ObamaCare. (Jun 2015)
• ObamaCare is a catastrophe that must be repealed & replaced. (Jun 2015)
• ObamaCare deductibles are so high that it's useless. (Jun 2015)
• Kill ObamaCare before it becomes a trillion-ton weight. (Dec 2011) 

http://www.ontheissues.org/Donald_Trump.htm

Hillary Clinton on Health Care: 

• Early diagnosis and intervention for mental illness. (Oct 2016)
• Assisted suicide acceptable with appropriate safeguards. (Jun 2016)
• Medicare-for-all is not economically feasible. (Feb 2016)
• No easy answer on end-of-life; but open to listening. (Feb 2016)
• The VA has failed our veterans & needs to be revamped. (Nov 2015)
• The science is clear: vaccines work. (Feb 2015)
• Ebola won't stay confined; put resources into Africa. (Oct 2014)
• Don’t legitimize end-of-life decision, but ok to help decide. (Apr 2008)
• Decrease generic drug costs for developing countries. (Apr 2008)
• Taxpayers pay for drug R&D, not drug companies. (Jan 2008)
• Need a health care system that manages chronic diseases. (Jan 2008)
• Universal health care is a core Democratic principle. (Jan 2008)
• Pledges to support $50B for AIDS relief in US and world. (Dec 2007)
• Worked on education & welfare in Arkansas but not healthcare. (Oct 2007)
• No parent should be told ‘no’ for healthcare for their kids. (Sep 2007)
• Local smoking bans ok, but no national ban. (Sep 2007)
• Outcry if AIDS were leading disease of young whites. (Jun 2007)
• Electronic medical records save $120 billion in health care. (Jun 2007)
• Insurers must fund prevention without preexisting conditions. (Mar 2007)
• Require electronic medical record for all federal healthcare. (Mar 2007)
• Increase America’s commitment against Global AIDS. (Nov 2006)
• FDA should compare drug effectiveness--not just safety. (Oct 2006)
• Supply more medical needs of families, & insure all children. (Jun 2006)
• Healthcare system plagued with underuse, overuse, and abuse. (Oct 2005)
• Fought for pediatric rule: new drugs tested for child safety. (Oct 2005)
• Low-tech low-cost water treatment for developing world. (Nov 2003)
• Millions uninsured is source of America's healthcare crisis. (Nov 2003)
• Recommended "managed competition"; not single-payer system. (Nov 2003)
• Fund teaching hospitals federally because market fails. (Sep 2000)
• Regulate tobacco; fine of $3000 for every underage smoker. (Apr 2000)
• Be prepared with defenses against infectious disease. (Oct 1999)
• Medicare should be strengthened today. (Sep 1999)
• GOP overwhelmed by her health reform knowledge. (Jun 1995)
• $100B to get started on healthcare reform. (Jun 1994)
• Smaller steps to progress on health care. (Jan 2000)
• 1990s HillaryCare
• Hillary appointed 8 days after inauguration to health cmte. (Oct 2007)
• A plan is necessary; but consensus is more necessary. (Sep 2007)
• 1993:Ambitious role plagued from start by secrecy complaints. (Jun 2007)
• 1990s plan failed after big pharma & insurance worked on it. (Apr 2007)
• 1990s healthcare reforms laid groundwork for today’s reforms. (Mar 2007)
• Still scarred from 1990s reform, but now doing it better. (Feb 2007)
• 1997: Helped found State Children’s Health Insurance Program. (Dec 2006)
• More people read my health plan abroad than in the US. (Nov 2005)
• 1993 health plan initially praised as moderate & workable. (Jun 2004)
• 1990s reform called “secretive” but had 600 in working group. (Nov 2003)
• When last Republican backed out, HillaryCare died. (Nov 2003)
• Despite failure, glad she tried system-wide reform. (Nov 2003)
• 1994 "Harry & Louise" ads exploited consumer fears. (Nov 2003)
• 1990s plan based on employer mandate. (Feb 2003)
• Learned lessons on health care; but hasn’t given up goal. (Aug 2000)
• 1979: Developed program to deliver rural healthcare. (Aug 1999)
• OpEd: 1993 debate was highest level ever reached. (Jun 1997)
• 1994: can't fix just part of problem; it's all or nothing. (Jan 1997)
• 2008 HillaryCare
• 2006: If I can't do universal coverage, why run? (Aug 2009)
• AdWatch: Got health insurance for six million kids. (Mar 2008)
• Include everyone, to avoid cherry-picking and its hidden tax. (Feb 2008)
• Healthcare without mandate is like voluntary Social Security. (Feb 2008)
• Many uninsured are young & don’t think they need coverage. (Feb 2008)
• Make it illegal to discriminate against sick people. (Feb 2008)
• Tired of health insurance companies deciding who live or die. (Feb 2008)
• Universal health care will not work if it is voluntary. (Feb 2008)
• Mandate insurance AND make it affordable for all. (Jan 2008)
• Health care tax credit ensures affordability. (Nov 2007)
• Insurance companies cannot deny people coverage. (Oct 2007)
• Condemns insurers as motivated by greed. (Oct 2007)
• American Health Choices Plan: keep yours or pick Congress’. (Sep 2007)
• Pay for health plan by $52B tax repeal & $77B efficiencies. (Sep 2007)
• Mandated responsibility by individuals, industry & employers. (Sep 2007)
• Since 1993, new consensus developed on need for healthcare. (Sep 2007)
• Include insurance industry in discussions, but rein them in. (Sep 2007)
• Universal health care coverage by the end of my second term. (Feb 2007)
• I have the expertise to achieve universal healthcare for all. (Feb 2007)
• We need a uniquely American solution to health care. (Oct 2006)
• ObamaCare
• ObamaCare benefits the insured as well as the uninsured. (Oct 2016)
• I'll fix ObamaCare; they'll repeal it. (Oct 2016)
• OpEd: Settling for ObamaCare abandons single-payer. (Jun 2016)
• Go from 90% coverage under ObamaCare to 100% coverage. (Feb 2016)
• We worked since Harry Truman to pass healthcare; defend it. (Jan 2016)
• The Affordable Care Act has had successes. (Dec 2015)
• States that didn't extend Medicaid drive up costs still. (Dec 2015)
• Non-employer system better; but don't turn back ObamaCare. (Mar 2014)
• 2007: recast 1990s disaster as experience to make it happen. (Jan 2010)
• We need a movement to get healthcare done this time. (Aug 2009) 

http://www.ontheissues.org/Hillary_Clinton.htm

Health Care, just for fun