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Realistic Social Security and Health Care

Hopefully you've taken the time to read the topic before this one:  The Automated Payment Tax.  The savings of operation and the increased revenue is necessary to make this one work.  By all estimations though, the APT Tax would provide enough revenue to make this work.

Of course, many details need to be worked out, but the general idea of the system is this:

First, Social Security should be true social security.  We don't need a nationalized retirement system -- people should be responsible for their retirement on their own.  However, not everyone is capable of doing the right thing and thinking of the future like they should.  In this day and age we should be able to at least assure that everyone will not have to live out their old age in poverty.  It doesn't have to be the Ritz, but we could take care of their basic needs.

1. Housing -- If the person does not own any property, government housing should be provided. 

   1. If they own property but it is not paid for, the system would provide a supplement to their mortgage not to exceed the cost of public housing. 

   2. If they have a place to live that is paid for or is under a mortgage, the system would pay an amount of tax and insurance based on a regional average.

2. Food -- Food stamps enough to live on, providing nutritional basics.

   1. Stamps would be for specific categories of items to prevent unauthorized purchases.

   2. Stamps would not be transferable to prevent selling them.

3. Income -- Provide a disposable income equal to the current poverty level.

   1. Working or any other income would reduce benefits on a dollar to dollar basis.

Second, Health Care should be available to everyone.  We are a prosperous country and there is no reason we should not be able to provide quality health care for all who need it. 

1. National Health Insurance -- Develop government HMO services similar to current HMOs that will provide service to all citizens, including dental and optical services, and reduced cost coverage to non-citizens.  Private coverage would still be available to those who would prefer to pay for their health insurance.  Doctor and employee staffing and compensation would be established through regional averages of non-governmental services.  This would replace Medicare.
2. Control Prescription Drug Costs --
   1. Expand the FDA to more extensive laboratories to expedite approval of drugs and better quality control monitoring.
   2. Provide closely monitored grants for development of drugs.
   3. Require documentation of drug development costs and limit drug prices to cost coverage plus specific profit margins.

As a prosperous country we should be able to provide the basics to all of our citizens.  The APT tax will allow this with a very small individual tax burden.

  Copyright © 2005 Milo Burns Last modified: 02/11/08