What's going on with Americans?

by Nathan Nguyen   March 17,2003

I have recently ran into many foreigners and found out that a lot of them have negative views about us.  Instead of arguing back, I listened and try to give them perspective about what we are going through.  Unlike most people, even though I was angry, I sat and listened patiently.  What I found was that they weren't pushing their political agendas but were making very good points about what is fair and what wasn't.  All in all, the conversations was good (we had our moments when it was tense).

Yesterday, while driving home and getting off the 101 freeway (Los Angeles),  I noticed so many homeless people.  It wasn't that they were homeless, but most of these people are mentally ill. This article is not about the homeless issue, it is more about the mentally ill. 

It just brings me back to the Reagan years, when that health bill reform literally dumped tens of thousands of people who are mentally challenged out onto the streets.  It is sad to see these people who have very little hope and you can see it in their eyes--they realize that we, general citizens of society, have forgotten about them.  Sure the fair argument is that why should we pay for their health bills.  If that was the case, then why do we pay for financial aid, Social Security or any other programs that benefit society.  Right now, Ronald Reagan has Alzheimer's and it so ironic in my mind.  He is better off than these homeless people.  Sure he was our president, and deserves medical care.  But the minimal care deserved to every human person wasn't met in our case.  We have programs who help those in need, and yet the people who are in most desperate need are left out because no one lobbying for them.

Last night, I was at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood and I was talking to these two girls.  Little did they know that the Bush Administration has started a anti abortion campaign.  They are making it legal for poor women to have prenatal care by reclassifying fetus as a person.  To me that is just a stealth campaign. The girls were not amused.  Go read http://www.conservativenews.org/Culture/archive/200202/CUL20020201e.html

My next qualm with the Bush Administration, is the tax cut.  Yes we need economic stimulation.  But as an economics major, I sense that long term damage for this HUGE tax cut would wreak havoc on national and international economies.  It is too complex to debate, but most economists would agree that the markets would only gain momentum in the short term.  In the long run, watch out for the ceilings.  The argument that US products would be cheaper to purchased by foreigners (do you really think Japanese and Europeans would buy American cars if they were cheaper?--NOT, a lemon is a lemon no matter what the price is).  Once again, the pockets of the very few rich people are being pocketed by the suffering of many.  If your parents are not making more than half a million, you should really reconsider your objectives for the future.  I am not saying switch parties, hell I am an independent.  If our government doesn't act wisely, the conditions are right for a very weak economic outlook