Are you better off? Consider these facts..

[G_j]

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041005/NEWS/410050358/1024

Are you better off? Vote your opinion

October 5, 2004

By Anne Dwyer

"Are you better off now than you were four years ago?" Ronald Reagan asked that in 1980 and was elected president of the United States. It's a good question during any election, especially in this one when the information we're getting often seems like revisionist history from some parallel universe. Consider these facts before voting.

Power plant emissions kill 5,000-9,000 Americans each year. Six million children suffer from asthma. The Clean Air Act has been gutted, allowing old power plants to produce 68 percent more smog-producing emissions. We have the technology, but not the will, to reduce industrial pollution by 80-90% in just three years. Are we headed in the right direction?

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Four years ago, there was no deficit — just a healthy surplus. Now every citizen owes over $25,000 of the national debt. The Congressional Budget Office projects continuing deficits through 2014 that will add $1,900,000,000,000 ($1.9 trillion) to our debt. The total national debt is increasing by $1.72 billion a day. These numbers are unmatched in our nation's history. Years from now, our grandchildren will still be paying off our debt. Are we headed in the right direction?

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Of 13 industrialized countries, we stand at or near the bottom of health indicators…worst in infant mortality, in life expectancy and cancer cures. Around 44 million Americans lack health insurance, and 490,000-650,000 Medicaid recipients, half of them children, are losing coverage. The prescription drug plan for Medicare is unaffordable for many elderly. The bill increases drug company profits by $139 billion and costs taxpayers $534 billion. Funding for the National Institutes of Heath, the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration will be cut $5.6 billion. Veterans' medical care will be cut by $1.5 billion (above a planned $380 million cut in 2005); 360,000 veterans will be blocked from entering the V.A. at all. Hundreds of thousands will face waiting lists and increased co-pays. Are we headed in the right direction?

.. MUCH MORE..
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[G_j]

1. kick..

:kick:

[G_j]

2. kick- some good material for LTTEs etc.

:kick:

[durablend]

3. All I have to do...

Is go down to the gas station, supermarket, or get a visit from the propane man and I can answer that.

(NO!!!!!!!!)