Idealism and the First Step to a Sustainable Healthy Economy

You know, I have been looking at the past few posts, and it is so sad that they seem so down, so negative, but it is the true state of affairs in Michigan and at my school. I believe in truths, and of course, truth is elusive - maybe even more so these days. I realize also that truth is seen through a variety of different lenses, and that agendas can blind, or truncate the truth. I try to see it objectively, for the good of all, but I am hardly infallible, just wary.

I guess what drives me foremost is my idealism. Many people think that idealism is a bad thing. I don't. It is striving for perfection, always changing to make the world a better place. I look around me and can't honestly think that the world is in its ideal formation. Too much going wrong, too much corruption, to much greed, too little honesty, too little compassion. Not that any of that is easily fixed, because of the point of view of the "fixer." But once again, objective idealism and the addition of putting yourself into someone elses shoes. How would you react, act if it were you?

When I look at Michigan I see a state that is populated by many of the working class who have lived a lucky, lucky life during the past 50 or so years mostly working in union jobs, especially in the auto industry. The workers have elevated far beyond many professions, making 6 figure salaries on a high school degree. Those days are over.

The unions have to figure this one out. We are in a global economy now, and for better or worse, and I am no fan of the way we are running the economy, we need to refigure how the unions will run. Getting rid of them is obviously wrong. The lack of balance between worker and CEO is so off kilter that we need voices to try and maintain equilibrium. But right now the unions are not in good shape.

At the top of the heap is getting good health care in this nation. So the first thing I would aim at for helping Michigan get back on its feet is to offer general health care - beginning with a general proactive exam for everyone each year. We can aim for a more sustainable health care as well, relying more on eating healthy, exercise, and being aware of one's body, rather than giving the doctors and pharmaceutical companies abeyance over our own bodies. It is also healthy because you would give some of the power back to the people, and an empowered populace is one that will help bring about the changes that this state sorely needs. We cannot depend on the elected or appointed to solve the ills.

We need to have people reconnect with their bodies, listen to them, rather than live out of our bodies and take only pills to "make it right." That is not honesty, but fooling ourselves. It would require reeducating the populace, but let it begin here. We have so much work to become sustainable at any level in America. Why not start? Why not lead the way Michigan?

If we provided just this basic level, it would warn many people of the problems they have been putting off, not addressing, or could not afford to find out about. It would be a step in the right direction, and provide some of the leadership that is sorely lacking in America. It would be I cannot help but to think that offering any level of health care to the general populace would not help draw new businesses and opportunities into the state.