This puts me in mind of a course I once took while living in Rochester New York. Then employed as a psychological counselor, I hoped that obtaining a master's in social work might improve my skills. What I had not expected was the extent of the naivete of my fellow students.
This was revealed during a discussion of Kodak's policies in dealing with disabled employees. These were acknowledged to be generous, but several students argued that they ought to be expanded to cover all of the workers' expenses. Although this would increase the company's costs several times over, it should still be done, they said.
In response, another student observed that the proposed benefits were so generous that they would destroy Kodak's profitability. To this the first student replied that this did not matter. All that counted was that the company should do the right thing. Its employees deserved no less.
At this, the skeptical student commented that if Kodak did not earn a profit, it would eventually go out of business. And if it did, there would be no money to pay disabled employees anything. What then would happen to these workers?
One might have though this would have ended the conversation, but it did not. The first student was not through.
She still insisted that this didn't matter. Profitability could not be the criteria for deciding company policy. All that counted was what was moral. People had to do the right thing, whatever the consequences.
Today we hear similar contentions with regard to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. People in need are said to "deserve" these programs whatever the implications of their cost. Policy makers are, therefore, castigated for donning green eyeshades to calculate the costs. They should instead be concentrating on taking care of those who require assistance.
Many of you have probably seen it, but there is a television ad that insists government subsidies to hospitals must not be cut. Three elderly people face the camera to ask legislators, "What were you thinking?"
Limiting the health care of older Americans is such a bad idea, that they should immediately reverse course.
Every time I see this performance I am tempted to reply in kind. "What were we thinking?"
We were thinking that the nation had to be preserved from bankruptcy. We were thinking that it is essential to leave our children and grandchildren with a nation that is solvent enough to meet their needs.
Then I am inclined to ask the TV spokespersons (and those who wrote their script), what were you thinking? Was your sole concern your own selfish needs? Did what might happen to future generations ever cross your minds?
There are times I am amazed by the lack of foresight some people exercise. Those social work students back in Rochester left me flabbergasted by their inability to anticipate the effects of their recommendation. I was even more offended when they declared that they didn't care what happened.
Today I look around and see politicians expressing similar attitudes because they believe that if they make promises they know cannot keep, they may be elected one more time. I also see the recipients of their largesse piously intoning pleas that they deserve what they have always received - no matter what.
Then I look at polls that indicate Republicans are receiving more blame than Democrats for the current budgetary impasse and wonder if I have not inadvertently crossed into Alice's Wonderland. Can adult human beings be so oblivious to facts and logic that they are prepared to march headlong to their own destruction?
As a former clinician, I know the power of denial. It just terrifies me that we as a nation may be repressing facts essential to protecting our shared interests.
Melvyn L. Fein Ph.D. is a professor of Sociology at Kennesaw State University.
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“The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president.”
An American President labeled the "Prince of Fools" by a former Communist - how low has the US sunk! Just sayin, the students from Rochester NY referenced in this column, Democrats in Congress and the people who elect them are among the depraved confederacy of fools who see no potential whatsoever of ANY adverse consequences to the poor from perpetual and ever rising deficit spending...the only "damage" comes from budget cuts and the failure to raise taxes. Hopefully the minion of fools will never have to learn the hard way...and take down the rest of us in the process.
afterthoughts- Paul Ryan's plan did not affect those who are older. It does not affect anyone under 55 years of age.People are living longer and in better health. They can work longer. I worked until I was 73 years old.We must change the entitlements programs, factor in the for the "new age" existence and stop freebies to lazy folks and illegal immigrants. Billions will be saved and prolong the life of the existing programs.
No, you would rather raise the taxes on the workers, stifle their initiative, encourage companies like GE to pout their money overseas and pay no taxes to America. Turn oyur head all te way around, It is facing the wrong direction.
If Melvyn Fein is a long time resident of Wonderland, then you come to us from the land of Oblivion. You are oblivious to what has happened and who is responsible.
Facts are facts. Some will try to challenge them by playing with numbers.
We have too many people collecting "entitlements". We give away the dollars of the working people to the idle, to illegal immigrants and to many programs that are"feel good" programs but offer no resolution of problems.
The Medicare, etc programs for older people are rapidly becoming exhausted. The premiums for our younger workers are skyrocketing as the medical centers pass their forced free services onto those with insurance.
These seniors are not to blame. They accepted the government's word that the entitlement programs would provide for them forever. They are not wise accountants who looked at the programs back in those days and said--"It cannot last".
Judging from the leftie comments to the MDJ on the debt deal alone are terrifying on the face of it.
However, these blindfolded folks have obviously formed a little club whose sole purpose is to m ake themselves appear to be a larger force than they actually are. There are far more folks who understand that killing the golden egg-laying goose is not the way to go, and that a drastic overhaul of the lumbering, doddering, goliath that gov has become is the sane option.