Burdened Generation
February 12, 2010
I wrote an editorial to a couple newspapers after receiving an e-mail prompt from some progressive organization imploring me to address health care. I thought I would share it here with my readers, as well:
Let’s be clear about something. Americans have been living beyond their means, consuming to the exclusion of investment in the future. It can be seen in our decaying infrastructure, continuing oil dependence, and a health care system that compares unfavorably with the rest of the developed world.
As a young American, I won’t be afraid to stand up and speak my mind. The war in Iraq, continued tax cuts, and the financial crisis left our country saddled with debt. Debt that my generation will be left to pay.
But cutting social services is not a smart or responsible way to reduce the deficit, not if we want to look beyond the next year and care about continued prosperity. Guess who loses big if health care reform stalls? The youth in America, who have a hard time finding steady insurance through employers.
You may resent hearing it, but the responsible thing to do is to raise taxes – and at the very least don’t obstruct progress! Investments in education, health care, infrastructure, renewable energy will pay off. They’ll also ensure my generation of Americans enjoy free and prosperous lives.
