The following is the skinny on the Federal Reserve and the Federal Reserve Act.

Founded in 1913 the Federal Reserve is to: furnish an elastic currency (abandon the gold standard), allow for rediscounting commercial paper (create new money at will), and supervise banking in the United States (expand credit).

The truth is that since the creation of the Federal Reserve, Americans have fallen to the mercy of cyclical monetary policy and recessive economic conditions. In other words, it is because the Federal Reserve consistently floods the market with money that artificial growth, in various sectors, is followed by recession. This is a direct cause of the devaluation of the dollar and the increase to the national deficit.

Paul wishes to put an end to the domestic issues and political ramifications that Federal Reserve policies have on the United States. He realizes that without a gold standard, congress is free to continue spending recklessly; under the assumption that monetary expansion will correct the negative infringement on the economy.

In a statement presented to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002, titled Abolish the Federal Reserve, Paul noted, “policy should only permit currency backed by stable commodities such as silver and gold to be used as legal tender.” Why silver, why gold?

Because precious metal is what the market chose! Remember the term laissez-faire? If not, here is the Encarta Dictionary definition: the principle that the economy works best if private industry is not regulated and markets are free.

Dr. Ron Paul is no idiot. He merely sees through big business lobbyists and supporters, and attends to the people who truly matter—you and me. His theories on how to address the issues which affect American’s, aren’t to favor his personal objectives or to help secure his legacy; they are to better the lives of those he is sworn to represent—the citizens of the United States of America.

RJ

Critics of universal healthcare will argue that the uninsured are generally low-income individuals and children; therefore they are eligible for state and government funded healthcare programs—Medicaid, Medicare, or some other health coverage program funded by Social Security. The problem with this system is the middleman—HMOs. Whether you have private health coverage or qualify for a state assisted health coverage plan, the money used to pay for medical expenses passes through the HMOs’ hands before reaching the doctor’s office or hospital that performed the procedure. But most importantly, HMOs determine healthcare eligibility!

So if the HMOs are the problem, the solution would appear to be the removal of their existence and roll in healthcare completely. Not necessarily, or at least not yet. We merely need for them to function as what they were initially intended for… health insurance. Many nations that practice universal healthcare—the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Canada, Cuba, etc.; also offer their citizens additional healthcare coverage at an expense to the insured. Basically this form of health insurance allows those with the means, to receive premium health services; such as shorter waiting periods to see specialists and private hospital rooms.

These countries don’t allow HMOs to determine the level of coverage individuals are eligible to receive.

Instead, everyone receives the healthcare they are in need of—no questions asked!

Shouldn’t Americans be allowed that same freedom? …All Americans, from Navajos, the homeless, veterans, Blacks, Whites, the elderly, Hispanics, Texans, New Yorkers, Muslims, Democrats, and even Detroit Pistons fans??

RJ