Universal Health Care:
Universal Health care is a touchy subject for some people, but I will tell you that I’m all for it. Yes, it is POSSIBLE that we will have to pay higher taxes. However, people that are without insurance will not be left out. As we all know, Canada has a universal drug plan and the people do not mind paying more in taxes. I don’t think that it is as scary as most people believe. Many people would be better off if we could get a universal prescription drug program for all Ohio. So many people today especially those who are on fixed incomes are being forced to either eat, pay bills, or get medicine. No one should have to make those kinds of decisions. These are the same people that went through the great depression, and the people that for a long time supported America with their backs in the work force. We live in a country where 1 in 5 children are homeless. We cannot forget about these people. It is in my belief that there are many people out there today that would like to have a universal health care coverage but are afraid of what it will cost. I think that if we all do our part, we can make this a reality for Ohio and it will not cost an arm and a leg.
Buy your house today and lose it tomorrow:
Someone needs to explain to me why Ohio leads the nation in which subprime borrowers lose their house. The statistics showed Ohio at 10% of last year between July and September…triple the national rate! In the worst county Hardin Ohio, the foreclosure rate went up 181% from 1999 to 2004. Also, Ohio is one of just two states not applying consumer protection law to the mortgage industry. For those that do not know the difference between prime and subprime rate, here is an example. A prime rate would be around 5%, and a subprime would be around 8% or more. Here is some even worse news on these predatory lenders. The idea of establishing more loans at subprime rate turns out to be more profitable in the long run, because lenders can absorb more loss and still make money. However, the end result is broken homes and shattered dreams. Loan sharks are not the only problem. The economy has a very big effect in how people handle their finances, but having to pay subprime rates does not help matters one bit. Ohio currently has legislation that better protects people against predatory lenders but they are not strong enough to curtail the worsening trend. Ohio legislators need to create more protection for the people they are supposed to represent.
