Next week is the primary, and hopefully Bouchard can raise the necessary funds to challenge "Dangerously Incompetent" Debbie Stabenow.
I went to Keith Butler's web site and this is his position on two issues that were mentioned on this thread, Affirmative Action, the Michigan Civil Rights bill on the ballot and health care.
And if you want an accurate statement of his position on the issues for yourself, including immigration and our borders, go to his website, butlerforussenate
Affirmative Action
"I do not support quotas or set aside programs for anyone. However, after much study of this issue, I have come to the conclusion that I cannot support Ward Connerly's proposal. I have come to the conclusion that his proposal goes too far and has hidden unintended consequences.
Let's be clear, the U.S. Supreme Court in its decisions concerning the University of Michigan outlawed the use of added points for minority applicants. Regarding the University of Michigan Law School, the U.S. Supreme Court said that an applicant's life circumstances could be evaluated in determining admissions. President George Bush praised the decision saying, "I applaud the Supreme Court for recognizing the value of diversity on our Nation's campuses. Diversity is one of America's greatest strengths." I agree with President Bush and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Ward Connerly's proposal will not end discrimination in Michigan. His proposal will not end or outlaw, cronyism, favoritism, `Legacy' admissions, geographic discrimination, or athletic preferences.
This proposal will however terminate many worthwhile programs including, any Michigan program that aims to increase opportunities for women including recruitment, training, and outreach programs in public education and employment.
Efforts to hire more women for certain jobs would be banned. Programs aimed at attracting women to specific educational areas like science or nursing would be banned. Same sex classes for young girls would be banned. Summer job programs, fair housing and lending programs, apprentice programs or any gender-based program for training or outreach would be banned under this proposal. And these restrictions would be put into the state constitution.
This proposal is wrong for Michigan. We still live in a society where some among us still need assistance. We do not need quotas or set-asides for anyone, but is it wrong to encourage young girls to take math and science courses? Is it wrong to support a program that encourages young black men to go to college? Is it wrong to encourage singlemothers to complete their education? I don't believe it is."
Health care costs are rising at the rate of 11-12% annually due to a system based on acute care rather than prevention and wellness; the grave and deadly errors caused by not having a computerized system; no real competition as the consumer is removed from the system; medical liability; and the usage of more expensive medical service by those who do not have health care coverage.
What are the possible solutions:
1. Give everyone in the country some form of a medical savings account at birth. You are already paying for the uninsured anyway. They cannot be denied care when they go to a hospital. Because, they don't have regular care the emergency room is their doctor, which is the most costly health care service, and the costs are charged to the rest of us. And because they don't get regular care, they are sicker when they arrive and require a longer stay. You save money if you give them an account.
2. Make these accounts tax-free. Allow money to be put in from any source and withdrawn without consequences if used for a legitimate health purpose.
3. Give incentives such as cash or other means for people who follow a healthy lifestyle. You get more of what you reward and less of what you punish. 4. Require every health care provider to fully computerize. Require them to post their charge rate on the Internet. Have a rating system for hospitals so the consumer can make choices. Provide liability reform on both time and cost.
5. Put the consumer back in the game. Make them responsible for their care. Empower them with choice and arm them with information; shine the light so that all may see.
6. Competition will be put back into the system driving costs down and quality up. A side benefit is Medicaid and Medicare are health care driven. If you drive the costs down, you save billions on the federal budget.