Thursday, February 14, 2013

Where My Thoughts on the Politics of the Moment Overflow: Part 2


If you don't like my politics this might be a good post to avoid.  If you scroll down past it, there are lots of cute baby pictures.  But I just need to say this, and hey... it's my blog!  I don't talk about politics a ton, but everyone once in a while I just can't help myself.

Our federal government also seems to have suddenly developed a right to come into your home and tell you whether or not its safe enough for you to live there.  At least that's a worry I have after the release of this document, which talks about the potential cost burden of unhealthy living.  Basically, from what I gather, the federal government has this new responsibility because household dangers make us sick and let's face it, with the government in charge of health care they have the right to come into our homes and make sure they're okay:
"“It is clear that unhealthy and unsafe housing has an impact on the health of millions of people in the United States, which is why we must do everything we can to ensure that individuals and families have a healthy place to call home,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “Today’s announcement will help the federal government unify action to controlling and preventing major housing-related exposures and hazards.”" source
I'm all for people having access to safe housing.  I'm less sure that expanding federal powers is the way to do this.  I find myself worrying over how they'll tell us if our homes are safe.  Are we going to be volunteering for these evaluations?  Or are they mandatory because the document does seem to have quite a bit of "for our own good" poured into it.  And since the government coffers aren't exactly overflowing at the moment, where is the money for this huge interagency project going to come from?  

Somehow I don't think our first home after we got married
would have met government standards...
but it was home sweet home!
Oh I know, it will be the money they believe will be saved through lowered health care costs, after the fact, from the changes they've helped those of us who don't have money to pay for these changes ourselves, make.  Which, logically, would mean more government expenditures, or the requirement of people who haven't been able to make these changes themselves on their own, to find a way to come up with the money.

Of course, if we're going to make people healthy for their own good, we're probably going to have to follow New York's lead and start telling everyone what they can and can't eat.  After all food plays a major part in health too.

As you can tell, this expansion in government powers (and in what they view as their responsibility) has me worried this morning...

2 comments:

  1. I think the concern is a legitimate one. The government agencies have been gunning for more power over our home lives, the ways we spend our money, the food choices we make, and the ways we raise our children, forever.

    This is just another violation of the constitution and there are VERY FEW individuals in our government who are not complicit in this treason.

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  2. While the issues in question concern one particular German family and whether they qualify for asylum - and I don't really feel that there is any current threat to homeschooling in this country - it is always prudent to pay attention to things stated by government officials.

    This statement does give an unsettling look into the attitude of this administration towards personal liberties.

    ReplyDelete

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