On Richard W. Fisher of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

… his recent comments before the Commonwealth Club of California San Francisco

America needs to make significant changes in order to meet and exceed the financial demands that our health care and retirement systems face. In Mr. Fisher’s highly socialistic overtones, his recent comments before the Commonwealth Club of CaliforniaSan Francisco, California regarding the fiscal turmoil we Americans face were depressing when taken literally. Once again, Americans have a supposed financial guru, who is part of the system that created the problems, telling Americans everything that is wrong with our social programs without any proposed solutions. Sounds like the common politician…not the kind of opinion that can make a difference in any of our lives.

Where has the vision in our leadership been? There are numerous ways to fund the shortfalls associated with Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid that Mr. Fisher stressed in his speech. Mr. Fisher’s story implies that fixing the system is impossible with the mounting debts and an unmanageable outlook on America’s financial horizon. However, a smart banker like Mr. Fisher should be suggesting ways to resolve the financial struggles we face in light of some of the critical aspects of our current and future economy.

Here are some ideas:

Our tax system needs to be simplified. Reform it.

The U.S. government needs to re-prioritize where it invests our money. What about the citizens of America? America’s pressing issues include education, infrastructure, health care, retirement and overall global competitiveness. Isn’t that even more important than policing the Middle East by rebuilding schools or fighting terrorism or trying to democratize the world?

What about the medical terrorism within our own economy?

Our problem, Mr. Fisher, is not the scary numbers that you so inaccurately project which intimidates Americans to the point of inertia. Leadership is initiated by people with vision…not to be skewed by unrealistic statistics manipulated to make a point. However, the point Mr. Fisher is making does have some validity to it. What about the medical terrorism within our own economy? America is struggling financially in a global marketplace with some very deep internal problems. The further deterioration of the entire middle class due to greed, selfishness and the lack of leadership continued to allow the privileged few to enjoy a favored tax process that ignores the needs of our democracy. Mr. Fisher should be talking about repealing laws like ERISA that have clearly allowed large employers to escape full responsibility when it comes to health insurance if he favors the current system. If Large Employers did not want to be in the health insurance business, they should have never lobbied to pass ERISA. By the way, Mr. Fisher when we fix the U.S. health care system using some of the suggestions in my book (The War on Medical Terrorism), there will be more than enough money to fund these supposed unfunded liabilities that your statistics support.

The reason we are at this juncture financially is due to poor planning and lack of vision

Mr. Fisher makes some excellent points about life expectancy and medical advances that were not taken seriously into consideration when these programs were enacted. The reason we are at this juncture financially is due to poor planning and lack of vision. We have a chance to make it right. Help us help ourselves. Amend the constitution and make health care a right. Americans will get on with our lives and accomplish the unbelievable. Our tax base will grow immensely due to our thriving economy and once again America’s resilient economy will be the envy of the world. America needs the New Deal of Health Care Reform 2009. It can be a 20 year process that starts to make changes with the next administration in the White House.

Use your vote carefully. It is a matter of life and death.