Mike Pouraryan
Will There Ever be Relief on "Main Street"?
:
I have to wonder
The momentum for Healthcare Reform legislation is continuing unabatted. The problem I have is that it will take 4 years for it to be implemented. However, there are still many provisions that would kick in immediately. What is clear is that doing nothing is as irresponsible ever because there needs to be a change in thinking.
As the healthcare debates continues, I am not sure about the impact on jobs. One of my students shared the fact that both she and her husband were laid off in Michigan and there was hardly anything to look forward to. I have had another one of my friends whose Husband was laid off since 2008 and he has not been able to find anything. She was keeping her kids entertained by watching re-runs on Hulu. I had another friend who got a job offer after almost being out of work for 12 months at 30% less than the original salary. Another friend also got an offer, but again at almost 30% less than the original salary. I also got word that a number of Cities within Orange County, California, implemented a hiring freeze on all new hires simply because of the continued budget calamity being faced as a result of the Great Recession.
There is a clear bloodbath on Main Street. Although Healthcare Reform will help, I remain unconvinced that it is the response to the continued challenges we face. I am not sure how the insurance companies will be prevented from pushing the premiums higher while this 4-year implementation period occurs. There is of course one profound question that has not been adequately addressed is Workmen Compensation and how that would be handled. It has not been addressed and I view it as a big problem as ever. I also continue to wonder about Medical Malpractice. The need for Doctors to not have to watch their back is something that would continue to haunt the profession until there is a concerted effort to overcome it.
Going beyond healthcare, there is another of the many trends that needs to be watched. I caught a glimpse of a meeting at which Jim Ownes, Caterpillar's CEO spoke. The information discussed does not bode well as the Economy goes into recovery. Raw Material prices continue to see an increase. Diesel is at a 16-Month High which will impact companies like Catepillar and all the downstream suppliers and vendors who have to plan for it accordingly. This is another dark cloud that looms on the horizon.
The people need a break. Will the Political Leadership of the Country have the courage to rise above it all? Will the people of "main street" have to courage to live through it all?
As the healthcare debates continues, I am not sure about the impact on jobs. One of my students shared the fact that both she and her husband were laid off in Michigan and there was hardly anything to look forward to. I have had another one of my friends whose Husband was laid off since 2008 and he has not been able to find anything. She was keeping her kids entertained by watching re-runs on Hulu. I had another friend who got a job offer after almost being out of work for 12 months at 30% less than the original salary. Another friend also got an offer, but again at almost 30% less than the original salary. I also got word that a number of Cities within Orange County, California, implemented a hiring freeze on all new hires simply because of the continued budget calamity being faced as a result of the Great Recession.
There is a clear bloodbath on Main Street. Although Healthcare Reform will help, I remain unconvinced that it is the response to the continued challenges we face. I am not sure how the insurance companies will be prevented from pushing the premiums higher while this 4-year implementation period occurs. There is of course one profound question that has not been adequately addressed is Workmen Compensation and how that would be handled. It has not been addressed and I view it as a big problem as ever. I also continue to wonder about Medical Malpractice. The need for Doctors to not have to watch their back is something that would continue to haunt the profession until there is a concerted effort to overcome it.
Going beyond healthcare, there is another of the many trends that needs to be watched. I caught a glimpse of a meeting at which Jim Ownes, Caterpillar's CEO spoke. The information discussed does not bode well as the Economy goes into recovery. Raw Material prices continue to see an increase. Diesel is at a 16-Month High which will impact companies like Catepillar and all the downstream suppliers and vendors who have to plan for it accordingly. This is another dark cloud that looms on the horizon.
The people need a break. Will the Political Leadership of the Country have the courage to rise above it all? Will the people of "main street" have to courage to live through it all?
