Any attempt at a rational discussion of the economic realities of government-controlled medical care is almost certain to run up against the trump card of the political left: The Poor. The image that is often invoked is that of the elderly poor, forced to choose between food and medical treatment. Who could be so heartless as to abandon them to the vagaries of the free market? This has proved to be a very effective political strategy for extending government power, not only over medical care but also over housing and other sectors of the economy.The phoniness of this argument becomes apparent the moment you suggest that money be set aside specifically for dealing with the special problems of the poor, rather than bringing whole sectors of the economy under the dominance of politicians, bureaucrats and judges. The amount of money needed to take care of the poor is often some minute fraction of what sweeping new government programs cost. But, while big government liberals are willing to use the poor as human shields in their political battles, their more basic strategy is to proclaim that everyone has a right to some basic need that they want the government to provide. As a matter of practical politics, programs for the poor alone do not have as large a constituency as programs to give everybody some benefit, so that we can all have the illusion of getting something for nothing
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Much of the social history of the Western world over the past three decades has involved replacing what worked with what sounded good. In area after area - crime, education, housing, race relations - the situation has gotten worse after the bright new theories were put into operation. The amazing thing is that this history of failure and disaster has neither discouraged the social engineers nor discredited them.
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We need to solve structural problems, such as agrarian reform and the structural problems of housing, employment, health, education and roads.
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a partnership with the people in the region to build new housing, revive farmland, repair infrastructure, construct schools -- to rebuild your communities, to rebuild your lives, to restore your economies.
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The current slowdown in consumer spending reflects factors such as slower employment growth, higher petrol prices, higher interest repayments and a slower housing market.
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And so a lot of people say there's too much personal freedom. When personal freedom's being abused, you have to move to limit it. That's what we did in the announcement I made last weekend on the public housing projects, about how we're going to have a weapons sweep and more things like that to try to make people safer in their communities.
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FEMA is aware of local concerns where sites are proposed, and balances those concerns with its urgent and compelling mission to provide temporary housing.
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Not necessity, not desire—no, the love of power is the demon of mankind. Grant them everything, health, food, housing, entertainment—they ...
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Although housing sales and starts have cooled to more typical levels, the housing market remains strong and sound. Without the expansion of homeownership and the strength of our housing market, our nation would not have the economic growth we are experiencing today.
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The White House: I don't know whether it's the finest public housing in America or the crown jewel of the prison system
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[President Jacques Chirac ordered his government today to build more subsidized housing and to draw up a renovation plan for the most rundown apartment buildings in Paris.] Faced with this situation we must act, ... We urgently must ensure the safety of people living in precarious housing.
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