I am a Socialist Democrat from NW Iowa,  Rep. Steve King is my Congressman.  I am glad to have found these blogs.  I hope nobody minds if I post and pester everyone here.  I am out in Der Hinterland of the Dutch Reformed Churches and the ultra Conservatives that love Steve King and Michelle Bachmann.  What am I doing here?  I have grandchildren living in the area, and moved here from Colorado.  Why stay in Colorado when I have grandchildren growing up, seeing me twice a year?  so now I live 4 blocks away and I see them quite often.  Although now they are almost grown and busy with their social life (and talking to Army and Navy Recruiters.) .

I am a nurse in long term care.  I believe we should have health care for everyone.  I have good insurance.  Its not as if I want it for me.  I want and hope for health care for everyone and I am willing to pay more in taxes to get it.  If we all paid a little bit,  everyone would be covered.  We live in one of the best countries in the world,  yet 45,000 people die every year, because they don't have and cannnot afford insurance. 

 We need to regulate the insurance companies,  Wall Street,  big banks should be made small enough to fail.  Remember when Commercial Banks were different than Savings and Loans?  We need to regulate them again, making our retirements and our IRAs safe again. 

People talk about raising taxes.  Are they not aware that the rich are paying far less in taxes now than they were under r. Reagan?  And he decreased taxes! 

We need to draw back from this International Trade crap and begin to “Buy American” again.  We need to legalize hemp, so we can make our own ropes, our own cloth, (its just ditchweed, its not good marijuana, just the crap nobody will smoke).  Make our own clothing here,  our own shoes, our own cars, car parts, furniture, large machines, computers, everything.  We can't compete in the international market if we can't keep our own people busy.

Everyone talks about how Obama is leading us to Socialism.  I wish!  If we could get our political parties to lean far left,  the utilities, transportation and banks bought by the government,  and use more of a Socialist agenda,  we would have health care for all, tort reform, no student loans for doctors, decrease in health care costs.

My medical conglomerate I work for probably pays over 800 dollars a month for their share of my insurance costs.  I pay about 120 dollars.  If we had health care for all (or at least a good solid public option),  they could give me that 920 dollars.  And I would be more than willing to pay 1000 a month for health care for everyone.  I live in O'brien county and our town has voted in a tax paying for every fee for every school child in the school system.  If A child cannnot afford book fees, they are paid for everyone.  If a child cannot afford to play a sport,  sports, books, locker fees, etc. are paid for all.  I would be more than willing to do that for the least of our people in this country.