Question 1
Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. What were provisions of this Act that is still in effect in the workplace today? What were the positives of this legislation? What were the negatives?Question 2
The United States is the only developed nation in the world that does not have Comprehensive Health Care. In addition, our health care comprises approximately 17% of our GNP, opposed to 10% of other industrialized nations with comprehensive health care. There is an ongoing struggle with the idea of free market based solutions to health care vs. Medicare for all concepts. What comprehensive health care attempts have been tried? What has blocked it? How far does the Affordable Health Care go to address this? What are its accomplishments and shortcomings? What is the potential and shortcomings of a free market based system? What ideas do you have for the future?Answer 1
The Family and Medical Leave Act allowed individuals to miss up to 12 weeks of work to care for family members or themselves for doctor approved reasons. This protected workers from losing their jobs and allowed that they could return to an equal level position. Health benefits are kept. There are more details as well. The negatives are that this leave is unpaid and only applies to employers with more than 50 employees. There criteria are strict to meet this and the people included in the list of being cared for is limited. The paperwork is challenging to complete.Answer 2
Our health care remains a great political divide. The addition of Medicaid and Medicare have been plans in the direction of more comprehensive health care. Hillary Clinton attempted. The Affordable Health Care act has helped, but it does not cover all. You can opt out with penalty and the states that did not expand Medicaid have a gap in coverage. The insurance market and pharmaceutical companies are still free market entities that influence cost, as well as hospitals. Uncertainty creates a rise in premiums/deductibles which compromises those with insurance being able to afford care. Many issues remain. There are efforts currently to repeal ad replace the ACA. Particulars of this can be assessed and how they benefit the higher income and result in poor and many others not having coverage. Bernie Sanders is introducing "Medicare for all." More people support more comprehensive care, but the party make up of government dictates what happens. This issues remains high divisive.