Torch, Spring/Summer 2008

this will send the wrong message to the potential illegals currently living outside of the United States. The possible result of this amnesty policy then is that others will be encouraged to enter this country illegally, too. Another proposal is to create a guest worker program and permit illegal immigrants to stay and work legally. While there may be a legitimate need for this program in one industry — agriculture — most industries do not have the same need for foreign workers since most of their workers are legal. Other proposals have centered around the completion of the 700 miles of fence along the border with Mexico, creating tamper-proof ID cards for all immigrants, eliminating the “visa lottery” that allows 50,000 random immigrants a year to enter the country, and deporting the nearly two million illegal immigrants with criminal records. Ending the debate over these possible proposals and making definitive decisions about their implementation is a critical need in this election year. Health Care America’s doctors and medical institutions are the envy of the world. The level of expertise and the facilities used to handle medical care are unmatched. Yet, many Americans worry whether they will have access to medical care when they need it. Some politicians want to put the entire health care system under government control, but many fear this large undertaking on the part of an already- huge federal government would only create more problems for those needing critical care. A conservative alternative is to enact serious reforms in current tax and insurance law that would expand personal ownership and control of health insurance and transfer the control of health care dollars to individuals and families. Further recommendations suggest that Congress create a federal health care tax credit that offers the same tax benefit for buying health insurance on the individual market that is currently available only for buying through an employer. This would allow people to own their own health insurance, without a tax or regulatory penalty, and hang on to their insurance no matter where or even if they work. For those who reject a large, government-mandated, government-managed health care program, there are a variety of options which would allow individuals and families to be their own decision- makers and the managers of their own health care. Conclusion These are but a few of the issues to be considered by Americans as they prepare to vote in November. May God give us all wisdom as we sort through the alternatives and make our policy choices in this election year. Dr. Kevin Sims is a professor of political science at Cedarville University. Prior to coming to Cedarville, he invested six years as chairman and professor of history at Pillsbury College and then taught at Azusa Pacific University. He served as a staff assistant to Congressman David Dreier from 1984 to 1990. Sims received his Ph.D. from The Claremont Graduate School in 1991 and has been at Cedarville since 1990. Carol’s founder and chief executive officer Tony Miller poses for a photo at the company’s offices in Plymouth, Minnesota. Carol launched a new website, Carol.com, which allows consumers to search for medical services, compare prices and quality, and make appointments, all online. The company hopes the website will transform the U.S. health care system by putting the consumer in charge and hopefully creating competition among health care providers. Spring–Summer 2008 11 T AP Photo/Dawn Villella