PULSE OF THE VOTERS: National health care, partial border wall needed
"I predict within the next 10 to 15 years there will be national health care of some sort," he said recently from his
He hopes the president and
Aside from partisan politics, the problems of adopting national health care, he said, will be cost control, including major cuts to physicians, hospitals, etc.
"All of that is going to have to be cut to make things even remotely affordable," Friesen said. "That is one thing Obamacare never did. They never addressed tort reform; they never addressed costs. They just gave all of the power to the insurance companies -- and it's nice for them, but it does nothing, in turn, for the consumer. ... Those are all major issues that are going to have to be addressed as we move forward. I don't think commercial insurance is going to be sustainable at the expense levels it is today. It's just not going to happen."
Could national health care be an extension of Medicare? Likely.
"That's probably the most feasible and it won't be liked," he said. "But I don't know how else we are all going to afford health care. Everybody's going to be making adjustments."
As an example, Friesen pointed out that almost every single hospital in this region is expanding and making multi-million dollar additions, "which means financially they are doing quite well. And that's on the heels of us, the consumers."
As a society, though, he said, we expect to have health care. "So, they're kind of required to do it, but who pays for it?"
When national health care happens, he said, "It's going to dramatically change what we have now. ... As a society, we're kind of obsessed with health care and accessibility and getting what we want. And that mindset is going to have to change somewhat. We're going to have to do more taking care of ourselves and not running to the doctor or to the emergency room every time we have a cough or a cold -- that kind of thing. So, it's going to be a major change. Just look to the north in
Friesen said that a physician he used to work for, who grew up in
"Now, if you were to count the number of CT scan machines in
Friesen explained
FAVORITE CANDIDATE
As for the 2020 election, as an independent voter, Friesen is liking
"I think Pete is kind of a long shot," Friesen said, adding he hoped the
"But he's becoming more liked, incredibly, and what I like about him is he is sensible, he's intelligent, he's well-spoken and he wants to talk about the issues," Friesen said. "He's not necessarily coming with a fist down on the table saying this is what I'm doing, but he's talking about what's going to work or what's going to be the best for our country. And that's what I like about him. No other candidates are really doing that. They're just standing with their political cronies and saying, 'We want to give free things to everybody! Vote for us!'"
Buttigieg is young, Friesen, who is 56, admits. "He's had some experience -- not a lot, but I think that's in some ways appealing."
What Friesen doesn't want to see happen is Americans voting in someone who is going to be 78 years old when they reach the office.
"I just don't think that's a wise thing," he said.
He also believes Buttigieg can bridge the current political divide.
"I think the
But what Warren and Sanders aren't talking about is how to pay for all of this "free" stuff, according to Friesen.
"And then just like the Green New Deal, it's like, it's nice, wouldn't that be great -- but this stuff costs money people," Friesen said. "We have a deficit that's out of control and spending that's out of control and they keep spending. And there's no stopping it. ... Money has to come from somewhere people."
So instead of a populist platform, Friesen is looking for a candidate with a platform that addresses the common good of the country, a platform that builds unity and evaluates national spending.
"Let's start knocking things off that are not necessary and adding things that will be good for the country," he said.
Friesen doesn't think a good platform to run on for president is the Green New Deal. "I think it's a nice thing, and I think as a country, specifically as individuals, being environmentally conscious needs to come from each individual."
But environmental measures in the Green New Deal come at a cost.
"I tend to be less government than more government," he said, but as a realist knows that corporations need government regulations. "They're going to have to have regulations or pollution or whatnot will continue. So what
IMMIGRATION
Speaking of sensible reforms, Friesen said the No. 1, most acutely needed change is immigration.
"If we were to take emotions out of it and look at it from a purely economic standpoint in terms of building a wall vs. spending
But it's imperative, he said, that money be spent to build processing centers so immigrants coming in can do so quickly, efficiently and humanely.
Friesen also supports finding a citizenship path for DACA residents.
"We can't go back and send all of these people back to where they came from. That is ridiculous," he said.
He has friends who are immigrants who spent many years working to get their citizenship or green card "and it would be sad to allow these people to stay without having to do something similar, but on the other hand we're past that.
"I think we need to come up with a sensible way toward citizenship and be done, and come up with another sensible way -- expedited way -- of being able to process those seeking asylum or a better life. We want people to come to
The government, Friesen said, deserves and has the right to know who is within its borders -- if nothing else, for security reasons alone. And if processing can be expedited and not such a major ordeal, he feels fewer people will try to sneak in.
"The people are trying to sneak in because that system is broken," he said.
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