Response to Tannery's "Grey Matter"

Original argument can be found here.
While I do agree that the average US citizen today fits the stereotype of being somewhat politically ignorant, I disagree with the argument made in the article "Upgrade your grey matter". The credit card industry is an elusive one, and consists of companies who thrive on the fact that careful wording and extremely fine print can fool almost any consumer, especially those who aren't on the offensive. I don't think the strategy here is to simply make American citizens smarter, and I can't imagine there being a practical solution to apply to the entire country that would solve the problems that credit card companies instigate. Are we supposed to take classes in high school that discuss the methods of credit card companies rather than keyboarding classes? I think rather than "dumbing down" the industry in a fashion that can be understood by the public, legislation can be passed, as is occurring under Obama right now, that spells out just exactly what these companies can and cannot do. By forcing these companies to abide by laws that protect American citizens from outrageous practices that only drive the public deeper and deeper into debt, our economy might feel some positive effects. I don't think what Obama is doing can be considered "dumbed down" at all, but rather should be seen as a proactive step taken in the direction that promotes growth and prosperity from the ground up.

Heterosexuals Aren't the Only Ones Who Need Health Care

Gay marriage is something people tend to tiptoe around, including Mr. Obama. While the legalization of marriage between two people of the same sex has gradually been accepted by a growing number of states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Iowa, it remains to be made legal by federal law. While legislation is still on the move to allow the possibility of completely legal same-sex marriage in the future, those who have already formalized their relationships in a completely legal fashion still continue to struggle for their right to health insurance. As mentioned by Walecia Konrad in the New York Times, currently 2/3 of companies with over 500 employees do not offer domestic partner benefits. And even for those who are fortunate enough to be eligible for coverage, it comes at a high price. From difficult registration requirements to an increase in taxes, many gay couples opt out of the coverage altogether to avoid the costly process. The main problem here is that same-sex marriage is still not recognized by federal law. Obama has the chance to make the decision that everyone else has been too cowardly to make. While Obama personally does not support gay marriage due to his own religion, he still admits that acting against their rights is promoting inequality, something that he vows not to do. So be a real man, Obama! Tell America that it's okay to marry a dude if you're a dude, and if you want to be healthy just like everyone else, that's fine by us.