I really enjoyed watching the short video about preventative medicine.  I believe that so much illness in this country could be avoided with the awareness and practice of preventative medicine.  I found it both comforting and shocking that as little as thirty minutes of exercise a day can potentially save a person from a variety of health ailments and add years to one’s life.  It appears that only a little effort put forth can help preserve lives and improve the quality of them.  If I had the power, I would like to propose a policy agenda where businesses, companies, and corporations would give their employees an income incentive if they walked to instead of driving to work.  This program would not only improve the health of those who participated in it, but it would also help to lower air pollution.   

I do believe in the benefits and positive effects that preventative medicine and healthy living can provide to a person’s life.  I also believe that the government does have the responsibility to inform and educate the public about these benefits.  I understand that the government cannot force anyone to make healthy lifestyle choices, people have to make their own choices.  But I do think the government should do their best to provide information, advocate health to the public, and provide incentives for living healthy, which would make it easier decision for people to make healthier choices.

As for the Affordable Health Care 2010 Act, it seems as though the majority of concerns lie within the realm of economics.  Our reading this week explained concerns in which the cost of failure for this act would be high and the status quo is probably unsustainable because of high insurance premiums and low income earners.  High insurance premiums and the increasing number of uninsured Americans are the concerns which are getting the most attention within the implementation of this act.   

Economic Development Director

After reviewing the different economic development strategies proposed, I feel most confident representing the Saratoga County area in New York as their economic development director.  It is hard to deny the variety of positive strengths that has been cultivated in this region.  Saratoga County has all the means necessary to provide a well balanced life, including being centrally located to human capitol as well as providing a good standard of living.  

Along with “world class education,” I would argue that innovation and forward thinking is Saratoga County’s biggest strength.  During our last class, we discussed how some downtown areas are evolving and changing with the times, but the businesses and governments are not.  Saratoga County takes a different approach to the growing and changing times.  For example, all of their college programs are working together, including the private and public universities as well as the community colleges to meet the work force need as it evolves.  The “world class education” located in Saratoga County has produced highly skilled people, for which many have become entrepreneurs in this emerging global technology hub. 

The spillover benefits from the extraordinary education has provided Saratoga County with individuals who possess skills in such key areas as research, development, commercialization, and manufacturing.  All tools that are vital and key to running an innovative and successful business and all located in one central area.  The central location of Saratoga County makes it easy for any potential business to have the opportunity to serve a variety of clients in a variety of areas.  Saratoga County is home to such successful companies as GE and IBM and only has room to grow economically as well as socially.  Saratoga County also provides weather for skiing, golfing, and other outdoor activities, as well as a performing arts theater and the world renowned Saratoga race track.

As far as the HOPE IV project is concerned, I think that it provides lower income neighborhoods with the opportunity to transform itself.  Bringing money to these types of areas can only help attract more people to the area.  Locals could become interested in opening businesses, which could attract visitors and tourists to the area, which would contribute greatly to the economy.  I believe that the Hope IV project is a beneficial domino effect.  With that said, I would not apply for this type of grant in Saratoga County.  I believe that many cities deserve the benefits of a grant like this one, but I don’t believe Saratoga County qualifies.  Because of the big corporations stationed in the area, individuals of the area are impacted positively by its economy and do not need such assistance.