I've received quite a few emails regarding my ideas on Health Care reform being a Christian ideal. I guess I should explain myself...
To me it comes down to the way morality is framed. Modern political discourse would have us believe that the only 'moral' issues in the current political debate are abortion laws and gay rights, thus relegating Republicanism as the 'moral party'. Here is where polarity comes into play again; if Republican is the moral party, Democrat must be....well...not that. But isn't caring for the poor a moral duty as well? Not to say that Republicans aren't charitable, because I've met one or two that are (joke...badoom-che. That was the 'laugh now' drum.) It's not that I think that conservatives are 'moneywhores' (Thanks embot. Good one.) I just see health care reform as government institutionalized charity, and I think that both Republican and Democrat should share the title of 'Moral Party'. Here's why:
Paying higher taxes in order to help our 'neighbors' when they are in need...Isn't that essentially what every Holy Book urges us to do? Isn't one of the greatest sins to cling to wealth and let the poor perish? Some may say that taxes and charity do not equate, as charity requires agency and taxation does not allow for it. While this is true, it is an unfortunate fact that charity has failed to care for the millions of Americans who are left sick and dying without means to pay their exorbitent medical bills. Therefore, it becomes our moral duty to patch the void that should have been filled by unconditional charity. While having government implement a sort of 'forced charity' is not ideal, it seems to be the only way to ensure that every American can enjoy the right to live a healthy life.
And now for my 'Go Canada' plug: growing up in a middle class household, both my father and little brother had long-term cancer. The excellent care they received would have costs hundreds of thousands of dollars if we had been living in America without (or even in some cases with) insurance. Instead, the bills we received were marked with a big, fat 0$. Actually, I don't think we even received a bill. Just a swift swipe of the MediCare card and we were good to go (besides the fact that my dad died and my little brother spent 3 years of his childhood in a hospital). But now, instead of working two jobs to pay off her late husband's medical bills, my mother works one part-time job and is still able to visit her family that is spread across the globe while eating fine dark chocolate. This is not a conceivable reality for so many widowed women in America. Yeah, go Canada.
Furthermore, the disparity between rich and poor in America has reached unacceptable proportions. While the nation clearly has enough resources to care for every single citizen (yes, despite the economic crisis. Have you watched MTV Cribs lately?), there are still millions of people left uncared for. Whether this is the result of their own irresponsability or just pure misfortune, I feel it is our moral obligation to not leave them by the wayside. As for the middle class and where they stand, Obama is issuing "the biggest middle class tax cut for health care in history" (www.whitehouse.gov/Issues/health-care). I think that sounds pretty good. And even if he wasn't, I think we have to re-evaluate and recognize the relativity of the term 'middle class'. American middle class is to the other 5.7 billion people in the world as Donald Trump is to us. I'm pretty sure that if you own a car, you're doing pretty well, in the grand scheme of things. This is not to say that I am not privy to the luxury trappings of the West. I currently have my eye on a sweet 2nd hand Subaru Forrester for when I return to Hawaii. Living in Costa Rica without the comforts of transportation, air conditioning, hot running water, bath tubs, paved roads, sidewalks, cell phones, toilets capable of flushing toilet paper, and 99cent double cheeseburgers has really made me appreciate the things I used to take for granted.) Am I sounding preachy? Yes. Self righteous? Yes. Am I just choosing the gospel principals that fit into my argument? Yes. But isn't that what we all do in some way?
Anencephaly
11 years ago
GO STEPH GO!!GO CANADA GO! GO ENGLAND GO!!!
ReplyDeleteHaving only ever lived in Stae-medicare countries,i totally agree with my daughter.Access to good healthcare and prescription drugs should be a right,not a privilege for the wealthy few.We ARE our brother's keeper.
With more people having access to healthcare,sureley there will be a healthier workforce?
Cancer treatments here in Canada are identical to that offered in the US--but free of charge.Had we lived in the States,with 2 members of the family being hospitalized for treatment,we would be on the streets.
I agree with you Steph! I lean on the side of the Republican party but really don't understand how anyone who calls themselves a "Christian" doesn't support this. Though I know this isn't in line with things that established this country a "few" years ago, for me it comes down to humanity and HELPING others. So what if I work harder than my neighbor and have to pay a little more for them. So what. When all is said and done, when this life is over, it's not going to be the amount of money I earned that will be tallied up but the people I helped. I don't believe in free handouts but what about all the HELPLESS children who can't meet the medical needs they may have because of their parents? The amount we are paying for medical insurance goes up and up each year with worse coverage. If i'm going to be paying more any way, why not be doing so knowing i'm helping others! Everyone deserves to live a healthy life, everyone deserves Health Care!
ReplyDeleteAmen sister! Even though we don't always agree on politics, I am with you on this 100%. xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteLoved this post! I wish I grew up in Canada.
ReplyDeleteI totally disagree with you Steph. So do my parents and sister and brother who are all Christians as well. I should say that I come from a medical family who are in the trenches seeing first hand what is happening in hospitals and medical billing. I have a chronic illness that has been very expensive, but here's the deal.
ReplyDeleteIt is anti-Christian to force you to do things. That was Satan's plan. Christ's plan is to choose for ourselves. America is based on the freedom to choose. Agency. Our whole country was based on this one principle. To choose for ourselves. I did not choose this healthcare reform of President Obama. the polls showed that majority was against it...so why is it forced upon us? Why did our representatives who we elected not listen to the people they represent?
I am all for charity. To give from the goodness of your heart. Not for the government to make you be charitable. As Christians we give in quiet anonymous ways. We give because we want to, not because we are forced to. We don't force anyone else to give.
Have you followed at all what happened to the family whose parents of four small children were burned in an airplane crash? The mother was burned by over 80 percent of her body. The community, the world, has rallied around them in the most Christian display I have seen. they have had benefit concert have benefit concert, etsy sales, private donations, fundraisers, for over a year. The giving has not ceased.
ReplyDeletesorry my last comment is barely readable. typing too fast with no proof reading. sorry.
ReplyDeleteI know, it's amazing! (about the family being helped by people around the world) And by the way, I'm assuming "Crazy Lady" is you, Brooke? I Blogger stalked you just to make sure...hehe.
ReplyDeleteI just feel that personal charity cannot help EVERY needy family in the USA, and that's where government comes in...To effectively help a family in need, one would need access to a small personal fortune. Unforunately, we're not all privy to those assetts...So, if everyone gives a little (via taxes), the end result is a whole lot of money, and a whole lot of helped families.
I really appreciate your comments. The more I learn about your perspective, the better. I'd like to become a better-rounded person (politically, not physically) :)
Just found your blog. My husband and I are both in the medical field. We believe universal healthcare is the only answer (we are US citizens). We are in the income about to be taxed heavily to pay for healthcare and we WELCOME it.
ReplyDeleteKristina-
ReplyDeletethanks for your comment, and for finding my blog. Any way you would be interested in being part of my thesis research study? If so, look at the "Opportunity of a Lifetime" post on my blog and let me know! Thanks again.
I recently stumbled across your blog and I find your insight intriguing. I think that it's difficult for Americans to understand the reality of state-supported healthcare, and understandably. Had today's Americans grown up with Medicare and other such schemes, I suspect that they wouldn't focus on the tax issue. However, to those of us who did grow up with Medicare, it blows our mind that anyone would not welcome Obama's healthcare reform. I view Medicare as not a luxury to be debated, but a fundamental NEED for the wellbeing of my country.
ReplyDeleteI agree.... and I don't really buy the argument that it is "anti Christian to force you to do things" in this case. I can see where that's coming from, but in this HUGE country with so many people suffering (from poor to middle class, in big ways and small), I just don't buy that.
ReplyDeleteAnd there are a bunch of things that have seemed "forced upon us" in the past. I for one never wanted war, back in the days post 9/11, but we went right? And there were A LOT of us who didn't want that. And that's democracy, too. Sometimes things go the way you want them to, and other times they don't.
But overall I hope we are on the right path. It won't be perfect yet, and it will be a HUGE change - but we are on the way.
I agree with you on that, Beth. I think it's un-Christian to force people to do things in interpersonal circumstances. However, we are commanded to follow the laws of the land, and in that sense, some 'coersion' is allowed-for. We still have our agency, as we can choose whether or not we want to abide by these laws, however it is in our best interest as Christians to obey governmental laws.
ReplyDeleteSteph, given your background i think it would be weird if you had any other view on health care. I have aging parents and I absolutely want them to be taken care of as their health care needs increase. We all do.
ReplyDeleteHowever, what makes you think that the excellent universal heath care your family received in Canada will be anything like what ours will end up being here in the US? The US government sucks at running the government agencies they're already in charge of. And by sucks i mean slow, inefficient, bogged down with red tape, full of too many people with too few answers. I could go on and on.
Pick one. Would you rather take Harper for shots and check ups to the DMV or the Post Office? Or think of taking 3 year old Phil to the immigration office and putting him into that system. It just scary!!
We have no evidence that a US government run health care will be different from any of these.
Additionally, Canada's population is roughly 35 Million people.
The United States has over 305 MILLION to cover. 305!
We are talking apples and oranges, you can't even compare the two.
Steph, I love that you comment on the comments, I just realized that. Oooh, I'll check back then.
ReplyDeleteyay, I still stick with what I said before though. agree to disagree.
p.s. Ironically, Doug just tried to get an appointment at the DMV today. Next available? April 20.
ReplyDeleteHey Emily,
ReplyDeleteI understand that it's difficult to compare two countries and try to draw parallels between them in terms of government. Still, if everyone agrees that the current American health care system is broken, why not try something new? Does the fear of possible failure legitimate not even trying a system that has proven to work in many other nations?
Also, the population comparison between USA and Canada is valid, however more people=more=resources=more hospitals=more doctors.
As for choosing lil' Harp's medical care...in Costa Rica there is a 2-tierd system, where you can choose to pay for private care, or use the public hospitals for free. We've opted for the free care, and it works great. Again, comparing 2 different countries, but isn't it worth a try?
p.s funny anaolgies. bringing phil to the post office. he would have probably loved that. we used to drive to the mailbox down the street in his powerwheels when he was sick :)
ReplyDeleteHere's the thing I don't get though ---- Universal Health Care doesn't mean that a single thing will happen to those of us with health care right now, unless we want it to. For example no one is going to take away my Blue Shield of CA plan and tell me that I now have to have Univ. Health Care run by the government. That being said, if I didn't have health care, was sick, or if any of my children needed help and now I could finally get help I would gladly go stand in line at the "post office" or DMV until my or their needs were met. It just seems like people are scared that now all of the sudden the "crappy" gov't is going to come in and make us all wait in long lines. Instead of talking about the PEOPLE who need help, it's the inconvenience. And yes, there might be a long line or two... hopefully not, right? But isn't a long line worth waiting in if it gets us to a better place down the road? When I lived in NYC I went to a city run free clinic b/c I didn't have insurance, and yes it was a pain in the butt, but I mentally prepared myself for the hours I would be there, and then thanked God at the end of the morning when my appt. was $20 and I came out with a $5 prescription. And why have no faith in gov't... we need a little optimism here people! It would be nice if we hoped for the best since THIS IS HAPPENING. Just my two (more) cents.
ReplyDeleteAnd PS - as a person who usually leans toward democrat, I feel like it's important to be optimistic about the "powers that be" no matter the party. If John McCain, or George W. Bush or any other republican was running things right now, I would still be hoping for the best. We are all Americans hoping for a better life for ourselves, our family, and the people around us. No matter the party.
ReplyDeleteonly time will tell.
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ReplyDeleteThis is using an arbitrary you, with no specific person in mind:
ReplyDeleteGiving up 'freedom' and 'agency' to help other people... isn't that being selfless? Isn't that how it always works? Scenario: you have something planned and then someone calls you to help them. Sure you use your 'agency' to choose to help that person over what you had initially wanted to do, but that's a sacrifice for another's benefit. With this health care bill, we ALREADY chose this path when we voted for Obama. (And if you did not, how does the other 49% of America feel when they don't get what they want the time that YOU win? Selfishness- Welcome to DEMOCRACY, where the masses rule the 'slightly-less' masses. Accept it and don't complain in my wonderful wife's words :) NOTE: I am Canadian and can't vote, I just include myself in this 'we' business. So, my point>? Let's give up some money, help some people, and who cares if some of our 'freedom' is expended on helping others. If you taxed me everyday and people got helped because of it, I wouldn't complain. You shouldn't either. Or you are a bad person. (Hahaha,a joke, for real, but there IS some truth to every joke. If you choose money over people, you may want to re-evaluate your life.)
Here in Quebec we always complain about being taxed to the hilt--highest taxes in all of North America actually--but the education system,through University ,costs next to nothing.One can get an excellent education at McGill( canada's Ivy League Uni),and free Doctor and hospital care,which although not top notch,does the job when the chips are down.Mothers are actually PAID every time they have a baby-it goes up with every child.There is universal $7 a day daycare,so that even the poorest can work if they need to.There really is something to say for a system like this--even though we pay through our taxes.
ReplyDeleteTo live with a sense of interconnectedness is not to give-up agency, it is to choose to abide by governmental principles that are instutituted so EQUALITY can be established. Waiting in long lines is a sacrifice we can choose in contribution to the greater good of our society. If I have to wait in a line to get my broken thumb fixed so that someone else can have open-heart surgery, so be it. We can choose to sacrifice some personal comfort so that another can be saved. The long lines just mean that more people are getting the medical attention they need and deserve. And if you have the money, you can always pay to forego the lines.
ReplyDeleteI have complete faith that this health care system will work.
p.s you guys are great. keep the comments a-coming!
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ReplyDeleteI pulled these statements from a talk that President Monson gave in 1986. I am sure that the current health care debate was not on his mind at the time and by no means do I want to suggest his opinion in the matter. But it may shed some light on why a God fearing Christian might be little nervous about the government doling out health care.
ReplyDeleteas for me I am not particularly happy with either choice in the debate. One is criminal and the other one is worse and I think the verdict is still out as to which one is which.
Doug.
Gen 3:19 by the sweat of they face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground.
President Heber J. Grant read a statement from the First Presidency that explained the principles upon which the Church’s welfare efforts were based. Included were these familiar words: “Our primary purpose was to set up, insofar as it might be possible, a system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished, and independence, industry, thrift and self-respect be once more established amongst our people. The aim of the Church is to help the people to help themselves. Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our Church membership.” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1936, p. 3.)
Self-reliance is a product of our work and under-girds all other welfare practices. It is an essential element in our spiritual as well as our temporal well-being. Regarding this principle, President Marion G. Romney has said: “Let us work for what we need. Let us be self-reliant and independent. Salvation can be obtained on no other principle. Salvation is an individual matter, and we must work out our own salvation in temporal as well as in spiritual things.”
Let us hearken to the counsel given by President Stephen L Richards in 1939: “We have always dignified work and reproved idleness. Our books, our sermons, our leaders, including particularly our present President, have glorified industry. The busy hive of the honeybee Deseret—has been our emblem. Work with faith is a cardinal point of our theological doctrine, and our future state—our heaven—is envisioned in terms of eternal progression through constant labor.
President Spencer W. Kimball further taught concerning self-reliance: “The responsibility for each person’s social, emotional, spiritual, physical, or economic well-being rests first upon himself, second upon his family, and third upon the Church if he is a faithful member thereof.
ReplyDelete“No true Latter-day Saint, while physically or emotionally able, will voluntarily shift the burden of his own or his family’s well-being to someone else
In the early church, Paul wrote to Timothy, “If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1 Tim. 5:8.) It is our sacred duty to care for our families, including our extended families. Often we see what might be called parent neglect. Too frequently, the emotional, social, and, in some instances, even the material essentials are not provided by children for their aged parents. This is displeasing to the Lord. It is difficult to understand how one mother can take care of seven children more easily than seven children can take care of one mother. President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., gave clear direction on this matter: “The prime responsibility for supporting an aged parent rests upon [the] family, not upon society. … The family which refuses to keep its own is not meeting its duty.”
President Stephen L Richards gave an inspired appeal as he rallied members with these sentiments: “How can sons and daughters who owe everything they have—their education, their ideals of life, their capacity to acquire independent living and their characters—to parents who have worked, sacrificed, prayed, wept, and striven for them to the exhaustion of their bodies and their energies be parties to a scheme which would make their fathers and mothers the objects of charity and cast the burden of their support on the community and stigmatize them with the loss of independence and self-respect. …
“I think my food would choke me if I knew that while I could procure bread my aged father or mother or near kin were on public relief.” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1944, p. 138.)
Good luck with the project, Steph!
Wow Doug. Thanks for the comments.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, I don’t believe that ‘idleness’ and families ‘not meeting their duty’ fully explains why so many people are in such impoverished conditions. Sure there will be some, probably many, who use the new health care system as a free ride. Still, many more people are in the conditions they are in because of the broken American social system. The rich get richer and the poor stay poor, and that’s the way it is. Unfortunately, so many people don’t have access to education, job opportunities and health care, making poverty a vicious cycle. Many families are working as hard as they can just to provide basic necessities for their families. If one of their family members falls ill, they simply don’t have the resources to pay their medical bills. And so they go into debt. And so they remain poor.
I don’t think that we can fully apply what was said in the 30s and 40s to today’s social structure. Of course we can always apply spiritual concepts, as they are timeless, however temporal life has changed drastically since the 2nd world war. The disparity between rich and poor has widened severely, ratified by the economic institutions that help the rich but leave the poor by the wayside. The system doesn’t truly allow for people to ’help themselves’ because of the lack of opportunity in poor communities. Most of these people work harder than anyone in factories and fields, but still can never get ahead because of the social system that leaves them by the wayside.
Every prophet has spoken of unconditional charity, and helping those in need without respite.
Russell M. Nelson:
Scriptures teach us that the poor—especially widows, orphans, and strangers—have long been the concern of God and the godly. The poor have been especially favored by the law. Old Testament teachings authorized poor persons at harvest time to glean after the reapers. At fruit-picking time, what was left hanging on branches belonged to the poor. In the sabbatical seventh year, and in the jubilee fiftieth year, land was not planted nor tilled, and what grew of itself was free for the hungry.
To those who cared for the poor, blessings were promised. The Lord would deliver them in time of trouble. (See Ps. 41:1.) Truths were taught by these proverbs: “He that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.” (Prov. 14:21.) “The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.” (Prov. 29:7.)
During the Savior’s earthly ministry, he reemphasized his timeless concern for the poor. Remember the reply the Lord gave to the question of the rich man: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell [all] that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” (Matt. 19:21; see also Luke 18:22.)
In one of the Master’s precious parables, he illustrated this doctrine with the story of one who was hungry and was given meat, another who was thirsty and was given drink, and a stranger who was welcomed. The Lord related those as favors to him when he taught, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt. 25:40.) And when they were not ministered unto, he admonished, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” (Matt. 25:45; italics added.)
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Hermaneutics is the act of using sacred/scriptural text to prove a point. We can do that back and forth all day long :)
Doug, thanks again. I think we can agree to disagree amicably. I still wanna be friends.
Mosiah 4:24. "I give not because i have not,but if i had i would give"
ReplyDeleteAs individuals we are limited in how we can help others.As Steph pointed out,there is so much inequality in the world,and often,it is a vicious circle that is hard to break.Widespread medicare would be a relief to so many who,through no fault of their own,cannot help themselves.
Through my taxes I can help others by making a more equalised system for helath and eduaction--which in my opinion are rights and not privileges.
Enought of the hermaneutics!!
"If you want me to be really honest, when we see the U.S. debate on the health care reform from Europe, it's difficult to believe… Excuse me, but we've solved this problem more than 50 years ago."
ReplyDeleteSarkozy says it all.
Here's an idea! The bill passed. It's over! There are people that will benefit from this. Time to move forward... Thank You.
ReplyDelete