I have wanted to address this topic for some time but have struggled to really put my thoughts together in a good coherent fashion (no surprise there!) so I haven't. However, I recently ran across the following at the Sojourners' website:
A Christian Creed on Health-Care Reform
In the face of negative ads, partisan rhetoric, and a news cycle filled with fear and half-truths about health-care reform, Christians must affirm that we believe in: quality, affordable access to life-giving services for all people.
As one of God's children, I believe that protecting the health of each human being is a profoundly important personal and communal responsibility for people of faith.
I believe God created each person in the divine image to be spiritually and physically healthy. I feel the pain of sickness and disease in our broken world (Genesis 1:27, Romans 8:22).
I believe life and healing are core tenets of the Christian life. Christ's ministry included physical healing, and we are called to participate in God's new creation as instruments of healing and redemption (Matthew 4:23, Luke 9:1-6; Mark 7:32-35, Acts 10:38). Our nation should strive to ensure all people have access to life-giving treatments and care.
I believe, as taught by the Hebrew prophets and Jesus, that the measure of a society is seen in how it treats the most vulnerable. The current discussion about health-care reform is important for the United States to move toward a more just system of providing care to all people (Isaiah 1:16-17, Jeremiah 7:5-7, Matthew 25:31-45).
I believe that all people have a moral obligation to tell the truth. To serve the common good of our entire nation, all parties debating reform should tell the truth and refrain from distorting facts or using fear-based messaging (Leviticus 19:11; Ephesians 4:14-15, 25; Proverbs 6:16-19).
I believe that Christians should seek to bring health and well-being (shalom) to the society into which God has placed us, for a healthy society benefits all members (Jeremiah 29:7).
I believe in a time when all will live long and healthy lives, from infancy to old age (Isaiah 65:20), and "mourning and crying and pain will be no more" (Revelation 21:4). My heart breaks for my brothers and sisters who watch their loved ones suffer, or who suffer themselves, because they cannot afford a trip to the doctor. I stand with them in their suffering.
I believe health-care reform must rest on a foundation of values that affirm each and every life as a sacred gift from the Creator (Genesis 2:7).
Amen.
Yeah, that pretty well somes up how I feel about it. If you feel similarly and would like to sign this creed and send it to your legislators then click here.
In addition they have published a good health care discussion guide in case you'd like to read it.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
9 comments:
See, Truey, I want the same things you do, and for a lot of the same reasons.
I just think that the government is the complete, exact wrong entity to accomplish it. . .
You took the words right outta my mouth, DJ...
I have watched w/horror from afar at the way a Natl Health System (UK) has mismanaged the healthcare of 3 of my in-laws, all w/in a relatively short 8-yr period. It's a mess.
Okay Des & Val, tell me who you DO see doing it. Obviously whoever it is, they haven't done it up to now so perhaps that's why compassionate people in government have taken up the charge.
First of all, Truey, don't kid yourself too much about those 'compassionate people in government'. Government is WAY more about power than compassion, and government-managed health-care is control over people's lives on a grand scale. . .
Oh no, I understand that (all too well). I do think though that there are politicians who fight for the people overall and not just for the power plays. I also know that it is incredibly difficult to make your way up into the land of politicos without going after the money and power. (You have no idea just how close I have been to that world on the Republican side and how much of a turn off it was.) Widespread governmental reform is badly needed in this country.
However, you didn’t answer my question. WHO is supposed to deal with health care if not the government? I believe the government is dealing with it because the way it has been working has failed. Who should step in if not the government? It's fine to not like the current proposals, but you need to have a viable counter proposal in order for me to take your objections seriously.
Sorry, I haven't thought it thru that far. So take my comments with all the unseriousness of which you deem them worthy.
I see the major problem with the present 'system' as being third-party payers, so that folks with insurance can essentially consume all the health-care services their insurance companies will pony-up for, without giving any thought to what it actually costs. Saying that, tho, a complete 'unfettered free market' approach doesn't seem just, either. So, I don't have any real alternative proposals.
But, as flawed as the present 'system' is, I don't see where it's exactly 'failed'; that claim strikes me as a bit of alarmist demagoguery designed to scare folks into handing over power without thinking about it too much. . . And, as flawed as the current 'system' is, it still works better than any of the 'government-managed' systems that I see in other countries.
See, that's my major objection - "This thing has 'failed', so we need to do something - anything - else." But is it so unreasonable to ask that whatever new thing should actually be an improvement? Not all 'change' is for the better. And if I can see that the proposed 'change' is a downgrade, how is it unreasonable for me to say, "No, not that. . ."? If what I've got, with all its flaws, is still better than the proposed 'cure', I don't think I'm crazy to resist the change.
See? I knew it. You don't have any alternative proposals.
The current system works for you because you have employer based health coverage. Many do not. Too many low wage workers have no access to health insurance (make too much to qualify for Medicaid yet barely enough to feed, house and clothe their family) and therefore little access to health care. They are turned away by doctors and other medical professionals until they are so sick they end up in the emergency room of the public hospital that isn't allowed to turn them away.
To me that is a failed health system. It has needed to change for years and hasn't. Now people within the government are willing to talk seriously about making changes to improve the health system. Do I like all the proposed changes? No. Do I then think we ought to just maintain the status quo? NO!
What I do think we need to do is have discussions and work towards solutions rather than just say no to making changes.
Do you take me as saying No to any and all changes, and not wanting to discuss the 'problem'? By all means, let's discuss the problem! Let's explore ways to do it better. Amen!
But putting it in the benevolent hands of the government is not going to make it better. . .
Whoa - ya'll got way ahead of me there! I'm afraid I don't have the Ultimate Solution either (more research is needed) - but I foresee more of an "overhaul" of our private insurance/PPO/HMO mess, w/YES, expansion of Medicaid to cover the indigent...
I freely admit yes, I am very lucky to be able to afford great insurance (which I pay for out of my own pocket as a self-employed person) - but I have also seen that "free" health care is far from FREE - I'm convinced the NHS held back & let my husband's uncle die from substandard Tx for his colon cancer; my FIL is languishing in a nursing home now w/his STILL UNDIAGNOSED neurological deterioration; & my MIL had to wait almost 9 mos to see a neurologist to get on medication for Parkinson's, during which time she lost a LOT of ground w/her fine motor skills...
Post a Comment