Healthcare Reform Questions

There's been so much said and written about the healthcare reform and the governmental takeover on 1/6th of the US economy that I have been hesitant to add my voice.  However, as I have listen to the debate, I have some questions I would like answered.

1.  Whose responsibility is it to provide for the healthcare of the citizens of the United States?

I find nowhere in the Bible where the government is given the responsibility to provide healthcare for anyone.  To use the Old Testament prophets words to Israel justify governmental intervention distorts them.  The USA cannot be equated to ancient Israel.  In the same manner, Jesus' words which command us to care for the sick are not addressed to a governmental body, but rather to His body, the Church.  It's time for the Church to be the Church and to quit relying on the government to do the work to which the Church is called. 

There are approximately 225 million Americans who claim to be Christian, median person income is about $32,000.  Thus if every Christian gave a tithe of their income the amount with which the Church could do ministry would be $720 billion.  If only a quarter of that amount was used to provide for the healthcare of the 46 million Americans who don't have insurance, that means each uninsured person would receive about $3,900.  The average per person cost for health insurance is $3,250.  Problem solved!  And it didn't require governmental intervention, rather it required that those who call themselves by the name of Jesus Christ are faithful to the commands of scripture.

2.  If the governmental plan is so good, why has Congress exempted themselves from it?

The fact that the healthcare reform bill impacts the lives of every American except those in Congress is elitist.  Obviously, those in Congress who support this bill really don't think it is really going to help the people who are forced into the program.  Why else would they exempt themselves?

3.  To think that the governmental healthcare plan can be put into place without increasing the national debt is naive.  How much debt are we going to place on the backs of our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren before it will be more than they can possibly carry?

Presently, the government is spending 185% of its income.  In other words, in order to balance the budget taxes would need to be about doubled or spending cut in half.  Since the healthcare plan increases spending by upward of a trillion dollars, the only option is to more than double people's tax burden or else lay it on the backs of future generations.  Since future generations don't vote, it's not hard to figure out what the politicians will do.  When is enough, enough?

Comments

[Creed Pogue]

So, are you putting a quarter of your tithe toward charity health care??? Or, are you going to ask your church to spend 25% of its income on charity health care?

The idea is to give regular Americans the same choices that our members of Congress have. The question should be, why wouldn't members of Congress support that???

NOW, you're worried about the deficit? Did you say anything during the past eight years of relative plenty when the debt went up and up and up?

[John B]

1. If every member of my congregation tithed, we could easily give 25% of our income to charity health care. Sadly, only a relatively few people do tithe, so my ideas remain speculative and visionary rather than realistic.

2. The problem is Congress isn't giving Americans the same choices that members of Congress have. There in lies the hypocrisy.

3. I have lamented the growing deficit over the past eight years and then some. Don't assume because I critic the present Congress and administration, I haven't criticed those in the past. You might be surpised to learn that I didn't vote for McCain in the last election.