Circle of Sages
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To the editor:
A group of approximately 12 seniors, known affectionately as “sages,” meet weekly at Christ Lutheran Church for lunch and study. We are presently discussing “The Healing of America, A Global Quest For Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care,” by T.R. Reid.
Attendees generally represent various points of view on most matters political, economic, medical and even religious, but all agree with the author when he writes: “The design of any nation’s health care system involves political, economic, and medical decisions. But the primary issue for any health care system is a moral one. If we want to fix American health care, we first have to answer a basic question: Should we guarantee medical treatment to everyone who needs it? Or should we let some Americans die … from a lack of access to health care?”
Comprehensive affordable health care for everyone living in the United States of America is first and foremost a moral issue. And until that is agreed upon in each region of the country by a vast majority of Americans, we are not going to have comprehensive affordable health care for all our citizens.
Until this moral issue is resolved, vast numbers of people’s health care will unnecessarily be held hostage either to their government, insurance company, drug company, employer, health care service provider or to their own financial ability to pay. This is immoral.
We can have the kind of comprehensive health care every person in this country needs at an affordable price. But the vast majority need the moral will to insist on it, and to then get out to work for it, and to vote for it. “To whom much is given, much is required....” — Attributed to Jesus in Mark, Luke and Matthew.
If you’d like to add to the discussion, e-mail us at clc@mosquitonet.com.
You may interpret your Bible in whatever way makes sense for you. As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord as we believe He would want. Jesus implores us to care for the sick and elderly, among others. In today's world, in the context of what this letter addresses, that means supporting those who will enact legislation to provide care for those who cannot access it for themselves due to poverty or "pre-existing" conditions.
As for Glenn Beck, whose income on Fox "News" (or is his show under the "opinion" arm of the network?) his radio show, books and his website is estimated at $23 million per year, the Bible speaks to us about people like him:
Jeremiah 14:14: "Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds."
Shame on you for believing what this man has to say! He enriches himself, and himself only by the outrageous statements he makes that plant doubt and fear in the minds of Americans like you. He does nothing for the good of the nation, yet people follow him as though he held the keys to the kingdom of heaven. I assure you that he does not care about you, me or anyone beyond his own family, and he laughs all the way to the bank knowing that he has fooled so many so viciously. He is no better than Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, whose kingdom was brought down when Jim went to jail for fraud. Sadly, such a future does not seem in the cards for Beck, who will continue to prosper as long as he is able to control the minds of his loyal followers.
Democrats, even Pelosi and especially Obama, seek to help, not hinder Americans. They see the health care crisis as a looming threat on the horizon for most of us, but a daily threat to the lives of some Americans. There is no hidden agenda - only the desire to fix a long-ignored problem that affects millions.
Throughout the debates and the "tea parties" that raged through the summer and even into last week, I've wondered how Christians could turn their backs on the "least of them" - those who cannot pay for insurance or quality health care. Please encourage others in your group to voice their opinions - you are indeed "sages", and you deserve to be heard.
It's not just the weak that need to be taken care of on a moral basis, it is every human being, rich or poor. I don't understand how anyone can be denied medical services. Being a healer, medically or spiritually, is a God given ability that has no price tag. It is a responsibility to provide for our relatives, which we all are!
Society itself has changed those moral bounds by demanding money. Some demand it by suing for it. How is it possible that any person can sue another for rendering needed service that they sought themselves or for an on-the-spot need due to an emergency situation? The loss of moral values is not a one sided issue, it permeates all of human society.
Doctors cannot provide their service unless an accountant says it's OK. Heck, farmers can't plow, plant, fertilize, water or harvest, without a corporate entities OK! We willingly gave our individual skills and extraordinary abilities away in search of more profit. If we could ever determine when enough money is enough, there may be some hope of returning to common sense.
Mr. Hallsten is on the right road. He just needs more company on his journey to effect a needed change in social attitudes.
The moral compass of this country is completely skewed, and I'm not talking about people who won't say "under god" in the Pledge of Allegiance, or who want nativity scenes taken off public roadway medians...
We're talking about the lives and livelihoods of real people (our fellow Americans) who have families that loev and care for them...
But what do we care about that, as long the billionaires are happy and raking in the dough, that's what's really good for America eh? (The Great Lie)
A) The value of making money, in terms of private enterprise (of healthcare) and entrepreneurship
or
B) Society doing what it is able to collectively to provide for the weakest among us (saving lives with medicine)
ohh times, they are a'changin'~