The Health Care Debate

Congress is considering a plan for universal health care promoted by President Barack Obama. There are some problems with this plan...one big one in particular.

First off, let me say that no one denies the fact that we need some kind of change -- reform, if you will -- in the health care industry of the United States. When a poor person of high integrity in this country gets seriously ill, he or she is generally faced with two options: Get well or die.

Most poor people live without health insurance, usually because the companies they work for find a way around it. Many times, the worker is a full-time employee in all but name and benefits. The company advertises an attractive benefits package "for full-time employees," but once the person hires on he or she finds out that they are not permitted to work the 40 hours required to qualify...39 1/2 hours, maybe, but not 40. People who are out of work, drawing unemployment, usually have no insurance either.

Most of the states take up the slack with federally subsidized state insurance for children and pregnant women -- which is good -- but healthy, able-bodied adults are left to fend for themselves. And if they have integrity, they do not want to just walk into an emergency room, expecting the hospital to care for them without payment.

So high blood pressure, angina, diabetes, raging fevers...even influenza... are taken care of as they have been for thousands of years -- at home, by family.

That said, there are flaws in this proposed universal health plan. I am not as staunchly opposed to "socialized" medicine as most Republicans are, because I have a lot more concern for the sick and hurting working poor in this country than I do most of the doctors I've met -- a haughty, self-worshiping lot, for the most part. But one problem I have with this plan is the word I've heard that most of our representatives in Congress have not read the document. I realize it's a book-sized bill, but how can our public servants decide on something they haven't read? (Shoot, I even read EULAs! They can at least do us the courtesy of reading something that is this far-reaching.)

But the biggest problem I have with the proposed health care legislation is that in its present form it authorizes payment for abortions for whatever legal cause, with taxpayer dollars. That means you and I, Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer, will be paying for the murder of babies in their mother's womb.

How do Christians respond to that? Deeply committed Christians (and other people of strong morals) expect to pay their fair share of taxes. They are scrupulous about dotting the "i"s and crossing the "t"s on their tax forms. But on the flip side, deeply committed Christians (and a few other people of strong morals) consider abortion murder...and rightfully so. The little child's heart is beating before most women even know they are pregnant. And if you stop a beating heart intentionally, you have committed murder. PERIOD.

So, how will Christians reconcile this conundrum? If Congress passes this health care bill without denying tax dollars for abortions, what will Christians do? Will the church pretend it isn't so, close its eyes and participate in the slaughter through its silence?

Or will the people of Jesus Christ have the courage to stand up and say, "NO! I will NOT participate in this. You can take me to jail, but I will NOT pay taxes used to slaughter the innocent"?

I advise you to write to your Congressmen now. Perhaps if they are inundated with letters, phone calls and e-mail opposing the health care plan on this basis, they will insist on changes. It's not enough if they vote against it, they need to raise their voices in opposition and do all they can to change it.

Because if it goes through as is, we will all have to take a side. What will you do?