As most of you know the Universal Health Care Bill recently passed sparking a lot of reaction and debate. For what it’s worth, I wanted to contribute my two cents about the issue but would love to hear your thoughts about it. I don’t necessarily know who is “right” in this situation but I do know that we will only grow from discussion. So as my friend Michele Leong wrote in her facebook post recently, “Bring It On”.
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There is no such thing as a perfect bill nor a perfect politician. In some ways both parties are right and both parties are wrong. However, Universal Health Care IS and SHOULD BE a human right and whether or not people deserve it is not the question. We don’t ask firemen, police officers, or paramedics to only save or help only those who can afford it.
I don’t necessarily agree with everything in the bill nor do I like that it was passed without more discussion and essentially forced by one side of the issue. Additionally, I hate that people put issues into black and white, two party perspectives. Democrats and Republicans think they represent everyone but they don’t. We need more voices and more representation other than those of democrats and republicans in Washington.
Final thought. A lot of people like to bring up our founding fathers and talk about their conservative values and ideals, how we ought to remember their sacrifices. While many of the things they stood for were amazing, honorable, and led us to be a great nation, lets not forget many of them also believed in and owned slaves. Like are founding fathers, none of us are perfect and as times change, we learn from our mistakes and our victories but one thing remains the same. It seems that we are all working for respecting and valuing human life, equality, the idea that everyone deserves a chance of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. If we aren’t, shouldn’t we?
Simply Intentional 
Jedd,
I strongly agree with you that Healthcare is a human right, and everyone no matter their economic lot in life should have full access to healthcare. This bill is not perfect or even close to ideal, bit it is a huge step in the right direction. One thing has been driving me crazy about the reaction though is the idea that this bill was shoved through in the middle of the night. This bill is the same bill the senate approved over two months ago. The debate has been going on since last summer. (Remember the town hall shouting matches and death panel BS during August) So the idea that this was shoved through without debate or in an underhanded fashion is just one version of a narrative the media has decided to sell.
While I do not think this is even close to a perfect bill, (I would like single payer true universal care) I do think it is a good start. I do wish that Republicans would have had an honest debate in which they participated in negotiations , instead of just playing pure politics by saying no to everything. I actually think some of the Republican ideas of competition and making plans portable have some merit. It is sad how divided and uniformed our country has become. Much of the bill polls (if polls even matter or make a difference) quite well when presented individually and fully explained.
I would love to see a third party rise up to present another option to the current two parties which have the best interests of corporations in mind rather than the people. Have you ever read any books by Jim Wallis? He talks about a third party rising up in the spirit of the civil rights movement, in the prophetic tradition of the old testament prophets. Social Justice is a big theme in his writing, which turns some off, but he is worth checking out it you have not.
I don’t know if there is a character limit so I better wrap this up: You did ask, so here are just a few of my thoughts on the matter.
Jeff
Jeff,
Jim Wallis came to speak at Gonzaga back when I was in college and I had the opportunity to go to the Sojourner’s conference last summer (Mobilization to End Poverty in D.C.). Before hearing what Wallis had to say, I wanted to avoid everything political. Now, I understand how closely tied issues of social justice are to our government’s policies and services, and working for social justice doesn’t have to mean choosing one or the other political party. People of faith have a calling to be politically involved and to stand up for the common good, especially the poor and oppressed who are so often left out.
Michelle
I think I’d rather speak to you about it in person. But it’s actually not “universal” healthcare. It’s “required” healthcare, as in car insurance. To be honest with you, I don’t know how many of healthy people, who face the choice of mortgage payment vs. getting the required insurance would pay for it. How would they enforce it anyway? There will still be lines at the ER, default medical bills, etc. I don’t know. We’ll see by 2014- but paying taxes for it now, aren’t we? I’ve said too much. Change is necessary, but I’m not sure this is all good. I’m bracing for how it will affect my daily work, and patients- @ the frontline here 🙂
Michelle,
That’s awesome. I have read a couple of his books, but never heard him speak. I know he was in Portland last month, but I didn’t make the time to attend. I think his message is great, and wish more people of faith would be exposed to it.
Jeff