Health Care Reform is in the News Again

Health Care Reform is in the news again.  President Obama spoke in his weekly address on how he plans to pay for health care reform.  He went to speak to the American Medical Association (AMA) today.   See an article on this speech, and a YouTube video of the speech here.   The Los Angeles Times says:

There is perhaps no more contentious domestic issue on Obama’s plate than revamping the health care system. It is so complicated a problem that the various parties can’t even agree on which approach is best. Political ideologies have colored everyone’s positions. To find a path through the maze, do what every lobbyist on this issue will do: Follow the money.

 This reminded me of watching a CNN news program one night (can’t remember when exactly) and the talking heads were making a list of who would be the winners, and who would be the losers if we had a single payer system.  Do you know that no where on that list were the Insurance Companies?  It was as if the Insurance Companies and their investors had no interest in Health Care.  What????  We all know that the only real losers in a single payer system, or in a reform of our present system that would include a public option are the Insurance Companies and their investors.  Doctors and hospitals would continue to get paid, and the rest of us would have access to health care — ALL OF US.  But, Insurance Companies would lose money, lots of money.   They don’t want to lose the money that they make from our need for health care.  They insist on staying between us and our doctors, and our medical care, and getting that money.  So, because of their constant lobbying of our representatives, we have to accept that any reform is going to include a provision that allows these insurance companies to keep getting good profits from our need.  Follow the money. 

I can’t believe that people listen to the ads that warn — “you don’t want government bureaucracy standing between you and your doctor.”  Well, duh!  That’s what I have now!  I have an insurance company standing between me and my medical care — and that insurance company does NOT want to provide that medical care if they can avoid it.  They just want to collect money, and make a profit for their investors.  They give me a list of “approved doctors” so I can’t go to the doctor of my choice, but must use their doctors.  My doctor has to write letters of appeal to get treatment before I can go for any medical procedures.  So what in the world are these people who write these ads talking about?  At least a government bureaucracy would NOT have a profit motive rigged to deny me care, as do the Insurance Companies, who must please their investors. 

The other threat is that you will have to wait in long lines for health care.  Well, if you have no health care now, waiting and finally getting health care is not such a bad deal.  Think about it — no health care, or wait for health care — which would you prefer?  What is better for the poor?   If you have money, of course, you will always be able to get whatever health care you want — no waiting, no change for the rich — so why be against health care for everyone else?  Unless you are hearkening back to the days of Oliver Twist, when only the wealthy were “privileged” with things like education, art, books, health care, good food, transportation, etc. 

Evidently the thought of anyone LOSING MONEY is a horrible, frightening and despicable thing to many people in our country.  It seems that the primary value for so many of our people is money, at least if we look at how decisions are made in this country by our representatives.  Obama can’t just rely on talking about everyone having the right to good health care, he has to stress on how this would be good for THE ECONOMY, our new god.  He has to present a case that says providing a better health care system would be cost effective.  It is not enough in our country to do what is good for the people — for their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.  It has to be good for the bottom line, for our money.  Well, not “our” money really — but the money of the investor class, and the wealthy elite class.  As we have seen over the past couple of decades, the decisions about money have not been favorable to the middle class, or the poor.  It is the rich who have gotten richer, and the gap between rich and poor has grown and keeps growing.  The transfer of wealth from the middle classes and the poor to the wealthy has been staggering. 

How did we become a country that worships THE ECONOMY as we do these days?  I don’t think we were always that kind of country.  We didn’t struggle and die for a country that gives value only to the constant pursuit of wealth — the very definition of greed.  (And the root of evil according to scripture)  It is as if the wealthy elite are so jealous of the old aristocracies that they yearn to recreate them here.  We are still a country divided between “royalists” and the “common” people, and there has been an ongoing class war against the common people, (and the common people are losing that war) and equally against the common good.  In fact, I think there are too many people in our country who don’t understand the meaning of the common good any more.  We have become “individualists” and “nuclear families”  (a recent phenomenon of society), and proudly proclaim our independence.  However, this is not the Christian way. 

As a Christian I am obligated to think first of the common good.  This isn’t just a nice liberal or progressive way to think, it is the Christian way to think.  Anyone who thinks that Christianity is this one-on-one thing with God — a private, individual relationship with God for the purpose of getting yourself to heaven — is not understanding Christ.  Christians are called to lay down their lives for others, in the pattern of Christ — not to build towers of Babel on the backs of others.  In the Christian way of life, no one will have too much, and no one will have too little. 

Like the Good Samaritan we are to ask:  what will happen to this person if I don’t help?  As Christians we are not to turn inward and whenever we see a need, ask instead:  what will happen to me if I help?  For more on Christianity and health care I refer you to a Previous article that I wrote. 

There is also this cloud of selective ignorance that blows through this country.  I keep hearing that we have the “best health care system in the world” — and this is NOT true!  We are doing very poorly in regard to health care.  We die sooner than in other countries.  Our infant mortality rates are higher.  We are a sicker and unhealthier people.  And we pay much more for health care.  You can look all this kind of stuff up at the World Health Organization.  Of course, maybe if you are rich and can pay for the best medical care, the system is working for you.  And maybe you don’t understand that the system is not working for most of the rest of us.  If you are a member of the wealthy elite, then health care is no concern to you, but that is a very small percentage of people. 

I would like it if those who do not believe in health care for all would stop referring to themselves as Christians.  It would really help people understand that following the Christian Way is not the usual way of doing business.