Health Care Reform

Contrary to what both sides of the aisle in Washington claim, health care reform in the United States is not a simple "either/or" matter. It's complex, as evidenced by the bill itself, which is so impossibly long that virtually no one has read it. The right wing has legitimate concerns about an increasingly powerful and over-bearing role played by the Federal government. How did we feel when the government tried to take over rail transportation? How do we feel about the management and operation of the Postal Service or the Internal Revenue Service, or anything else the government runs? However, the right wing makes a false presumption; that the free market process will govern itself and create health care opportunities. A free market does not guarantee a level playing field. For us it has guaranteed a market "middle-man" (HMO's, etc.). The free market has allowed a situation in which insurance companies and other economic interests are making health-care decisions, rather than physicians, hospitals, and patients.

The left wing has noted rightly the disparities that exist. However, I really don't see any plan other than the old, tired, liberal tax-and-spend approach. The solution needs to be deeper than "throw made-up money at it!" It's a systemic matter, the needs of which far outstretch just another government mandate. Frankly, I'm tired of watching the childish back-and-forth in congress. I see better, more respectful human behavior in the first grade classes our daughter teaches. (The two party is a dinosaur, in my opinion, anyway. What this country needs is a new, genuine populist movement, but that's a subject for another post.)

Anyway, I remember from history classes that at one time in this country health care for those who could not provide it was offered by faith-based groups. For example, the nationally renowned research facility, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis began as a Methodist mission. Maybe part of the problem is that we of the faith community have abdicated part of our responsibility and calling. Jesus, the one whom many of us follow, said something about, "As you did it to the least of these..."

For what it's worth (which is next to nothing), my thoughts on health care reform. Next post: Did Jesus die on a cross just to make us nice?!? I'll see you around the next bend in the river.