10 Reasons Why People of Faith Should Support Healthcare Reform

Hey, people of faith! Here are ten concrete, no baloney reasons for supporting healthcare insurance reform now!

U.S. healthcare insurance reform is a moral matter. Hindu or Jew, Christian or Jain, Buddhist or Animist, virtually all share the belief that we are here to make a difference. To build up the family of all humanity, to be our brother's and sister's keepers, to fight for the defenseless, the infirm, the poor, the marginalized -- the people without adequate health insurance. And, at the same time, we'll also be doing the future of the economy a good turn. Perhaps more than in the case of any other issue being debated, healthcare insurance reform is a matter of conscience, a matter of faith.

1. The "Free-market" ("free" for whom??) is not a dogma in any faith tradition. Health insurance, without a government-based public plan, will always cost more and deliver less. It's simple arithmetic and economics not politics or ideology. Just look at healthcare cost and delivery in America over the last fifteen years. Case closed! But there's much, much more...

2. Free market insurance makes its profit in two ways: increasing the price, minimizing payout; it's not magic -- it's just basic math. Do the rich have an obligation to the poor? Am I my brother's keeper? If I save one life do I save all humankind?

3. 14,000 people per day are loosing their healthcare insurance -- for numerous reasons. With the proposed reforms, that figure will virtually immediately go to zero. Will our "Higher Power" be pleased if we turn this down and leave these folks "by the side of the road?"

4. "Pre-existing conditions" will one day eliminate everyone from "free-market" insurance eligibility. That's simple logic. What will be "the choice" then? You can't have national healthcare policy that allows the elimination of people with pre-existing conditions. You can't have a world of "brothers and sisters" if we do that -- can we?

5. Incidents of government "incompetence and corruption," while certainly not unheard of, are much fewer than the incidents of "incompetence and corruption" in the free market. Here are two words to think about -- Bernie Madoff. Here's one more -- Enron. (Incidentally, American users of Medicare trust this government program much more than do the customers of any private, for-profit carrier.)

6. America is among the "free world's" leaders in healthcare technology development. Yet, we are among the worst in the "free world" when it comes to two things: universal delivery and our ability to contain costs. Who would want to pay more and get less? What about that "stewardship" thing?

7. With genuine healthcare insurance reform, the rate of increase of the nation's total annual medical bill will decrease; eventually, with careful oversight and management, the actual cost (measured as a percentage of annual GDP) will begin to decline. Again that pesky "stewardship thing" .

8. If you do a simple little research exercise you may be even more convinced that reform is necessary. Google "U.S.Healthcare Statistics." Roam around on several of the top 10-15 sites. You will be bobbing in a sea of information that will amaze and confound you. Is the U.S. really this bad? We are. You will leave convinced of this one fact: no other nation in the free world does this badly in providing healthcare to its citizens. There must be change. Now.

9. The largest uninsured group in the nation is the young. Of these people, perhaps the most alarming figure is the number of uninsured between the ages of 18 and 30. If one of these young, uninsured adults has a bad motor cycle accident (insert your own example if you like -- one that is likely to run up medical costs over many years, even decades) it is probable that this young person's family (very likely insured themselves, ironically enough) will slide toward financial ruin in an effort to provide provide for care over countless years. Does a society seeking to be just and compassionate stand for this situation?

10. What if we just stop listening to the voices of the insurance companies, their PR folks and lobbyists who have a lot to loose in this fight, and do the common sense thing -- help the President and Congress do what we sent them to Washington to do: reform healthcare insurance coverage in the U.S. now. Even faith demands it. Doesn't it?

Comments

[Tyler-Durden]

this is a very reasonable argument. i hope it makes an impact. thanx for this OP-ED.

[humanbeing-rick]

Very well put, Mr. Murray.
Most compassionate human beings do want a society where we care for one another, and can all peacefully coexist together, it is the basic reason people want to pursue lofty goals such as this. It is a worthwhile endeavor, not only for oneself but for all of us in our society. We do not live alone apart from each other, we are all brothers and sisters. We care for each other. Is that so hard to understand?

Furthermore, we all collaborate together to form this government of ours, which we set up to administer things for the public good, such as health care. Government is not the enemy, it is our friend, it is us. Use it for good things, and that is what health care reform is all about. Pretty tough concept to grasp, but you can study it hard and it might sink in.

Religion should be promoting endeavors to uplift the human condition.
Religions should be supporting health care reform, directly or indirectly.
They should also be preaching against the extreme forms of back stabbing capitalism that we are witnessing today.

[Halsey]

John 13:34

And..to far right, great speakers of Christiani­ty...pleas­e re-read (or just read).. JAMES 2:14-18

These are words any caring person (regardless of religion..or belief (even atheists!)...should live by...to make this country, nay, world...the world deserving of love.

It always amazes me when to me, fake Christians tout so much of the old testament..with its smiting and eye for an eye, and kill the first born...yet...ignore the words and teachings of THEIR savior (from THEIR born again standpoint)... hypocracy..doesn't begin to describe it.

I aspire to be the kind of person cited in the above two passages... I beseech you (couldn't resist the language :-)...to check them out...be you Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Ba'hai, or...even Chrisitian..

Peace ON!
Wind Feather

[lbrty 2112]

Because we have 'faith' in the way govt administers any program?

[rob mccolley]

Why not appeal to the American capitalist?

Without universal health care, we cannot compete with any other industrialized nation. It's the new protective tariff -- all the other countries provide health care.

That's why they have all the manufacturing plants.

[Antifascist-08]

Nice take.

Unfortunately your audience won't get it.

Well said.

[JBoy]

Sorry, Mr. Murray...not very persuasive.

[Tyler-Durden]

not for the stubborn and narrow minded. which are you?

[VikingQuest]

"14,000 people per day are loosing their healthcare insurance"

Thanks Ed, glad to see the public education worked so well for you . . . LOSING . . . not loosing.

[Kremfresch]

EXCELLENT rebuttal there bro. Way to make your point, and give a nice solid justification for your position.

[Tyler-Durden]

yes, this typo clearly invalidates his rationally expressed viewpoint. good job.

[Sundialsvc4]

I think that the following general sentiment cuts straight across our various boundaries of religion and goes straight to elementary humanity ... In the Christian tradition, it goes something like this:

"But Lord, when did we see you naked, that we clothed You, or hungry, that we fed You?"
"What you did for the least of them, you did for Me."

Or ...

"I desire Mercy, not sacrifice."

Or ...

"And there was a mighty storm! But the Lord was not in the storm. Then, a tremendous earthquake! But the Lord was not in the earthquake. Then Elijah heard a still, small voice, whispering into his ear in the depths of the cave. It was the voice of God. And Elijah fled, screaming in terror."

Or how about a Christmas Carol?

"Man, if man you be, not adamant, then forbear this wicked cant, until you determine what the surplus population is, and where it is. For it may well be that in the eyes of God you are worth less than this man's child."

[Dosadi]

Well said Mr. Murray. Unfortunately, the majority of Christians in this country are fakes. They do not even try to live the life that Christ mandated. They use excuses like "this is the 21st century and things have changed." People, if you believe in creationism and not evolution then you know that nothing has changed. Quit being hypocrites and follow God's will, it does not hurt, even makes you feel good and can actually cure a lot that ails you.

[Cannaya]

Ahh, the good old "no true Scotsman" fallacy...

[Antifascist-08]

Amen. Christians? where?

people of "Faith?" Where?

Phonies and hypocrites.

[Cannaya]

What does religion have to do with health care reform? It's a moral and social issue, not a religious one.

[bowthai]

Religion is just one way of looking at health care reform. It might not be your perspective, and if that's the case, fine. The author isn't appealing to you nor does he appear to object to your non-religious perspective. But the fact is that there are many religious people in this country, so the article simply helps to frame the debate in those terms, especially since a lot of those opposing health care reform seem to be from religious right crowd. Additionally, if you are a religious person, morality and social issues are very much intertwined with the religious message.

[Cannaya]

Except that it doesn't frame the debate in those terms. Read the article again. Every single point he makes is a secular one, only mentioning religion in the introductory paragraph. If the article had been written by a non-religious person, only the headline and introductory paragraph would change; all the points the author made are secular.

[Dosadi]

It is God's will that we take care of one another. This is something every child who attends Sunday school understands.

[ayc]

Well then what Sunday School are those on the religious right attending?

[Aylah95]

It has enough to do with it that a church in our area has a sign advertising- 'Sermon on Obamacare versus the Bible.' Not only do they never have a sign advertising their sermons any other time but they have the nerve to have it right next to their Vacation Bible School sign that is running this week. If this was my church I would never set foot in it again. And as someone who has managed a Bible School program I know that it is the number one opportunity during the year to bring families in. I hope their chickens come home to roost. I wanted to knock on their minister's door and ask where 'caring for the least among us' comes in. Then I wanted to ask him how he has any respect for himself pushing a political agenda from the pulpit. Simply unethical

[gar2401]

Well when I was in Sunday school I was taught that my religion or faith was to be a guide for my moral life and that for me to be a Christian in good standing I should try to lead a morally upright life, which I took to mean I should act in a moral way. I guess in your view my priest was confused cause he seemed to think that religion was supposed to guide my moral choices rather than me making moral choices outside of my religion. This idea that morality is outside of faith is pretty unusual esp when you hear ministers all over the place talking about how the morality of Christians is some how different from the morality of Jews or Muslims.

[ChiefDog]

The author didn't write to "people of religion" - any particular religion is a narrow vision of faith - he wrote to "people of faith", and faith has everything to do with moral and social issues.

[rxvette]

To all the critics of health care reform...

First of all, if any citizen doesn't like or agree with what's going on in America they are free to leave. Nobody is holding a gun to their head to move to another country like Darfur who's government does nothing for the people.

Second, Medicare is in financial troubles now because it has picked up all the rejected elderly people that the private insurance industry has discarded aside due to them actually needing care which is what the government program Medicare is giving them.

Third, if you have legitimate reasons for opposing universal health care than others will certainly listen to you and take you seriously if you don't act like a 3 year old throwing a temper tantrum.

Fourth, what are your plans as an opponent to the current proposed legislation for health care reform? I've yet to hear the right wingers and socialist haters provide any details on what they would do to improve the current system.

Fifth, the private markets that you are so fiercely defending are making decisions right now to deny and even kill people by refusing to cover their needed medical care - see following http://cbs2.com/local/nataline.sarkisyan.CIGNA.2.615167.html and http://rxvette.blogspot.com/2009/05/healthcare-reform-touches-home.html

Sixth, you are ignoring one of the core values of right wing conservatism which is take responsibility for you own actions and health. Read more here - http://bit.ly/9QLV8

[quietfortoolong2]

When Jesus healed the sick, he didn't ask for an insurance card or form of payment.

A person cannot be "pro-life" yet be OK with people dying from something that is easily treated, simply because they lack money.

If we are to be judged by how we treat the least among us, many "Christians" today are in deep deep trouble.

[Antifascist-08]

Amen, and i'm definitely not a Christian hypocrite.

[BJD44]

**********­**********­**********­**********­**********­**********­**********

"If we are to be judged by how we treat the least among us,
many "Christians" today are in deep deep trouble."

HOW TRUE THIS IS!!!

**********­**********­**********­**********­**********­**********­**********

[GodIs]

Money is a resource and gift given to us from God. God has a plan for our lives concerning money. There are over 2,000 scriptures in the Bible that have to do with how we handle our money and manage it. You have to work with God. It all starts with the decision to change. Start by eliminating debt. Work with what you have and be as faithful as you can. Work with God. Remember, it doesn’t matter how grave the situation seems right now. Stay faithful and manage diligently what you have. Trust God and you will achieve and experience true freedom from the nanny state. Depend on God, not socialism and taxes.
God is free.

[Cassandra2]

Matthew 22:21. Matthew 19:23,24. Matthew 25:40. Shall I go on?

[Susan Bruther]

And how do you know that God isn't working through taxes and socialism?

[ayc]

The Good Samaritan paid for the beat up mans health care out of his own pocket...Jesus was much more a socialist than a capitalist. You should read your Bible with the blinders off.

[Antifascist-08]

Church of money?

What is wrong with you?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

It must be great to have tax-free money.