Michele said, “He believes that Christians should support a Christian president and his plan to provide a public option. he believes that it’s a sin for Christians not to do so.”
I agree 100% with the above statement. I was glad to hear Ed Schultz ask James Dobson, Rick Warren, and others what they were doing to help reform health care.
I did think he needed to acknowledge that there are Christian churches/organizations that are fully in support of reforming health care. I think Schultz will cover the issue again today because yesterday he asked people to text him about what their church is doing.
I am very proud about what my church, United Methodist Church (UMC), is doing in support of health care reform.
UMC General Conference emphasizes: “The prophet Ezekiel denounced the leaders of ancient Israel whose failure of responsible government included failure to provide health care: ‘You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them’ (Ezekiel 34:4).
The United Methodist Church therefore affirms in our Social Principles health care as a basic human right and affirms the duty of government to assure health care for all.”
Michele said, “We do not have to have the public option to provide insurance for those who can’t afford it. Why in the world do we need the federal government to provide a tax payer subsidized healthcare insurance? We already have enough insurance companies available to provide insurance without the government being involved. If we want to help those who can’t afford insurance, then we can provide them vouchers to do so. We don’t have to take over the health insurance industry to fix this problem.”
Michele you are living in a make believe world. Once again, Michele does not let the facts get in her way. The insurance companies are rationing care and increasing cost for all of us to continue netting billions of dollars per year. Michele and many others do not get the very important point, give the insurance companies some real competition and everyone’s price will go down.
The federal government will not provide a public option that puts insurance companies out of business.
Michele said, “Nations that have universal care are more likely to have delays in care and the quality of care deteriorates.”
Educate yourself Michele. http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Topics/Health-Insurance.aspx provides striking illustrations of the inadequacies of the American system.
Provides a descriptive analysis of the remuneration of doctors in 14 OECD countries for which reasonably comparable data were available in OECD Health Data 2007 (Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States).
http://www.hrhresourcecenter.org/node/2392

Knowing that more people will die because they will not receive timely treatment, why is it Christian to support a system we know will lead to more deaths and substandard care?
Do you realize that people die every day because they can’t access health care? Are you aware babies die every day because their mothers couldn’t access health care? Are you aware that people die every day because insurance companies refuse to cover their treatments?
Why is Christian to support the status quo, just because it works out for you? Why is it Christian to allow substandard or nonexistant care for 47M people just because you have insurance and you favor rich capitalists more than the needy?
Shame on you.

Well, the examples provided by Canada and Europe really disprove everything you say, and you know it, and your argument is really silly and lacks coherence.
Like you said “only those who can afford to pay for a private doctor receive timely service.” That is the way it is NOW.
Those who can’t receive NO service, until they end up in the emergency room…and end up with a staggering debt they can’t pay. A practice you seem to advocate in some insane sort of way.
There’s no trying to argue your point on Christian principles. Christian principles are diametrically opposed to what you suggest. If you are so insensitive and unreceptive to the spirit of Jesus’ message in regards to the poor then you’ll never get it. Ever.

Michele’s clueless statements”
“You can go into any hospital and they will provide you with emergency care whether you can afford it or not.
But what about providing long term care? Care that would help determine problems before the trip to the ER, are we obligated to provide that type of care? Whether we are, or not, we do so in the form of Medicaid. We are providing for the medical needs of the poor. Are we obligated to do more than that? No, but if we as a society want to help those who don’t qualify for Medicaid it would be easy enough to do without the federal government taking over our healthcare industry.”
Come on Michele, it does not take much reasoning or logic to understand how much more it cost for someone to use the ER.
Tell us Michele – how does someone qualify for Medicaid? What is poor?
Who Qualifies for Medicaid?
Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), automatically receive Medicaid. Individuals who receive Old Age Pension (OAP) are eligible for the Old Age Pension Health and Medical Fund. OAP recipients also receive Medicaid if they receive SSI. Individuals can also apply when they or a loved one need intensive in-home or nursing home care.
The above list excludes most individuals that are considered poor. SSI is for disabled individuals that are not old enough for Medicare. AFDC is for a single parent with very low income that has a dependent child.
Michele – how many people have to file bankruptcy because of medical bills? How many lose everything they own? How many people do not receive adequate care? How many die because they do not receive care or they do not seek care early enough to prevent their death?
Michele – what have you, the Christian right, conservatives, or others done for “No, but if we as a society want to help those who don’t qualify for Medicaid it would be easy enough to do without the federal government taking over our healthcare industry.”

Michele said, “Do you really want a government bureaucrat (who can’t be fired for incompetence) making a decisions about your healthcare needs?”
Michele – where is your support for the statement that federal employees cannot be fired for incompetence?
Her is my support that your statement is false:
http://www.mspb.gov/sites/mspb/pages/MSPB%20Decisions.aspx
The above site includes actual cases of federal employees that appealed their termination as a federal employee.
I heard a doctor say he would rather deal with Medicare than health insurance companies because the health insurance companies are constantly questioning his treatment of patients to find a reason to deny coverage. The doctor has three employees to deal with health insurance companies. In addition, he often dealt directly with health insurance companies.
Michele – that is called:
the health insurance company getting between an individual and their doctor
rationing of care
an insurance company bureaucrat with a motive for profit rather than what the patient needs
insurance company driving up the cost of medical care from excessively causing unneeded administrative overhead for the doctors.

To begin with, let’s be clear: The “least of these” already have government provided medical coverage through Medicaid. That’s not what the current health care bills are talking about – at all.
More generally though, what this bill tries to do I find to be quite Un-Christian. For starters, the last time I checked, God was a pretty big fan of property rights. I mean, it makes His Top 10 (Exodus 20:15).
That Christians should give freely to those in need is a clear precept of Christianity. But this is something entirely different. This is about using the government to coercively take away citizen’s income, through taxation, to give it to others. When you have to “contribute” to avoid being locked up in jail, it ceases to be Biblically-modeled voluntary charity.
There is a lot of good thinking on this subject from a moral (though not necessarily Christian) point of view at the following places, which I’d strongly recommend giving a read:
1. Q and O – Moral Questions for our Liberal Friends
http://www.qando.net/details.aspx?Entry=6188
2. Q and O – Health Care Reform – The Moral Argument Against
http://www.qando.net/?p=3680

Christians have been speaking out about healthcare reform for decades but of late, these reasonable ones are being drowned out by the irate ones.
U. S. Bishops Urge Congress to Observe Respect for Life, Access for All in Health Care Legislation:
“Genuine health care reform that protects the life and dignity of all is a moral imperative and a vital national obligation,” said Bishop William F. Murphy of Rockville Centre, N.Y., as he outlined the policy priorities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on the issue of health care in a July 17 letter to Congress. (emphasis mine)

I certainly believe helping the sick and the poor, is something Christ would ask us to do. However I also believe, he would never have asked Rome(or Ceasar)to be the provider.I would far more believe this premise of what are Christian principles, if our government truly believed in supporting life. To use this argument to support what you want for Healthcare and then speak of separation of church and state, is a little to disengenous. To now find relgion when it suits ones purpose, I dont believe is truly a christian way of life.

Jesus taught us to care for those around us and those in need personally, not rely on someone else to do the job (like the government). The more money taken away from us in taxes, the less we have to help others in need around us.

Christopher Taylor:
The problem is that I really can’t personally summon up the resources to pay for aomeone else’s MRI and I don’t think it’s practical or compassionate to expect folks to go from door to door asking for personal donations to get one, much less several months of chemotherapy.
Michele:
My father was an insurance agent and he was frequently frustrated and disgusted by the way his company (a large and well-known one which is considered reputable) often refused benefits to his clients, because they were concerned with the bottom-line, which is their ultimate barometer of right and wrong…not compassion. They have to make a profit.
I believe Jesus would set compassion as our standard.
And, if you want to point to government bungles like the “Cash for Clunkers” program as proof the governemtn can’t do anything right, I wold point out that the largest private insurer is AIG.
Neither group is perfect, and I certainly don;t want a single patyer system. But what we have now is not providing adequate care.

Michele:
One additional note…
While I disagree with some of your reasonoing, I DO appreciate that your posting was reasoned and not pocked with glib stereotypes and dismissive contempt for people who take a differing view.
I actually do believe there are folks of conscience, who are thoughtful and striving to do what is right for the most people, who are on both sides of this crucial debate. I have no problem with either side being passionate, but the name-calling and fear-mongering in which both have engaged at times, is no help…and definitely NOT something Jesus would do.

I do not know whether it is “Christian” to turn over health care to the government. I do know that Jesus said the merciful would be blessed. Because the for-profit health care in the country is in desperate need of reform, the government must step when private enterprise fails to do the job.
So Michele as a cancer survivor, you are concerned that the government won’t be able to handle your health care needs properly. But if you currently have health insurance, are you aware you have turned the handling of your care over to a person in a cubical who has no medical background and their only concern about you is; will you make them money or cost them money?
My husband (and I) had private health insurance for over 20 years. Last November, the cost of our insurance became unaffordable ($2,500 per month) and it was not that great of coverage, we had no choice but to drop it. No other insurance would take my husband, so he decided he would take advantage of his VA benefits. He never used the VA before because he was sure it would be the bottom-of-the-barrel-health-care. But he now had no choice. He was pleasantly surprised at how great the VA has been – the doctors, the staff, etc. Their technology is more up-to-date than anything he had in the private sector. And, his waiting time in the outer office is much less than his private doctors. Insurance is not dictating what will or will not be paid for or how it will be done. They completely re-evaluated his medications and treatments and realized he was being overmedicated. They found out medical issues that his private doctors didn’t catch and he is being treated for them. He feels sooo much better. I am so thankful that he decided to use his benefits. This is a taste of what the government can do. I wish I had it.

JanS,
Thanks for sharing your health care experience!
Obama’s Town Hall in Montana
http://tinyurl.com/ngmeg8
Obama has a message for Obama and many others:
“I want you to remember one thing: There, but for the grace of God, go I.”

A few observations, if I may. “Since Jesus never mentioned universal health care, we have no way of knowing what he thinks about the issue.” Since abortion is your big issue, may I point out to you that Jesus never spoke about abortion, either, or homosexuality, for that matter.
Next, you stated “You can go into any hospital and they will provide you with emergency care whether you can afford it or not.” Anyone can go to you-tube and watch a woman die while waiting for care in an emergency room. Michelle, surely you have heard of “patient dumping.”
Thirdly, you stated “We already have enough insurance companies available to provide insurance without the government being involved.” Surely you know about AIG and other insurance companies that have sucked up federal money to stay in business. I have received all of my medical care for the last year from the VA. I can get same day appointments, and it is the busiest VA hospital in the system. I wish my wife had access to the same quality of medical care that I do.
I find it interesting that you are concerned about the government getting between the patient and the doctor, and yet you want the uterus police to go with women when they visit their ob-gyn.

Jesus Christ has already provided redemption from sin, and had not sin come into the world, there would be no disease either.
The problem is that neither the governments nor the insurance companies of the world recognize and honor Christ publicly as the only Holy Redeemer. Governments and insurance companies tend to want power and profits for themselves.

Yes, Tom M., and the problem with Ritz Crackers is that nowhere on the box is Jesus Christ glorified. That is why Ritz Crackers are a tool of Satan in this world of sin.

Michele writes, “There is nothing kind or biblical about putting the federal government in charge of our healthcare needs. If we do so, economic considerations will dictate the kind of care we receive. How is that Christian?”
So instead we leave our healthcare needs in the hands Anthem, CIGNA, Humana, WellPoint, et al. Certainly THEIR economic considerations are dictating the kind of care we receive! How is THAT Christian?
One thing we can be sure of is that Jesus did not believe in the status quo when people were suffering. Michele and those she defend would leave us with the status quo.

“So instead we leave our healthcare needs in the hands Anthem, CIGNA, Humana, WellPoint, et al.”
No, we leave heathcare in the hands of the people, not the government. Let them decide who they want to be in charge of their healthcare.
When it was time to send daughter#1 to school, we decided to send her to a private school because we would be in control of her education, we are paying the bills, we can complain when there are problems. If we sent her to a public school, they would be in control and I would have limited say. If the government has control of my healthcare, I don’t have much recourse if they limit my options. I have a lot more control when I get HR involved in my problems (usually they resolve the issues because they are paying the bills).

“Since abortion is your big issue, may I point out to you that Jesus never spoke about abortion, either, or homosexuality, for that matter.”
But Paul did speak of homosexuality. I’m certainly not a red-letter Christian and listen to the whole counsel of God, not just the parts I agree with or fit my political agenda. And abortion is covered under the Ten Commandments.
BTW, I’ve had experience with government run healthcare as a child. I didn’t have a primary care physician as my children do now, I saw whatever doctor was available. There was no continuity with my care.

“But if you currently have health insurance, are you aware you have turned the handling of your care over to a person in a cubical who has no medical background and their only concern about you is; will you make them money or cost them money?”
I’m well aware that the insurance company controls my healthcare and mentioned it in the post. As I said, they’ll be more responsive to my issues because their bottom line is impacted. I had only one problem with this whole process from the insurance company and that was getting an CAT Scan before the surgery and my husband was able to resolve the issue before the surgery (without the help of HR). How quick do you think the government would respond to problems?
I’m not against the government trying to resolve the issues people have with healthcare insurance but I don’t want them taking over mine.
BTW, the VA isn’t a great example given the bad headlines recently and the fact that you’re experiencing healthcare at one facility that limits who can be treated (as you’ve noted). Flood that system with 40 million and see how well the government can handle our healthcare needs. You don’t have to imagine, just look at Canada and the UK.

“I actually do believe there are folks of conscience, who are thoughtful and striving to do what is right for the most people, who are on both sides of this crucial debate.”
I understand, Robert that both sides have a lot of fear about this issue. I know what it’s like when you get cancer without insurance because it happened to my brother-in-law. I’m not without compassion for those who are not insured and would like to be able to buy it at a reasonable cost. I understand that when I blog about this issue but I’m just as scared that the government will kill me and my grandma who is in her 90′s if they take over my healthcare. You can call me irrational but I have the specter of both the UK and Canada to back me up (the mortality rate for cancer is much higher there than it is here).
So, I’m praying that the public option doesn’t happen and that the government can come up with another way to solve this problem that doesn’t involve losing my insurance.

“To use this argument to support what you want for Healthcare and then speak of separation of church and state, is a little to disengenous. To now find relgion when it suits ones purpose, I dont believe is truly a christian way of life.”
Yeah, the left have embraced the tactics of the right and Jesus is once again tied to a political ideal that is far beyond his agenda. He came to set us free from our sins, not to be used for political proof-texting to get what we want out of the federal government.

“I heard a doctor say he would rather deal with Medicare than health insurance companies because the health insurance companies are constantly questioning his treatment of patients to find a reason to deny coverage.”
Here’s an experiment for you, call around to various doctors and ask them if they take Medicare patients. I bet you might be surprised by the results.

“Nations that have universal care are more likely to have delays in care and the quality of care deteriorates.”
the truth is that these “delays in care” are cosmetic procedures and not life-saving procedures. so when you want that boob job or liposuction, you just might get put behind the guy who needs a heart operation. boo-hoo.
explain to us why we rank so far behind these other nations with universal care in areas like quality of care, average life expectancy, infant mortality and general health?
“Doctors become scarce and patients die waiting for service”
there have been very few cases of this, and these few have been blown out of proportion and made to sound like it’s the inevitable norm. simply untrue. yet, it is absolutely true that even more people around the world die because they cannot afford even the most basic health care.

“Come on Michele, it does not take much reasoning or logic to understand how much more it cost for someone to use the ER.”
What I said was true, not clueless. You can walk into an ER and get treated. Illegal aliens do it all the time and never pay.
“Michele – what have you, the Christian right, conservatives, or others done for “No, but if we as a society want to help those who don’t qualify for Medicaid it would be easy enough to do without the federal government taking over our healthcare industry.”
I’m sorry, do you actually think I have any control over legislation? If I did, I would have tried to work with insurance companies to provide affordable healthcare. As it is, I have no power to impact what the government does with healthcare (either on the left or the right).

“That is the way it is NOW. Those who can’t receive NO service, until they end up in the emergency room…and end up with a staggering debt they can’t pay. ”
If you look at the cost of a private doctor in Canada and a private doctor here, the cost is much cheaper. Since your intellect is far superior to mine, I’ll leave you to figure out why that is.
“Christian principles are diametrically opposed to what you suggest. If you are so insensitive and unreceptive to the spirit of Jesus’ message in regards to the poor then you’ll never get it. Ever. ”
Why? Where in the Bible does it say that Jesus believed that his people should help the poor and sick with government programs? The government isn’t Jesus’ instrument because he said that he wasn’t of this world. Does the Christian left really believe that they are being faithful servants (Matthew 25) by demanding that the federal take over the healthcare of those who do not want it? Are you really saying that’s what Jesus means in Matthew 25?
And I believe that you are being insensitive to their fears. Saving money on the backs of old people by rationing their care (as Obama has said he plans to do), doesn’t strike me as very compassionate or Christian.

“When it was time to send daughter#1 to school, we decided to send her to a private school because we would be in control of her education, we are paying the bills, we can complain when there are problems. If we sent her to a public school, they would be in control and I would have limited say.”
i guess that you never went to parent/teacher meetings, or school board meetings, or voted for (or against) board members. the beauty of public schools is that you actually get to choose board members and even have them recalled. and guess what? you also pay the public education bills! if you felt like you had no say, then it’s because you weren’t involved with your child’s education.
when i found out that our 2nd grade “science” teacher was preaching creationism in class, i had about a 5 minute meeting with the principal and the preaching stopped immediately. that’s because i am an involved parent.

“Why is Christian to support the status quo, just because it works out for you?” And why is it OK to force people to accept a system they don’t want. Why can’t we both get what we want? Few deaths through reform that addresses the issues, not takes over the heathcare of those who do not want the government involved in their health decisions.

“Here’s an experiment for you, call around to various doctors and ask them if they take Medicare patients.”
and here’s one for you: call around to various doctors and ask them if they take patients who don’t have insurance and can’t pay out-of-pocket. then ask them which category of patient they would prefer, those who cannot pay or those with medicare.

“And why is it OK to force people to accept a system they don’t want.”
straw man. no bill in the works is forcing people into a government system. it would simply be there as an option for those who couldn’t afford private health care.

No, I never had to do any of that stuff and still not have a voice in what goes on with my daughter’s education. I know people who have their kids in the system in my town who fight to have their children put in advanced programs and can’t because they’re overridden by the teacher. I also have heard the horror stories of mothers who can’t get the bullies to leave their children alone because the school won’t do anything about it. When my daughter had issues with bullies the school immediately addressed the problem. The bully issue was the main reason I have them in private school. I went to public, I know what that can be like.

“straw man. no bill in the works is forcing people into a government system. it would simply be there as an option for those who couldn’t afford private health care.”
Please! You guys on the left are so distrustful of big business until it doesn’t suit your agenda You know corporations will not continue to pay higher costs when they can get insurance cheaper through a government subsidized insurance plan. Congress has a choice over which insurance plan they want but many of us do not. Our employers have control of that and if it’s cheaper they’ll go for it even if it’s not in their employees best interests.

“and here’s one for you: call around to various doctors and ask them if they take patients who don’t have insurance and can’t pay out-of-pocket. then ask them which category of patient they would prefer, those who cannot pay or those with medicare.”
Um…those are not their only options, they really don’t have to see any patient they don’t want to see. They don’t have to take those without insurance and they don’t have to take medicare patients. Many doctors, especially in this area can pick and choose what patients they’ll see.

so you have second hand say-so. if i were to believe your second-hand information, then i would say that (if this is a wide-spread problem that a majority of students are experiencing) the parents need to band together and replace the current administration in that district. public schools are not day care providers where you can just drop of your kids and expect the best to magically happen. we, too, have bullies in our public schools. at least until they are dealt with. and yes, they are dealt with. surprise – bullies exist even in private schools.
i went to public schools, too. and they were great for me. there were bullies. if the administration didn’t deal with them, i did. it taught me that i can’t depend on others to solve every problem for me. i would think that you would be in favor of that.

your argument is still a straw man.
“Please! You guys on the left are so distrustful of big business until it doesn’t suit your agenda You know corporations will not continue to pay higher costs when they can get insurance cheaper through a government subsidized insurance plan. Congress has a choice over which insurance plan they want but many of us do not. Our employers have control of that and if it’s cheaper they’ll go for it even if it’s not in their employees best interests.”
yes, congress has a choice over which insurance plan they want but many of us don’t. worse yet, too many of us don’t have any insurance plan at all! that’s why we need another option beyond the expensive plans offered by “big business” insurance companies now.
sounds to me that YOU don’t trust big business. why should they pay more for better care when they can get something cheaper? exactly! why do you trust them to pay more to benefit your health now? so we can’t trust employers to make the right choice for us. we certainly can’t trust the insurance companies. we’ve had this health care system for several decades and it is only getting worse, driven downward by greed. the status quo just won’t do.
the government can have disincentives for companies who are considering drop their health plans, and that’s one of the things that is being discussed. the obama administration doesn’t want to kill private health insurance companies or employee-offered options. but the system needs to be reformed and regulated and the customers needs must be the focus of any health care system.
if only conservatives could stay with the true discussion at hand instead of invoking some unrealistic nightmare scenario involving communist/socialist politicians dictating your medical needs, “death panels”, government mandated abortions, and people dying while waiting in lines that circle the hospitals, we might actually be able to pass some worthwhile legislation. think you can handle that?

“Um…those are not their only options, they really don’t have to see any patient they don’t want to see. They don’t have to take those without insurance and they don’t have to take medicare patients. Many doctors, especially in this area can pick and choose what patients they’ll see.”
that’s not the assignment. i told you to ask doctors which group they would rather treat: those who can’t pay, or those who pay through medicare. you get an “F” for this assignment.

i came here (beliefnet.com) with the intention of connecting with christians that similar to me. looks like i have to keep searching.
my christian heart says:
our ONE commandment is to love one another. ONE. that’s it.
how is it showing love by telling someone less fortunate than you (regardless of how they got there) that they don’t deserve to enjoy the same health you do. that is wrong on every “christian” level. anyone who thinks differently is not being christlike. end of story.
my logical brain says:
here’s a wikipedia entry for universal healthcare
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_health_care
(note:”Universal health care is implemented in all industrialized countries, with the exception of the United States.”)
here’s the world healthcare’s rankings of the world’s health systems:
http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html
we are…
37th overall
24th in life expectancy
33rd in infant mortality rate
2nd in total health expenditures as percentage of gdp
you can argue all day long that “socialism” and government involvement is terrible, but you would be quick to change your argument when your house is burning down, making you dependent on a “socialist” fire department. how about the police? the roads you drive on? social security (which was and could still be a great program if the senate stops “borrowing” from it)? medicare?
these programs are in place for our protection, our convenience, our financial security… why would we not include a program for our well-being? life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? if you’re unhealthy, how do you expect pursue happiness?
stop thinking you’re entitled to something more. you’re not. no one is.

“When it was time to send daughter#1 to school, we decided to send her to a private school because we would be in control of her education,
This wasn’t my experience at all in six years of nonsectarian private school in NJ. It may depend on the issue. Bullying is one thing but curriculum is another. I can’t speak for the twelve other families in my son’s class on what should be taught.
When the school was strong, academically competitive, I would have been shown the door for complaining. Many parents were. And when the school began to fall apart – it closed this past spring – criticism only drove people away.
But I do see, since the school closed, that funding the “public option” of grade-school education sucks up any money in tax dollars that might be paid for private schooling. Not able to find an alternative, I’m sending my boys out of district this year.

because we would be in control of her education, we are paying the bills, we can complain when there are problems.
I suppose, in other words, Michele assumes that somehow being a paying customer translates into being a valued customer.
But I’ve seen a private school administration treat disagreeable families so deplorably that the frustrated family goes elsewhere. Private schools pick their families as much as families pick schools.
The analogy to healthcare insurance should be … and is … clear.

“Private schools pick their families as much as families pick schools.”
that’s so true here in colorado as well. if you show them enough money, you can get moved to the top of any of their lists. at least in public schools here, my children of this middle-income parent are treated no better and no worse than any other student. it’s not my money that matters here, it’s my involvement.
“because we would be in control of her education”
hm, yeah, i would think that the only way to be “in control” would be through home schooling, and even then, the state has certain criteria that must be met.

Michele,
After reading an article on this topic (WWJD) this morning
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=647036
I was quick to wonder… hmmm…WWMS (What Would Michele Say) on this issue?
Still enjoying your blog and comments after all these years!

What sort of a Christian are you, anyway? Maybe the sort that owns the Bible that this came from:
Luke 199:13-19
And Jesus told those gathered around him, “You are not your brother’s keeper. You do not have to take care of anybody but yourself. It’s all about you. Why should you care about anybody else? Why should you allow your hard earned money to go to support another human being? It’s your money! If you start taking care of other people, you may not be able to provide for yourself and your own family. Family comes first. Health care is not a right. If a person wants health care then they ought to provide it for themselves. Freebies are not a part of the kingdom of God. And if a person dies because of inadequate health care or lack of health care, don’t worry about that either. Don’t sweat it. Hey, people have to die some way and people have to die some day anyway.”
http://liberalbaptistrev.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/jesus-on-health-care-the-goofed-up-bible/

Right on Matthew! I am sorry Michelle. Your brand of Christianity is so very anti-Christ!
Jesus healed the sick,and loved his enemy, yet so many so called Christians today don’t care about the sick (as long as they have theirs the hell with everyone else) Oh as for the war on terror…they don’t even think twice that war kills innocent men, woman and children.(Many Christians are happy to pay for a war that will kill a so-called enemy).
Michelle after reading your self righteous article. I am so happy that I am not a organized religious Christian. I love Christ and what he did for mankind. However, people like you really are clueless to who the man was and what he truly stood for!