In the comments to my post about Canada’s healthcare system as a model to be emulated Don replied with some good comments that I thought I would elevate, along with a portion of my reply, to a post. (You can read unedited version of his comment and my reply in the comments section.)
I am a Canadian and have used the health care system recently. It is not the horror that many Americans describe our health care system. … I feel it is not Christian to support a system that does not care for the poor. Many of problems in our system are in fact caused by doctors who are independent businessmen trying to maximize their income.
That was why I posted that other story, the author is a Canadian so his experience was more relevant that from someone “outside.” In my four years in England we had very mixed experiences. Certainly for those without healthcare coverage it is a moot point, some (good) care is better than none.
Now, to the most interesting point of his comment (to me), “It is not Christian to support a system that does not care for the poor.” I too believe that as Christians we are called to care for the poor and the needy but is the best mechanism through the government? Just because someone supports a healthcare model that is not government run doesn’t mean they are not living up to their Christian calling (not caring about others does, however). I think the question is and ought to be how to get the best care for the most but judging by other programs I am not sure the government is the best solution.
On the other hand, there are many who say that a true Christian state is a (ideal) socialist state…. Any care to make that argument?
Not to be distracted however I want to throw it open and ask my readers, what is the “Christian” [mfn]Feel free to offer you definition of “Christian” in this context because I do not think it is defined as a confession of faith.[/mfn] response to the US healthcare situation?
5 thoughts on “Christian healthcare solutions? Anyone?”
Hi Chris
I enjoy discussing politics as much as the next guy, but it seems that at the end of the day Jesus was pretty apolitical (in the context of the Roman Empire, not necessarily Judaism). Perhaps the government got involved in ‘socialism’ in the first place because Christians were fumbling the ball on benevolence.
I thought you might be interested in learning about OUR Jewish traditions which embrace the real Christ. We are the Frankist Association of America. One of our members has a new book out:
http://www.amazon.com/Real-Messiah-Throne-Origins-Christianity/dp/1906787123/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245892844&sr=8-1
These are our teachings passed on through generations. If you can’t afford the book you can see the website of one of our teachers – http://www.stephanhuller.blogspot.com.
Shalom
Beth El Jacob Frank
Unless Christian organizations can subsidize massive healthcare costs, I don’t think there can be a viable alternative. Parts of the system like hospice care, assisted living, etc. are supported by various Christian organizations, but even they are all beholden to the system. So it’s hard to come up with an alternative when the economics don’t seem to work.
The problem is that healthcare is a corporation whose goal is to make money, not get people well and prevent them from getting sick.
“Profit” is not a four-letter word. If the product of a for-profit hospital is its former patients, and they are all dying, I imagine future business would dry up. The corporations do have an interest in getting people well: referrals.
I am confused. Don’t we already have Medicaid that is designed specifically to care for the poor at taxpayers expense?
The argument really isn’t the poor aren’t getting access to care. They have the opportunity. I am not saying it is the same care that the Rich get–but then again, only the rich will get that under any other plan either.
Let us be honest here. People like to “pretend” they aren’t paying for healthcare, and that the government will provide. Thus, we want to “have” healthcare (and ideally raise the taxes on all those “rich people who are getting away without paying their fair share.”)
What is the Christian thing to do? Love your neighbor. Love your neighbor. LOVE your neighbor.
If we each took care of our neighbor, our own local hurt and suffering, the CHRIST would be the “change we can believe in” not Obama. Not any “Man.”