Send it!
Dear [ Representative / Senator ]:More than 47 million Americans— disproportionately African-Americans, Hispanics and the working poor— are uninsured. As a result, they lack ready access to care, which causes unnecessary deaths, increases morbidity among the acutely and chronically ill and results in higher costs. This situation is immoral and intolerable.
I call upon the U.S. Congress to enact bipartisan legislation that assures access without barriers to affordable, basic, quality health care for all.
Specifically, I urge Congress to:
Support a health care system in which risks, costs and responsibility are shared by all. There is enough for all, if all share health care resources, recognize limits and seek to be caretakers of health. We can learn from the experience of countries with exemplary records of assuring access and controlling costs. In these countries, health care is seen as a human or social right that helps bind a society together. Those with means help to shoulder the cost for those without, and costs are controlled with cooperative bargaining power.
Eliminate financial and health status as barriers to health care access. My faith tradition teaches me that special care is to be extended to the weakest and most vulnerable members of society. Health care for all joins the United States with all other developed countries in providing basic, affordable health care for all.
Strengthen public health systems in order to help create healthy communities. In order to effect long-term improvement in our nation’s overall health, increasing access to health care must go hand in hand with improving public health and reducing poverty. Public health measures will help eliminate unhealthy environmental factors, provide education and incentives for healthy life-style choices and inform the public about the effectiveness and efficiency of health care measures.
Support and strengthen public insurance programs for vulnerable populations while comprehensive reform is being enacted. Programs such as Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) currently provide health coverage for more than 50 million individuals— including children and adults in low-income families, the elderly and the disabled. Still, many people who need coverage do not qualify and many states and programs don’t cover needed services.
Openly address issues of quality, efficiency and limits. The quality of health care delivery is profoundly uneven— even for those with insurance— and sizable health care costs are due to advertising, administration and redundant tests. No system can afford to give everyone every medical procedure or treatment that they want or from which they might benefit.
As a Christian, I believe that a biblically-compatible health care system will celebrate God’s generous provision of resources, assuring enough for everyone when shared equitably by all; promote the flourishing of the whole community, including each of its members; and protect the well-being of the weakest and most vulnerable members of society.
Sincerely,
[ Your Name ]
5 comments:
1. There are so many unconstitutional and unAmerican things in that statement
A - Redistribution of wealth
B - Meddling in our private lives/rights with env controls (telling me that I shouldn't own a car), life-style choices (taxing fast-food)
C limiting services to one group simply because another group cannot afford them, that's socialism straight up
D mixing church and state - the gov't should not be thought of as God's charitable outreach
2. Why would Richard's Rep listen to this when you guys are using Canadian healthcare?
No offense - just sayin'
I think if we all spent some time in a truly third-world place, then we would all change our minds about healthcare.
Bill
Ha! I knew it was about time for a good political debate! I *was* going to post about Sarah Palin, but then deleted it, because I felt it was a little too hateful, and might start a big ole, knock-down blog fight. :-)
I’m confused. So many conservatives use their faith as a voting measuring stick (ie: I’m not voting for Obama because he’s pro-choice, or I’m not voting for so-and-so democrat because she supports gay marriage…and Jesus wouldn’t want us to be killing babies or being all homosexual), yet when it comes to health care, “the government should not be thought of as God’s charitable outreach”? You know I’m an ardent believer in the separation of church and state, and almost deleted the lines in this letter having to do with faith and Christianity. BUT, I left them in because this health care debate has actually become a spiritual issue for me. I don’t know how to separate my intense belief that God created us in His image and that Jesus commanded us to care for one another (Matt 25) from my political belief that everyone deserves access to quality health care. I’m trying to work it out in my heart and head, but it’s a toughie.
Americans redistribute wealth all the time. Why is it okay to redistribute wealth (through taxes) for infrastructure and road repair, or for education, or for national security, and not okay to redistribute wealth for LIFE?
As for Richard’s representative hearing my, er, I mean HIS plea (:-)), I’m sure he won’t listen. He SHOULD, because Richard is still an American, no matter where he lives, but I also realize we’re walking a fine line here. Ideally, I would like to influence both our American AND Canadian politicians. They should BOTH be listening to me! Heck, while I’m at it, maybe I’ll try to get the Queen of England to hear me out too! :-)
Haha about going to the Queen, good luck with dat one.
My tax money goes to roads, somewhere obviously not in madison county, but somewhere, and I can use those roads. My tax money goes to defense, my country fights wars for no reason... I mean my country defends me from attacks. I pay in, I get a service.
It is unfair to redistribute wealth for "LIFE", because some people choose to work and some people choose to do nothing and get the freebies, which are derived from my tax money. Yes there are those who cannot work and get a fulltime job with health benefits. And then there are those who choose to get buy, or instead of spending their money on education/training to better themselves so they can get good jobs, spend the money on beer, pot, and rims or sending all their money back to their family in latin america.
But how about we help create more jobs so that more people can get real health insurance and not some gov't crapola. We could instantly create more jobs by lowering corporate taxes and getting all the companies that have left america to come back.
Furthermore as my religious right I choose who I want to give money to. I choose to send money to kids in Guatemala because my heart is there. Why should I be forced to "give" more of my money to causes that I am not fully behind, ie one payer healthcare. I trust that the money I send to a small orphanage in Guate makes a huge impact and is cherished and used wisely. I have no faith that our bloated fed govt will use my tax payer money wisely, likely it will be lost down some rabbit hole, like all the millions pelosi spent on rescuing some mouse species in north cali on the stimulus bill.
I want the right to put my treasure where my heart is.
If i am selfish and don't give to anyone, then that should be my right as well, and God will judge us all in the end.
If you put your money in an envelope and sent it to your gov't to give to the people in the projects you drive by, then that is your choice. what is the likely hood that it is actually going to get there?
And can we comprehend how much better those people in the projects' standard of living is compared to those in third world countries. I can and the people in the projects are beyond rich to the people I have met in Guate.
How many of those 47 million can afford health coverage and don't buy it because they have "better" things to do with their money? (see beer/pot/rims) Alot.
You make valid points, Bill, and I hope you know that I'm not EVER questioning your incredibly giving heart here. You and M are two of the most amazing and generous people we know!
In my view, though, we're not debating health care reform for those without jobs. Those who aren't working (for whatever reason or non-reason), and those who make ridiculously little, have access to Medicaid, so I'm not super-concerned there. It's those that HAVE jobs, that make *just* above the Medicaid cut-off, whose employers don't pay for insurance...THOSE are the millions of people that I advocate for.
Are there some people who spend their money stupidly, who could otherwise afford health insurance? Yes. But, I want to live in a society that says, "It's frustrating, you made a mistake, but we still think your life is important and to prove that, we're going to offer you decent health care."
I also fear for the kids. What if Ellie were born to a family who couldn't afford health insurance? Or, even though I HATE this argument, what if she had been born to a parent who didn't prioritize health insurance? She wouldn't get therapy. She wouldn't get equipment. Kids shouldn't have to suffer because of their parent's income or financial decisions.
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