As a Norwegian, looking at the U.S. health care debate from the outside, I cannot help but laugh sometimes. It seems like the word “socialism” has become a swear word. In Norway, we just re-elected a “socialist” government. That does not mean that we live in a communist state. We have full-fledged capitalism over here, and we are just about the richest country in the world, per capita. But we have chosen to let the state supply world class health care to all inhabitants.
To allow private insurance companies to let private profit maximizing decisions get in between a patient and a doctor is close to unethical for us. In Norway, you get the same care no matter if you are a homeless drunk or the C.E.O. of one of the biggest companies. And that’s how it should be. They say that the measure of a country’s success lies in how it treats its most unfortunate citizens.
— Gjert Myrestrand (as posted on The New York Times Website by a Norwegian citizen)
As a Christian, I call foul on America!!! America pretends to call itself a God Fearing Nation but that is in name only. This is especially when it comes to Poor people. Before someone calls me a communist, socialist or whatever tea-bagger term is popular during this current Obama Administration, please refer to the Bible. It is better to be dirt poor in a 3rd world country than to be poor in the U.S.A. This country Hates Poor People!!! And as a so called Christian Nation…..that’s shameful. Two weeks ago the Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina equated poor people to stray animals. I’m pretty sure he is the same politician that goes to church trolling for votes. Why won’t God let people get struck by a ball of fire like the old days…..I’m Just Saying. Browsing around the Bible and you see the following:
The Book of Exodus speaks of not taking advantage of widows and orphans.
The Book of Deuteronomy speaks of giving to “poor brethren.”
The Book of Zechariah speaks of not oppressing the poor.
So why don’t we treat the poor better? It says we should in the Good Book! As Americans we talk about God all the time. We put “In God We Trust” on our money. We won’t elect a national leader without them declaring love for Jesus the Christ. We even pray after winning Football games (but never when we lose). So what’s the problem?
Is it because we are preoccupied with being rich? People in America want to be either rich or famous. Look at the national obsession with playing the lottery or the attempts to get on American Idol. But there is a reason for this. Watch the news every night. How are the poor portrayed? From the Appalachian Mountains, Sub-Saharan Africa, Elkhart Indiana or Downtown Los Angeles poor people are in bad shape. Americans look at the news every night and have come to the realization: being poor sucks!! From the services that
You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor but the lord is their refuge – Psalm 14:6
Real Christians would want everyone to have Healthcare, Affordable Food, Quality Education, and Clean Drinking Water. Real Christians view their fellow citizens as equals - instead of looking down on them. Somehow America lost its compassion for the little guy. If we, “America,” want to live up to our reputation, we need to practice what we preach. But that is only if we even know how.
10 comments:
But don't many of the truly poor already have healthcare through Medicare/Medicaid?
Isn't the real problem with the working poor?
I agree with the Pseudo-Christian label. Most people who spout off about being Christians are the least Christian-like.
As for European style health-care in the U.S. It's not going to happen. No one in Washington, especially Obama, has the guts to take on insurance companies and big pharma.
Uglyblackjohn - There is Some Kinda Healthcare and there is Quality Healthcare. Realistically some people do slip thru the cracks..Homeless families, vets etc. The working poor are having to deal with premiums and co-pay. That's what's killing em.
Val - Yeah that Healthcare Proposal was DOA.
But even a National Heath Care program would only insure 30mil out of the estimated 50mil uninsured.
IMOHO - Combining BIA, VA and Medicaid into a single umbrella and expanding that to include everyone to form a type of BasiCare program (kind of like only having liability coverage on ones car) would insure everyone.
Employers could offer upgrades to all those "Cadillac Policies".
uglyblackjohn - am I mistaken or are you cutting out the insurance companies?
Well, no.
Insurance companies come in to offer what the government program doesn't.
If the basic premium is high and discounts are given for reducing risk (not; being overweight, smoking, drinking, working in hazardous environments around toxins,...), the prices should stabilize for those who chose to remain healthy.
What I wish to eliminate is the profit taking of insurance companies.
there should be profits - just none as big as those currently being taken.
uglyblackjohn - Would the health care decrease the cost of perscriptions or is that another deal that needs to be cut with Big Pharma?
Big Pharma - Pig Phama...
Do we really even need all of these medications for Erectile Dysfunction, ADHD, Bi-Polar Disorders et. al.?
It seems that Big Pharma is making everything into a disease so they can create a medicine to treat (not cure) it.
UglyBlackJohn - mmmm.. I think the ADD diagnosis for every child is a scam but keep all the drugs that deal with sex. I will get old one day and I want to at least know I still got some skin in the game.
Why should health care make a big profit? Health is a need, like food. Why should food be taxed? Well, some kinds of foods.
Poor people get real poor health care and people who come in illegal get better health care that you and I already pay for. Why not reform the system and make them pay?
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