But I think it’s good to remind people to be aware — that just because they have good insurance that not everyone else does. Even people with insurance through their work often are paying big for it.

Anytime the government seeks to be a solution it’s a bit scary as well. With no discipline in our spending, some changes are going to have to happen. Healthcare spending by the government is already huge and I’ve seen Medicare and Medicaid (as both government organizations) do not even function well together — the same information needs to be duplicate shared with both for people that might have both programs for certain life situations.

So, in summary, I like to remind people: 1) hey, don’t be critical and recognize that many good amd (often) working people have a tough time with this; also 2) some potentially positive things might be done that cost very little (to encourage more competition, etc).

Even as a “middle class” person, I fear that if taxes dramatically increase, would that force dramatic life changes for some families that they do not want… only to pay their tax bills? That would be unfortunate against the liberties of those families.

I definitely agree with Stephen’s comments from the previous healthcare post: We as a church allowed the government to take over / hand over our responsibilities. Think about how so many hospitals started out as church charities, and are now operated by large for-profit corporations, heavily controlled by gov’t and insurance companies, both of whom have set up the system to be very anti-competitive. (Much of our salaries goes to pay insurance and medicaid, who then pay medical facilities that also pay huge amounts for insurance and taxes!)

There are a lot of reasons why this happened, but one of the biggest factors has been the steady reversal of our country’s founding principle that the government that governs least governs best: that decisions on everyday affairs should be made by everyday people (as locally as possible).

Steadily, we’ve seen that revolutionary ideal replaced with the mindset that any national problem should be addressed on a national governmental level. This sets off a cycle of continually disconnecting us individuals from being involved in feeling/solving/preventing our own common problems. To use a healthcare analogy, this is like deciding to treat the symptoms rather than cure the disease (which, incidentally, also usually sets off its own vicious cycle of expensive medical interventions!)

I believe the real solutions to making healthcare affordable and accessible lie in: the church rising up to take its place in caring for the needy, while getting government out of the healthcare business, while also addressing insurance regulations to allow for better competition and different policies. These are all interconnected on so many levels, that it often seems hopeless. (That’s where this God fellow comes in, right?!)

On top of the above list, and among other things, we also need to deal with the fact that we’re inflating our money supply into thin air, which means that prices for everything increase, while most of our salaries don’t…

So, in a way, the healthcare crisis is in itself just one symptom of the disease of ever-increasing reliance on government to make us all “feel better”.

That’s my two cents. There’re a few more bucks where that came from, but I’m trying (failing!) to keep this reasonably brief.

Excellent issue with all the political buzz right now! I, as well, see the very difficult decision that this presents for many Christ followers in the U.S. today. How do we balance taking care of all of those around us? And, is it the church’s responsibility or the government’s? As I read your posts and comments I had a few thoughts. This is an issue that I think about frequently since I work in the healthcare field.
First, I believe that the U.S. has one of the best healthcare systems available. Although, it does have many problems. I am not saying that it doesn’t need some help, but, all in all, it gives good care. It is in a consumer-driven society which pushes it to give the best care possible. Those with insurance get the benefit of this system, but in all of my experience, those without insurance have never been rejected.
Second, what is being promised to all Americans is Medicare or Medicaid. While this provides decent coverage for those currently without insurance, the Medicare that we will have in government healthcare is a much different and more watered-down version. However, the argument that proponents of government healthcare present is that, whether it is good coverage or not, at least all would have insurance. But, as I have already pointed out, insurance is not the gate-keeper to healthcare.
Third, and possibly the point that worries me most, is that I have heard many nurses and doctors at my workplace say that they would be very tempted to pick another profession or to go back to school for a different degree if the government healthcare bill passes. I am concerned because America is already in a healthcare professional shortage and this potential sudden drop in healthcare workers will result in more wait time and, possibly, less-experienced healthcare professionals.
Again, I love the honest discussion that is going on here. I just thought I’d add the perspectives of some medical personnel to the ongoing debate. I would love some opposite or different opinions on this issue. Let me know what you think Jim! Excited about the book debut.