"As a Christian nation, we should support health care for all."
Such is the cry of some who attempt to impose a higher moral standard on those who assert that health care is, in fact, a commodity, rather than a right. The notion of health care as a right is patently ridiculous. We neither have a right to a house, a job, food, or a vehicle. We must either be willing to pay or work for what we want. Let's be honest: the people who support socialized medicine are the same people who believe that someone else should meet their needs.
On the surface, socialism has an air of fairness and compassion about it, yet it ultimately violates our innate human desire to pursue excellence, to profit according to our labors and to work toward the betterment of ourselves and our standing in life – and the lives of our children. When excellence goes unrewarded, there is little cause to pursue or expect it. We have seen socialist nations suffer and dissolve as a result of dysfunction and widespread poverty - a direct result of government authorities rationing commodities.
Our nation was created as a capitalist republic. As individuals, each of us possess certain gifts, talents and abilities which enable us to produce and contribute services and benefits which generally enable us to provide support for ourselves, our families and others. Capitalism allows each individual the opportunity to succeed. Some will enjoy more financial success than others. So what? We have also been gifted with extended families, friends, neighbors, churches and community organizations to support each other in times of need.
Such is the cry of some who attempt to impose a higher moral standard on those who assert that health care is, in fact, a commodity, rather than a right. The notion of health care as a right is patently ridiculous. We neither have a right to a house, a job, food, or a vehicle. We must either be willing to pay or work for what we want. Let's be honest: the people who support socialized medicine are the same people who believe that someone else should meet their needs.
On the surface, socialism has an air of fairness and compassion about it, yet it ultimately violates our innate human desire to pursue excellence, to profit according to our labors and to work toward the betterment of ourselves and our standing in life – and the lives of our children. When excellence goes unrewarded, there is little cause to pursue or expect it. We have seen socialist nations suffer and dissolve as a result of dysfunction and widespread poverty - a direct result of government authorities rationing commodities.
Our nation was created as a capitalist republic. As individuals, each of us possess certain gifts, talents and abilities which enable us to produce and contribute services and benefits which generally enable us to provide support for ourselves, our families and others. Capitalism allows each individual the opportunity to succeed. Some will enjoy more financial success than others. So what? We have also been gifted with extended families, friends, neighbors, churches and community organizations to support each other in times of need.
None of us has a right to determine how much wealth a person is allowed to earn or acquire, whether through inheritance, investment or effort or to claim any amount we deem as "excess" for ourselves or others. The wealthy already pay a highly disproportionate percentage of their income in taxes to support our government system while using far fewer services. (The top 1% pays approximately 40% of the income tax in the nation; the bottom 95% pays a little less than 40% of all income tax revenue.) Redistribution of wealth -- a form of socialism -- essentially penalizes those who take risks and excel, and rewards those who fail to work, plan or save.
It is those of relative wealth who provide the vast majority of jobs in this nation. Job creators make significant investments of time, money and energy and take considerable risks to start businesses and provide jobs. It is these businesses and jobs that fuel our economy and generate the tax revenue to support government functions including public safety, infrastructure, and education. How many poor people will give you a job? Yet our culture denigrates and demonizes job-creators as greedy and heartless. Many similarly condemn "profits" in the insurance industry - and others. How many doctors will work if there is no profit? The day you remove profit from any profession is the day the profession ceases to exist - which is perhaps what the socialists want. Capitalism inspires competition through innovation and efficiency to offer consumers value. On the other hand, government programs are very often characterized by unchecked growth, impersonal service, inefficiency and fraud. Do you really want to stand in line and take a number at a DMV-style health care facility to see a surgeon? This probably seems a fair trade for those who want health care but expect someone else to pay for it. Socialism reduces everyone to the lowest common denominator.
Jesus never saw the government as the solution to our problems. While it makes sense to advocate for moral leadership in our government, ("When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan." Proverbs 29:2 - NLT) charity is to be genuinely personal and voluntary, not mandated by a government bureaucracy. "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." James 1:27.
Our health care system would benefit from less regulation, more choice, and more people sharing in the cost of their care as well as charitable participation. These issues could be addressed without resorting to the costly, punitive, counter-intuitive and unsuccessful model of socialism.
Cindy
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