The Healthcare Debate

Some time ago, I had a lengthy and at times heated debate via Facebook regarding the healthcare bill. Today, sadly, I revisited that conversation. What was intended to be a candid discussion about the government's role in this important legislation turned out to be a "schooling" about Christianity by someone who quotes the Bible without believing in either its divinity or authority.

Not wanting the federal government to control the healthcare industry does not mean that I am against taking care of the poor. This is an insanely illogical leap. But this is the leap that many take in this pitiful and hateful debate. Because of this leap of logic, I have been labeled un-Christian, greedy and ignorant. I am none of those things.

But the biggest point of all that I tried to make, and the one which was completely unaccepted, was that forcing charity is not what Christianity is all about. Indeed, once forced, as it would be under legislation, it is no longer the "charity" that was being preached to me but rather a form of oppression.

I somehow don't see myself standing in front of God on the day of my judgment saying, "No, Sir, I didn't give my money to the poor. But I sure did pay my taxes."

Greece Fire

The Associated Press reported today that labor strikes shut down public transport, schools and state hospitals in Greece.

The report goes on: "But unions say ordinary Greeks are being called to pay a disproportionate price for past fiscal mismanagement. 'They are trying to make workers pay the price for this crisis,' said Yiannis Panagopoulos, leader of Greece's largest union, the GSEE."

Gee, did they think the non-workers were going to pay for it?

Will these scenarios become commonplace across the globe as governments, no longer trusted by their citizenry, face economic demise amidst massive debt and shrinking GDPs?

What about the United States? Will our children be the ones picketing in the years to come? Will they be the ones being called to pay for our government's fiscal mismanagement and its burgeoning debt?