What If?

In the latest issue of The Christian Century I read a review of The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care by T. R. Reid. Published in August of this year, the book documents the experiences of the author, a writer for the Washington Post, as he looks at the health care systems in this and other countries and searches for healing for a shoulder that is giving him trouble.

What drew my attention was this question, "What if we were to approach health care as a right, not a commodity?" Good question. As so many other countries have shown us, it is quite possible to look at health care as a right, not break the nation's bank, and have good health care. If we were to look at health care as a right in our country we would have to confront some American myths about ourselves, about our class structures, and about the power of major corporations.

I refer back to an earlier post. The nations of the world stated in 1948 in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights that health care is a right. May this come to pass in actuality. AMEN.

Health Care Again

After returning from a training and retreat weekend, I arrived home and opened yesterday's paper. In Sunday's front page section was an ad authorized and paid for by JONAH, a local organization of many faiths, affiliated with other local organizations of faith. The ad stated:

We believe universal health care is fundamental to a just and productive society.

Millions of Americans suffer or die for lack of health care.
We believe in a religious imperative to heal the sick.
The American health care system must be transformed to be inclusive, accessible, affordable and accountable for all.

A civilized and just society protects the weak and powerless with compassion.
Join us. Speak out for a uniquely American plan.
Fixing health care is a moral issue, unworthy of political bickering.

I say AMEN! May it be so! May our elected leaders make health care financing decisions that are compassionate, just and fair, especially to people who are poor, middle-class, ill and/or elderly. May the Holy One give our elected leaders courage and wisdom to pass legislation that is "inclusive, accessible, affordable and accountable for all."