I live in an area where it seems the majority of people I come into contact with are against a public option. I think a big part of the problem is that we have created a culture that is very individualistic and self centered. Maybe “the American dream” isn’t good for society as a whole.

Yes, like you said and Kimber echoed, the church is at elast 100 years behind the culture. Someone wise has said that we’re only truly as civilized as how we treat our most vulnerable: aged, ill, young and prisoners. By those standards, we have a long way to go.

Thanks for your thoughtful comments on my post for this synchroblog. I truly think the church is way behind on that particular dialogue. But there’s nothing to do but do our parts in speaking and teaching and showing up, yes?

Thanks again, Ellen–

I sympathize with the claim that we can’t afford to care for everyone at the current levels. Or that it won’t solve the problem. Those are both valid concerns – but the answer to the second is to find a plan that will solve the problem rather than to deny the problem, and to the first it’s to provide care at a level we can afford to everyone rather than to only provide the expected level of care to those we can afford to treat.

Honestly, this fear of “rationing care” disgusts me sometimes. If someone is okay getting care they need even if someone else doesn’t get what they need, but is scared of losing what they need, fear of “rationing” starts to sound a lot like “make sure I get what I think I need, even if others don’t get the same consideration. Which just ain’t cool, and it’s definitely not what I think of as Christ’s ethics.

I have often said that the church is about 150 years behind the culture… Thank you for a compassionate and reasoned and dignified response!!