In Obama’s speech to the joint session of Congress, he saved his ‘preaching’ for the end. He described the practical advantages in the first part of his talk, and then the moral imperative: making sure that everyone has access to health care is our moral obligation. I certainly agree that there is a moral dimension to health care. It is absolutely shameful that we have the richest nation on earth, and yet are the only first-world nation where money (and/or insurance adjustors) comes between people and their lives.
Conservatives have always been sensitive about the morality issue, because in advocating small(er) government, their position ends up looking something like social Darwinism: the rich, talented, and well-connected survive and prosper, while the poor stay poor for generations. So conservative Christians, ever since they joined Republicans in the 70’s, have always had an answer ready: “of course we are concerned about the welfare of other human beings, but we think that it should be the concern of the private sector, not the government.”
I have heard several Christians stick to this same traditional line in response to Obama’s plea for health care. Now, if you oppose government-run health care because it gives the government too large a role in citizen’s lives, fine. I disagree, but at least I can respect that argument. But the moral argument that I just briefly described is quite different. The claim is that the private sector should be compassionate instead of the government.
This argument is as senseless as it is old. Are conservatives afraid that the government will ‘take their business’? That if health care is free they will run out of sick people to visit? I just don’t understand. Why is it an ‘either/or’? Why is it either the government’s responsibility or the obligation of churches? This would be a stupid position, were it actually the position of Christians who are politically liberal. Why can’t it be both the job of the church to provide services and then the government, when necessary. If churches provided free health care for everyone, then I would say, ‘Yes, keep the government out – the private sector is taking care of things.’ But they are not – people are sick and dying and filing for bankruptcy in numbers that should make any true Christian sad. If churches can't be bothered to stop persecuting gay people and instead provide health services for those who can't afford it, perhaps it is the government's turn.
