Family Values
Posted by Tony Mitchell under Poverty, Economy, Federal Budget, Republican Party, Democratic Party, Healthcare, Drugs, Government, Ethics, Democracy, Education, Christian Denominations, Christian (Blue) Left, Christian (Red) Right, Political Philosophy, Faith-Based Initiatives, Family Values, Politics at 10:43 am.Now, this isn’t a blog about Governor Sanford and his problems, though we are reminded that when one “preaches” about one set of values and then lives and entirely different set of values, it is very difficult for people to hear the truth.
And while I am saddened by the death of Michael Jackson, it isn’t that high on my list of concerns. But, depending on what the autopsy finds and what that means for each one of us, I think that Farrah Fawcett’s death was more important (even if it did get pushed back because of Michael Jackson’s death). I say that her death was more important because she died of cancer.
But instead of hearing about research on cancer treatment and what needs to be done, we are going to be (and are being bombarded) with reports about Michael Jackson and his problems. It makes me wonder what our values truly are.
Why are we not more concerned about the state of health care in this country today? Why are we not pushing for active research in curing disease and removing the curse and scourge of cancer from our lives? Why are we not fighting for a more equitable health care program that reduces the cost of healthcare?
Now, I know one of the arguments being made today about healthcare and the efforts of the present administration to reform healthcare is that we don’t want the government telling us who we can see and what can be done? I agree with the concept of not having some bureaucrat telling me how my healthcare should be managed but tell me how having a bureaucratic insurance company is better than the government? Besides, Medicare is a government-run program and a very successful one at that.
To tell me that insurance companies, which are only interested in profits for themselves, is a better alternative than the government is really stretching the point. Insurance companies in the healthcare business are getting rich at the expense of individuals and I would not be surprised if the number of uninsured individuals in this country is not on the rise.
I always find it interesting how we bandy about the term “Christian nation”, especially when it is used by individuals who are not willing to lead Christian lives. It is no wonder that the Christianity is threatened today but the threat comes from those who use the label without using its meaning.
Consider what happened to Jesus. At the end of the 3rd chapter of Mark, Jesus’ mother, brothers, and sisters came looking for him.
Just then his mother and brothers showed up. Standing outside, they relayed a message that they wanted a word with him. He was surrounded by the crowd when he was given the message, "Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside looking for you."
Jesus responded, "Who do you think are my mother and brothers?" Looking around, taking in everyone seated around him, he said, "Right here, right in front of you—my mother and my brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys God’s will is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3: 31 - 35)
Jesus redefined the family; if we are part of that family, then isn’t time that we started caring for the family. Isn’t time we put some value to the term “family values”?
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This is cross-posted to Thoughts From The Heart On The Left
July 3rd, 2009 at 6:13 pm
“Why are we not pushing for active research in curing disease and removing the curse and scourge of cancer from our lives?”
If Farrah lived in Britain, she would have died some time earlier than she did, statistically. Our cancer survival rates are better than just about everywhere else.
The fact is that we have a lot of great research going on in cancer therapy (my field). And that is what is driving costs up and up. You see, new technology is expensive. And cancer is frequently treated using multimillion dollar machines bigger than a car (some bigger than a house). Take the profit motive out of that, and you’ve taken the gas out of the engine of research.
“Besides, Medicare is a government-run program and a very successful one at that.”
Huh? It’s going to go broke before Social Security. It’s notorious for paying pennies on the dollar to doctors and refusing better treatments to save money. It’s the perfect example of why we don’t want government involved in healthcare.
July 18th, 2009 at 12:02 am
Chris,
Your comments, as always, are interesting.
First, let me say that it is good that you are in cancer research. It is an interesting and challenging field.
And I agree that it is expensive but why should the profit motive be the driving factor in research? There are reports that suggest that the drug companies wouldn’t do work on anti-malarial drugs for our troops in Viet Nam because they couldn’t make a profit on it. The drugs that were developed came out of research done at Army Hospitals. If a human being is going to benefit from the work of a researcher, why should profit even be in the equation?
I don’t know if you are confusing Medicare and Medicaid when it comes to cost analysis. I will agree that Medicaid is poorly run and wastes money. But most doctors that I am aware of willingly take Medicare and its overhead is less than most insurance companies.
I cannot speak to what the treatment Farah Fawcett might have received in Britain; the information that is being provided about the healthcare systems of other countries is so distorted that the truth is very difficult to determine.
I close with the same thought that prompted this piece - what are our values? Do we respect others and work for the betterment of all? Or are we in it for ourselves to get as much as we can as quickly as we can?