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The Word's Eye View is a newspaper column written by
The Health Care Torpedo The continued alterations of course by the White House once again raises the critical question of motive for the sharp turns. Is the pattern of travel meant to confuse, or is it a result of a rudderless ship? This past week President Obama appealed to some national religious leaders for support of a government imposed health care plan. The request was predicated upon the idea that we are faced with a moral mandate to provide some type of umbrella coverage for every individual is the country. Part of the perplexity stems from the president’s previous statement that America is “not a Christian country.” If that is in fact the case then, pray tell, who did Mr. Obama ask to buttress the proposition? Perhaps it was all of the non-Christian groups that received the message, but the difficulty with that is some of them have a totally different concept of morality. For example, some Islamics teach that it is entirely appropriate to kill and maim innocents in an effort to spread their religious influence. Does the president expect us to believe that these types have any real concern about national care? The issue is further complicated by the president’s attempt to utilize Scripture to reinforce his moral imperative. Certainly he would not anticipate the non-Biblical crew to respond positively to “thus saith the Lord.” At least for the most part, the only logical conclusion is that the entreaty was issued to those who have some professed confidence in the Bible. Since the chief executive has now sought to use Holy Writ as a final authority for passage of legislation, the proposal deserves investigation from the pages of the Book he employed. The edict rendered was “we are our brothers’ keeper.” This is one of the most misquoted passages and is frequently adapted by liberals to justify social reform. In reality the verse says, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The question is presented by Cain who had just killed his brother Abel. This was not an individual who embodied any sense of morality. Surely Rev. Wright could provide the president with a better Scriptural format to persuade the clergy who should have a complete understanding of the circumstances of the quote. In truth the believer does have a certain obligation to consider the underprivileged, but God has a unique way of keeping things in their proper balance. Proverbs 29:7 is very insightful: “The righteous considereth the cause of the poor; but the wicked regardeth not to know it.” Some are poor because they are lazy or lack initiative and refuse to work. The wicked refuses to consider the cause but insists that all should have equal provision regardless of the reason for their personal poverty. The apostle Paul reminded us to “bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2) and yet three verses later he wrote, “For every man shall bear his own burden.” Five more verses down the narrative he said, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men.” These principles of consideration and balance saturate the Scriptures. Blanket protection is a violation of the individual’s obligation to plead his case. If Jesus, Peter, Paul, John or any of the Old Testament prophets ever indicated it was the responsibility of government to furnish health care to the population, it must be the most obscure text in the Word. The Bible is a volume of examples of people who exhibited accountability for their own lives and forged their primary relationship with God not government. Considering the direction Mr. Obama is steering the ship, it may be more seemly for him to quote Marx or Lenin and leave the Bible out of the mix for it does not share his philosophical bent. The government’s latest released statistics indicate that Americans are living longer than ever with an average life span of seventy-eight. Not bad for such a wretched health care system. To some, the alternative of federal oversight and control is for more frightful than dealing with the present inconsistencies. On May 21, 1941 the “unsinkable” German battleship, the Bismarck, was sighted in the North Atlantic. Immediately planes and ships from the Royal British navy sped to the scene. As the Bismarck headed toward the German-controlled French coast where it would be safe from attack, to the astonishment of all, the massive battleship suddenly swung around and re-entered the area where the British ships were massed in greatest strength. At the same time she began to steer an erratic zigzag course, which made it easier for the British to overtake her. This was the result of a torpedo that had damaged her rudder and without its control the “unsinkable” Bismarck was soon sunk. There is a torpedo lurking off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard searching for the rudder of a giant ship; alas, methinks it has “Health Care Plan” emblazoned on the side!
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