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PDF versionI was appalled
by Maureen Fiedler on Sep. 14, 2011
This past Monday night, I watched the Republican debate sponsored by the Tea Party. With any of these Republican debates, I feel like I'm in another reality … one that is out of touch with ordinary Americans who need jobs or who suffer in poverty. But I listen because I want to be an informed citizen.
This week, however, I was truly appalled by responses to one question from the CNN host Wolf Blitzer. He asked Ron Paul, who is a physician, about the hypothetical case of a 30-year-old male who decided that he didn't want to buy health insurance, but suddenly goes into a coma and needs intensive care. Paul said this case should not be the government's responsibility. "That's what freedom is about, taking your own risks," Paul said, but he was drowned out by audience applause as he added, "this whole idea that you have to prepare to take care of everybody …" This was greeted by loud audience applause.
Then Blitzer asked, "Are you saying that society should just let him die?" Before Paul could answer, the audience started shouting "yeah" -- and that was followed by laughter.
Paul disagreed with the audience on that, but noted that churches often took care of medical costs before the advent of Medicaid, and that drew wide audience applause.
If you want to hear the actual exchange, here's the link.
I sat there dumbfounded… some of those Tea Partiers in the audience actually cheered the idea that a young man should die in that circumstance! Yes, that young man was irresponsible in not having health insurance, assuming he had the money. But many people can't afford it, and that's one of the major reasons for health care reform (which Republicans decry as "Obamacare"). And if people can afford insurance, this case illustrates one reason for "mandates" -- requiring people to buy insurance so the emergency room (which is required by law to treat the sick who come) doesn't pick up the cost.
The whole scene at the debate was totally devoid of any sense of societal responsibility, social justice or the common good.
And Paul -- who at least did not advocate letting the young man die -- was totally unrealistic about health care in churches! Are you kidding? Charity from houses of worship may be a nice idea, but it cannot replace the resources of the government.
Yesterday, I interviewed a scholar about religion and elections … who is not himself a Catholic. And we shared our mutual horror at set of responses. "I really miss hearing a strong Catholic social justice message," he said. "The bishops used to be strong on that. Where are they?"
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Let me see if I understand
Let me see if I understand you: you think other people are out of touch with reality? Your group is dying out all over and you think someone else is out of touch?
Just an answer to the last
Just an answer to the last question: Many Catholic priests define the Social Doctrine as "the Church's best well kept secret."
from Dennis's Morning
from Dennis's Morning Briefing today:
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/13/3907329/catholic-health-association-50....
the most important article we can read on this topic
50 million of us are without health insurance and more coming as jobs close and insurance benefits at work get cancelled in our Republicanized non-union shops
"Brother, you asked for
"Brother, you asked for it!"
As I watched, I admit I felt sympathy with those who cheered. I believe they were looking, hoping, praying for someone to have the moral courage to stand up and say, no, you don't have to carry this improvident man. You can if you want to. Your reward will be great in Heaven if you do. But no one will force you to. They were looking for someone to deliver them from the idea that their brother's need is a blank check that may be drawn upon their time, their property, their lives, at any time he chooses to cash it.
When you turn a moral duty to care for others into a legal right that may be demanded and compelled, virtue into a burden, do not be surprised when your brother's feelings of charity and love turn into resentment and hate. It is possible to be a cheerful giver. But I have never heard of a cheerful debtor.
We each are debtors to Jesus;
We each are debtors to Jesus; many are cheerful debtors.
Did not the Apostles themselves live under the law: "From each according to their gifts; to each by their needs?"
But you say a person dying without medical assistance, must die, without medical assistance, because for you material profits come first?
Please see our great and Roman Catholic ex-seminarian Michael Moore's movie Sicko, and wonder why most other nations, not profit based, not bleeding the suffering for profit, have it so much better, without question, a parallel universe of compassion, not profit.
And read his Here Comes Trouble.
You forgot to mention: Ron
You forgot to mention: Ron Paul also said that before the days of medicare (when he worked in a catholic hospital) he never turned a patient away. By the way - his son Rand Paul (also a doctor) also performs medical work for free. So - why do you blame Ron Paul - to me (as a catholic from france) he seems to be a very good christian.
“We have, as a people, lost our confidence and our understanding of what true liberty is all about and where it comes from. It doesn’t come from the government. Our liberties come from our Creator.” Ron Paul
Maybe you should read more about Ron Paul to understand the philosophy behind him!
Thanks for input from France.
Thanks for input from France. We in the US constantly hear the claim that we have the greatest medical system in the world.
On the other hand, there have been news stories about the actual level of care available to all French citizens is much greater that what is available to the poor here. And the percentage of the national wealth spent on health care is also lower in France. Not greater.
I don't doubt the sincerity of either Ron or Rand Paul, or their personal charity. The problem really lies in the notions of what the state is. Michael Winters is getting around to the topic in today's column.
I think the differences go to the foundations of the two democratic states. The implication that citizens are my brothers supports a fairly wide distribution of health care, as being a part of the common good. It's not the 'equality' in the cry that establishes point, it's the fraternity.
In a country where common good is seen as only the cumulative individual good -- that government essentially is a contract and citizenship is no more than that, it becomes possible for many to see their citizenship duties discharged when they support only minimal taxes. The notion of contract only, led to one civil war, we seem to be on the road to another. Class warfare has been the silent policy of some for several decades. In both major political parties.
Instinctively, many Americans know that the state has to be something more that a collection of contracts. If that were so, those in uniform would have no claim on more than their pay. But their service and sacrifice is at least widely noted and appreciated, thank God. It's the relationships to the rest of the citizenry that need consideration.
Maureen, there is still the
Maureen, there is still the reality of personal responsibility it actually goes with the term "freedom". If you mandate forced participation in healthcare then you also better mandate forced charity as well. This implies a secular government to arbitrate this activity in a politically correct fashion which really boils down to a "communistic" society where the state acts as nanny and dictator. Catholic Social Justice has nothing to do with such a vision since it was born in the 19th century American labor movement which at the time needed to develop a viable union mechanism to fight for fair wages from a protestant dominated industrial structure. But even in its most aggressive time period Catholic Social teaching championed personal responsibility and independence
It has only been very recently that virulent socialism has infected the debate the height possibly being reached today with the Obama administration wanting to tax charities (including soup kitchens) in order to supplant such activities with new government programs. true Catholic Social Justice proponents should be mortified as such a course could not only limit their activities but bring all charities under further government control.
How can any Catholic be a
How can any Catholic be a Republican? What happened to the Chapter on Matthew that NO ONE EVER talks about? How can you proclaim to be a "Christian" and work overtime to build up your Kingdom here on Earth which goes against the Bible Teachings. GREED, HATRED and SELFISHNESS appear to be the hallmarks of the Tea Party and the GOP. The Goats vs the Lamb who the Bible says will be seperated.
I am not happy with many of
I am not happy with many of the Republican policies, but as a Catholic, I cannot vote for a party that sanctions the killing of the unborn. All social issues flow from life. If the Democratic party became pro life, they would have no problem getting their candidates elected.
Its unfortunate that the
Its unfortunate that the Republicans view some of these woman who have chosen to keep their baby, free riders, and drains on the system as they cut funding to help that baby. How many must suffer while Tycoons continue to get richer and richer, and corporations offer $8 an hour jobs no benefits, so now we have the working poor with no health insurance. In the riches country in the World.
THe DEmocratic party IS
THe DEmocratic party IS pro-life
ask Roman CAtholic Joe Biden
Well, let's take another
Well, let's take another example that is in the same vein. Let's say YOU turn 60 and the company you've worked for for 40 years lays you off because for the cost of your salary they can hire three new workers. You can no longer pay for private insurance you've been buying because the company has no insurance benefits. You refinanced your home to get your four kids through college so you still have a big mortgage. For more than 18 months you've been looking for a job and still can't get one. You hit 62 and have a heart attack. The cost for your angioplasty and stents wipes out your entire life savings. You've done everything you could to plan for the future, but now you are left with nothing. Then breast cancer strikes your 55 year old wife. The cancer could be treated at this stage, but you don't have the money to pay for it. You've asked for help from family, friends, churches, charities... but no one has that kind of money to give you because the economy is so poor. Now you hear Ron Paul say, "That's what freedom is all about... taking your own risks." Do you still feel like cheering?
And to think that Ron Paul's
And to think that Ron Paul's campaign manager, who helped him raise millions of dollars in the 2008 election, had no health care coverage. And died in the hospital, leaving a $400,000 debet behind him. Jim ewens3
Thanks for you comments
Thanks for you comments Sister Maureen about your reaction to the republican debate. I wonder if the conservative catholic bishops will speak out against the kind of comments made by the debaters and the reaction of the conservative audience. I pray that the tea party, conservative republicans and conservative catholic republican bishops will not be successful in overturning the Health Care Bill that was passed last year.
I was stunned by that
I was stunned by that exchange in the 2nd debate, and equally stunned when the audience cheered the fact that as Governor of Texas Rick Perry had 214 or 234 poeple executed (1st debate). Where is "Christ" in these Christians, "You will know who they are by their love for one another...."
From the far right I've seen nothing but hate and contempt for anyone who is not white, heterosexual, financial sound and Christian.
I pray that these people find God's love and know that ALL human beings are their brothers and sisters and children of God.
For now, we as humans should hang our head in shame and beg God's forgiveness for letting our society become a mob.
Brother Luke
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