Health Care Reform, Discipleship, and the Good Samaritan
Dear Friends,
I hope you are reading this upon returning from a fantastic and meaningful 4th of July holiday.
In North Dakota, we truly know how to celebrate the creation of the wonder that is our stable government, the genius of the political processes we have inherited from our Founders, and our tremendously positive contribution to bettering the quality of life not only for our own citizens but for people around the world. Challenges abound in today's world and our track record is not without flaws -- but ultimately, we have so much to celebrate.
The 4th is a time when we can recognize and appreciate the possibilities that lie ahead. We value all that our country has accomplished in contributing to the collective good. We salute our soldiers, our wounded warriors returned from the battle, and the fallen who have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our American ideals.
In keeping with North Dakota's classic traditions, I had a wonderful time on the 4th riding floats built by our Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing (KMM) team. It was absolutely inspiring to see the level of commitment to community that our team brought to this task, and the pride they had in showing their friends and family in the community the aircraft for which they make assemblies. We had a great time greeting North Dakotans, tossing candy, bouncy balls, and model airplanes for kids along the way. Granted, it is all in fun, but this North Dakota culture of commitment to community provides a strong foundation upon which to address the serious challenges that lie ahead.
I hope that you too share in a renewed sense of commitment to participating in this great process to find solutions to the many problems we still face. As I mentioned in my last note to you, I am planning to send along brief outlines on how we can address various issues. Along with this note, I have submitted some of my thoughts on health care. Our own Senator Conrad has led the way with an outline that may well serve as a blueprint for health care reform, but as we all know, this is a huge challenge with many disparate points of view vying for the spotlight. Should you have a chance over coffee, I would value your thoughts. I am truly grateful to be able to keep in touch.
On this Independence Day weekend, I urge you to be mindful of what an enormous gift it is to simply to be an American. God bless our great Nation on her 233rd birthday, and God bless our brave servicemen and women.
Best Regards,
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Health Care Reform, Discipleship, and the Good Samaritan Of the many policy reforms required for our country to make manifest the "change" we have so passionately sought, health care is among the most critical and most ethically imperative for us to address. Policymakers must always adhere to an ethos - that is, a moral code. Quality of life should remain central to this ethos. It is critical that we strive to enhance quality of life for everyone, not just a select few. The reality is that our shrinking middle class is the hardest hit by this health care crisis. In recent decades, some policy makers and regulators seem to have lost sight of that mutually agreed-upon ethos that binds our civil society together. The story of the Good Samaritan can help inform our basic ethical view of health care. When it comes to the question of whether we should strive for an affordable public option providing healthcare to all Americans -the Good Samaritan's story found in Luke's gospel tells us "Yes, we must." In the story, a man had been robbed, severely beaten, and left in the street. Upon seeing the victim, two of the most prominent members of society, passed by without offering any aid. But a Samaritan, a member of group much looked down upon in that particular region, stopped to help the man, paid for his recovery, and provided for his stay at a local inn. In so many ways, this story is representative of our current state of affairs in the U.S. We have prominent policymakers, industry leaders and political pundits walking right past Americans in need, and ignoring their ethical obligation to offer help. For this to continue, in a country so many have served to make great, is simply shameful. And beyond that, it is in our best interests for our future as a country. Rising health care costs are contributing to squeezing out the broad middle class of this country -- the middle class that made this country great. There is both a moral calling and a fiscal necessity to provide real healthcare access to all Americans, and this need must be a central focus in the agenda for our society. We are paying more every year but have less to show for it. Health care costs today account for almost a third of our nation's total budget, and yet, compared to the rest of the developed world, we have infant mortality rates among the highest and life expectancies among the lowest. Left unchecked, health-care costs will account for $1.4 trillion in our economy by 2020. I am not advocating a single-payer system such as those of Canada or France. What we need is a uniquely American solution to increase competition. After all, competition, the free market and the entrepreneurial spirit are among the values that make this country the envy of the civilized world. A system based upon these values could provide a sustainable, affordable way to provide real healthcare coverage to all Americans without putting additional strain on an already overburdened Treasury. We can take some valuable lessons from our faith community. Discipline is critical not only for the advancement of the individual, but also for the advancement of society as a whole. Our society needs to get back to the fundamental understanding that what is good for our neighbors is good for us, and this requires another kind of discipline: discipleship. Like the Good Samaritan, we must all be disciples on behalf of those in need. Nothing could be more American. |
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