Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
StumbleLETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Unholy alliance vs. health care reform
Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010 | 2:08 a.m.
Why are churches silent on health care reform legislation? Why aren’t preachers filling the airwaves demanding the government do something about the 40 million-plus American men, women and children who lack access to routine health care? Why are there no sermons pleading the case for the humane treatment of all those who have been and are being shut out of the system?
And where is the passion for the woman whose painful, crippling arthritis can be cured by a hip transplant that she can’t afford, or for the middle-aged, unemployed worker whose anxiety about losing medical coverage for his family has sent him into deep depression? Where is the outrage that the richest nation on the planet, a nation that boasts the best medical care ever created and assembled, fails to relieve the anguish and distress of its weakest citizens? Why do churches insist on the right to display the Ten Commandments everywhere while disregarding the moral imperative to “love thy neighbor as thyself”?
The answer is the sad consequence of a truly unholy alliance.
Because the Republican Party has been steadfastly pandering to religion’s hot-button issues of abortion, evolution and gay marriage, churches have decided, in a quid pro quo, to remain silent on the humanitarian issue of caring for the poor and the weak. They lack the courage to defy their allies and challenge the conservative party line for fear they will lose their support. They instinctively know that the backing they receive is based not on moral conviction, but on the voting potential they represent.
Having chosen to stand idle on the sidelines, turning a blind eye to so much suffering, how, pray tell, will these self-righteous guardians of morality ever explain that to their maker on Judgment Day? When asked, “Why didn’t you act to alleviate the pain of millions of my children, your fellow citizens?” perhaps they will choose Cain’s futile response: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Discussion: comments so far…
Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy. Additionally, we now display comments from trusted commenters by default. Those wishing to become a trusted commenter need to verify their identity or sign in with Facebook Connect to tie their Facebook account to their Las Vegas Sun account. For more on this change, read our story about how it works and why we did it.
Only trusted comments are displayed on this page. Untrusted comments have expired from this story.
No trusted comments have been posted.
Post a comment
Most Popular
- Viewed
- Discussed
- E-mailed
- UNLV can move forward without the burden of losing streak to San Diego State
- A wife’s wisdom shows birth control issue needn’t be divisive
- Surprise links, negotiated deals addressed by commissioners
- Motorcycle accident claims life of man in northeast valley
- Hope and change and … what’s missing?
- New York mayor has the right idea
- We don’t need a CEO in charge
- Paying our own way
- Country has ‘given’ citizens a lot
- Jerry Tarkanian: Mike Moser impresses yet again on a day to remember former Rebel greats
Blogs
The Kats Report
Color from scene at Thomas & Mack: We have a wire job! Rebels win, and Louie Armstrong sings!
South Point owner Michael Gaughan's take on 'Vegas Stripped': 'I'll give it an 8' (4 Comments)
Author relishes writing the life story of ‘larger-than-life’ Oscar Goodman (3 Comments)
Elsewhere
Landowner: All roads could lead to Uxbridge casino
Revel reveals smoke-free casino opening
Cirque du Soleil show in Sands China casino to close this month
Meet the woman behind Sheldon Adelson
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Hey, Stan, I was wondering, what facts do you have to back up your letter? Is it hear say or your own facts? Come on Stan give us some facts and quit trying to influence the readers on your letter, facts please!
Goldfarb would be whining about the separation of church and state if many of the churches came out against ObamaCare.
Liberal churches like All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena are probable doing all night vigils for healthcare reform. Stan, the fact is you probably haven't seen the inside of a church to even know what is going on.
Well the churches may not want to support a bill that is Bad for America. Is that clear enough?
Except for lying, cheating, stealing from our grand children, and robbing old people, Harry Reid did a good job of producing an incoherent inept PAYOLA bill for Fatcat Unions, Special interests, Insurance Companies, Hospitals, Pharmaceuticals, Trial lawyers, and Lobbyist.
I don't have a brother. If my pastor started rambling about me paying more taxes for someone else's health care, I would cut off him money at the collection plate and send him a long letter explaining exactly why. I have never heard of Jesus demanding his government provide anything for the populace of that day.
The only way to have healthcare be fair is for everyone to pay for their own.
Is Stanley R. Goldfarb a Christian church-goer?
Now you want God to pay for YOUR healthcare???? Buy it yourself you loser.
Stanley R. Goldfarb is a wailer to the LV SUN on a weekly basis.
Wailer Stan attends the Progressive Liberal Church over in Righteousville. They don't worship a God, just themselves. When the plate is passed they always take money out of the plate
instead of contributing to it.
Wailer Stan spends the other six days of the week screaming about the "seperation of church and state" for the ACLU.
Wailer Stan's letter is a very hateful and mean spirited letter. Too bad he did not write it on Sunday...
Stan is a demagogue, but one the Sun can rely on to provide a letter to the editor every other week.
Stan, if you want to talk about unholy alliances why not the Democrats and the Health Insurance Companies.
How about the Democrats and Big Tobacco?
How about the Democrats and Big Pharma?
Hey Stan: Your first paragraph gives you your answer' The church has enough poor people to worry about, It dos not want to encourage even more people not to be self-sufficient in life.
Government enforced charity to the indigent and irresponsible is neither a Constitutional right nor a Christian obligation. Charity starts at home and is a voluntarily accepted (Christian or otherwise) obligation to help the indigent and unfortunate -- not something that's meant to be a lifeling source of income for those too lazy, foolish, irresponsible, or corrupt to make an genuine effort to be self-sufficient. The truly unholy alliance is between the the self-serving bureacracies, politicians, and special interests that exploit the genuinely needy for their own benefit.
The goosecommander rants:
"Do they have plans to eliminate the physically and mentally disabled first, and then move on to the rest of us?"
If they do, there goosecommander, you would be the first to go...
Mr Goldfarb--I think you are traveling under the assumption that your Pastor/Deacon/Grand Poobah even has an opinion on Health Care. Some of those crazy religions even think they can heal themselves with prayer. Regardless of that, I don't think clergy should even get involved in politics. If they insist on stickin' their nose in let 'em start paying taxes on their offerings. Let them pay property taxes. Even if they do all that, who the hell cares what they think. Stanley, I don't even care what you think and I would appreciate it if you quit writing your opinions also. If you stayed out of church and started forming your own opinions I would have more respect for you. Clergyman have been hoodwinking the proletariat for thousands of years.
Forcing a bunch of freeloaders to buy insurance is neither govt. or charity. It's a way to get 1 trillion in medical bills of the backs of taxpayers.
I got a huge laugh from Mr. Goldfarb's comment that the USA is the richest nation on the planet. Perhaps he has not been following the government's massive deficit spending over the last decade, or maybe he missed the recent articles speculating if the USA will be bankrupt within seven years.
The question posed by his letter is a valid one, however. My wife and I also wonder why churches are silent on another issue, namely humane treatment of animals, factory farms, etc.
We assume that most churches do not want to tackle tough issues like lack of universal health care because those issues are so complicated, being so intertwined with concepts of proper amount of government control, self-sufficiency, and basic phiiosophy. In other words, there is no clear answer to preach.
Ghost,
You do realize that American progressives have the dark stain of trying to eliminate the mentally handicapped in America. Check out the Supreme Court case where Progressives involuntarily sterilized people who were deemed mentally deficient. You've really got to watch out for the history you dig up man.
Las Vegas Sun writers, editors, readers, watch this video about the Citizens United case
http://reason.tv/video/show/citizens-uni...
Mr Gibbons-your last post reminded me of the Kennedy family of Massachusets. There were three sons left after the family became well known. Their sexual exploits were almost public information with John having a revolving door of bimbos coming into the White House at all hours of the day and night. The other two were pretty well known too. They had one sister whos name I don't remember, but she was mildly retarded and as she sexually matured she began to act somewhat like her brothers. what did Papa Joe Kennedy do? He had her lobatomized and turned into a zombie. The Kennedy's were such a fine up standing progressive family.
By jlb101: "I don't have a brother. If my pastor started rambling about me paying more taxes for someone else's health care, I would cut off him money at the collection plate and send him a long letter explaining exactly why. I have never heard of Jesus demanding his government provide anything for the populace of that day. The only way to have healthcare be fair is for everyone to pay for their own."
So, Jib, in his valiant effort to counter the letter, provides proof of its thesis.
Based on their non-profit status that can be revoked by the Feds, churches (except for black churches) cannot enter into the world of politics. It's amazing that a white preacher cannot preach agaimst liberalism, but that the race baiting twins, the Reverends Sharpton and Jackson, get a pass for their sojourns into politics.
Compassionate Conservatives will soon reveal a bold initiative that will provide Medical Coverage for all Americans!
Americans will select a preacher, rabbi, minister, etc of HIS OWN FREE CHOICE, to pray for his good health each year. If, despite these prayers, he should fall ill, he would once again ask his religious leader to intercede with God on his behalf. To make absolutely certain his prayers are heard, he will pay $100 for each prayer. Any citizen who cannot afford the $100, would not have to pay a dime! The American Government will pay the $100. Even if 40 million Americans could not afford the fee, and even if each needed medical help once a month, the cost to the government would amount to only $50 billion per year, a drop in the bucket compared the current cost of Medicaid (which of course would no longer be needed).
ONLY poor and middle class Americans would be eligible. Those earning more than $125,000/yr must utilize secular programs such as HMOs and PPOs, relying only on so-called "scientific", rather than spiritual ministrations, God help them.
This revolutionary initiative is a step in the direction that many Americans have already taken. We thank God for our good health. Sneeze, and everyone nearby asks God to bless you. Fall ill and friends and relatives offer prayers for recovery. Faith healers are ministering to millions of Americans each year.
Republicans are certain their program will receive bipartisan support, since Democrats will vote for it fearing the negative publicity that would surely result from rejecting a program related in any way to God.
Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson, Sun Myung Moon, and Billy Graham have all blessed the program. Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Baker each said, "If the people need me, I will be there for them."
They say salvation and redemption is a gift. Must not be worth much if anybody can get it.
Like I said StanG I have never herar of Jesus asking the government to provide anything for anyone. I think Jesus had the same distrust and held his government in the same contempt that I do.
The 10 Commandments predate Jesus by 3,000 years.
But since you bring up Jesus:
Matthew 19:16-26
16 And behold, one came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?"
17 And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."
18 He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said,"You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness.
19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
20 The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?"
21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
What Jesus requested of the young man was something the young man complied with voluntarily and not against his will. Today if you do not make your "contributions" the government goons with guns will be out to take it by force and if they deem it necessary, kill you. That is morally correct?
I still don't see any government involvement with what Jesus told the young man.
Ha! Ha! Ha! I see jlb101 couldn't resist taking a swipe at the Kennedy clan. Not sure what that has to do with government run health care, but I'm confident jlb101 can some how connect the two in his twisted little mind....
Gibby is again doing what he always does.....He's attempting to convince people that he actually knows and understands history.....
What's next? Gibby trying to impress us with his knowledge of economics?
Hmmmmmm.....is it safe to say that all the right-wingers on this board who are ranting against health care reform will refuse to accept the benefits of Medicare once they reach the ripe old age of 65?
After all, they all seem to be totally against such government run nonsense....
On the other hand, don't hold your breath waiting for them to reply.......Ha! Ha! Ha!
The problem most people I know regardless of party affiliation and the healthcare plan is that it has nothing to do with helping the poor, rather helping those in power to more control over us.
I have no issue with universal healthcare but come on read the bills, most of what's in them has nothing to do with healthcare.
A healthcare bill I could believe in would include no preexisting condition cancelations, all insurance should be sold everywhere and travel with you, regardless of jobs or where you live. Healthcare should have nothing to do with my employer, nor should they have access to my health history as they do right now. The government should not decide what I should or should not get in medical treatment, that should be between me and my doctors. The Government could provide basic healthcare, the same one all of Congress gets, what ever is good for us should be good for them. It should be a basic plan not comprehensive, there is no right to free and limitless healthcare at the expense of others. Government cannot use the guise of healthcare to say what I can do, drive, eat, where I live, or how I live, all of which is in the current bills.
healthcare would be and could be much cheaper if we required insurance and allowed them to sell to individuals and not through employers. We don't by auto insurance through employers or pools and yet we can get it at reasonable rates. The less government has to do with it including all the restriction they already put on it raise costs. make hospitals, doctors, and insurers list all prices up front and compete against each other to drive down costs. The healthcare bills being considered would remove all access to costs from us and ensure everyone is beholden to government. Progressives think this is great until they need the care, thats why the Prime minster of Canada is coming here for his heart surgery, and why english progressives go to other countries of theirs. The system does not work well anywhere. Some nations that have universal care not run by the government works just fine.
And lets not turn a blind eye to the fact that anyone can walk into any Emergency Room and get free care, it's the law.
All Americans need health care.
republicans don't care.
OMG - one would have to assume that most of these replies are from churchgoers. These replies speak volumes to the truths of Mr. Goldfarbs letter. Good on Mr. Goldfarb for pricking so many consciences.
All Americans have health care.
All Americans need health insurance.
But, some Americans do not want to pay for it...
larry...all Americans have health care. Your one of the 150 million Americans that get diagnosed with cancer (God forbid). You don't have insurance or $200,000.00 for treatment. Where do you go??????????
emergency rooms don't have the machines or medicines for cancer care. Same for no cost clinics. You can't get medicare unless you are 65 and need to be dirt poor for medicaid.
zippert1 - Excellent post and so true. So many people think that we all have free med care. Try to find a free oncologist to give you the treatment that can't be had in an emergency room. Good luck!
zippert... Why don't I have health insurance?
If it gets so bad that I am broke, I go on medicaid.
If I don't want to pay for health insurance and don't want to spend my own money for treatment, I will cash in on my life insurance for a pine box.
What? I don't have any life insurance also.
You know what they say: "God helps those who helps themselves."
We need care that is affordable and available. Millions ARE going broke and ending up on some type of taxpayer sponsored program. These programs pay half of all med bills currently.
Much better to have a system that doesn't rely on poverty to get benefits. I would rather buy cars, clothes, guns, ammo big screen high def televisions than lose all my money because of accident or illness and end up on welfare.
A friend of my sons went to New York over Xmas and took a fall ice skating and broke her leg in 2 places...needed minor surgery...she just got the bills $52,000.00 for 3 days in the hospital. The girl is a waitress and is now flat arse broke and can't come close to paying the bills.
There is no real benefit to a system like this. No one will get paid and the girl ends up bankrupt.
Let me see... "A friend of my sons went to New York over Xmas and took a fall ice skating and broke her leg..."
I suppose the friend of your sons could afford to go to New York on vacation and ice skate, but could not afford to by health insurance?
Appears that Obama should give your sons friend a lecture on where and how to spend his money...
Exactly,
22 year old kids will never buy insurance unless they are forced to. Doctors and hospitals are paying the price for their foolishness. 30 years ago I was spending every dime I had on traveling, cars and guns. I didn't have insurance until I was nearly 30. The thought of getting sick or injured didn't even occur to me.
The only reason my 22 year old son has it is because he has severe asthma and understands how much everything costs.
The girl that was injured didn't have a clue as to the going rate for a busted leg.