And isn't it ironic that all this “common good” is accomplished at the point of a gun?

And isn't it ironic that all this “common good” is accomplished at the point of a gun?

Fighting for justice? I'm not sure what that means anymore really. The powers are mighty.
As I said, the best one can do is to try to be a beacon of light in an otherwise dark world (as corny as that sounds).

I agree with your comments regarding both government and the banking system. That for all things financials. In terms of health care, it's the insurance companies that one has to fight.
They have a lot of power and influence in Washington, and I'm convinced that this government mandate requiring everyone to buy insurance is being pushed by that industry.

As far as my field, I'm in church administration.
I'm also a church musician and yoga instructor.

But, if you chose to call that entitlement or envy, please feel free to continue to do so, I have things to do and precious little time any more to justify myself to anyone.

Quite frankly, you have educated me though. I've learned that it's really silly to fight for this kind of thing, because people with far less morals and much more power than I control the wealth of this country.

I can't judge your heart. Only God can do that.

I'm not sure if your education comment was a backhanded compliment, or not. It also wasn't clear about who has “far less morals” than you do. But as for power and control, you're exactly right. But don't look to government to save you, it's the source of your problems. The Federal Reserve System is inflating the money supply and making the buying power of your earnings less, and it hurts you the most because only the wealthy and powerful get that infusion of money first. Once it “trickles down” to you (and it will), the buying power of that money has already gone down, so it's worth less (or worthless). Inflation hurts people like you most.

I wouldn't stop fighting for justice. But I take up my fight against the central banking system, and any tendencies by politicians to centralize power into the hands of a few people who believe themselves wise enough to make decisions for the rest of us. Our society didn't used to be this way.

Out of curiosity, what field are you in?

I neither expect nor believe in entitlements. I work hard, and I'd happily continue to work to pay for my medical car and/or insurance, but despite my best efforts, I can't. That's not envy or entitlement, it's pure frustration.

I went to college being told that being educated was a ticket to some measure of success. I've discovered that that not's necessarily true.

I don't want entitlements, never have, never will. I work for EVERYTHING I've ever had, and damn hard to. I have worked 60 hours a week to get by, while others take a less honest root and barely work at all. I don't want entitlements, I want some fairness.

But, if you chose to call that entitlement or envy, please feel free to continue to do so, I have things to do and precious little time any more to justify myself to anyone.

Quite frankly, you have educated me though. I've learned that it's really silly to fight for this kind of thing, because people with far less morals and much more power than I control the wealth of this country.

My task really is to do the best I can, and try to be a happy, whole person. That's my contribution to an insane world.

But please don't confuse access and affordability with freedom. You do have the freedom, you just may not have the means. Those are not the same thing. I have the freedom to become an actor, I simply don't have the talent, looks, or access. But that does not mean I'm not free to try. I'm not sure what line of work you're in, but perhaps there are barriers to entry for you to get ahead or work up the next step in the ladder. If there are barriers to entry, what are those barriers? Where did they come from?

You say you do not believe in entitlements, yet everything you're saying is complaining that you don't have access to something other people have access to. That's plain envy. You believe that you have a right to not fear being destitute, but do you realize that this is a problem of relative luxury? You live in an affluent society, so you can envy your neighbor because of it. Maybe someday you can travel to Cambodia, and tell the homeless and beggars along the street about your plight in life, and they will likely not care too much about your problems. Does that mean you don't have legitimate problems, or that God doesn't care about your plight? Not at all! But I oftentimes find myself complaining about this or that thing not being just right (like my cell phone dropping calls), and I realize that it's a problem that others would love to have. The very notion of “retirement” is a modern luxury, and has no scriptural basis. It is an modern Western creation.

I don't think I have “pat answers.” But if you start blaming somebody else for your lack of freedom, you won't rise above the challenges that you face.

There are also other government programs that can be cut. I wouldn't mind cutting out completely the entire Education Department. The schools should be run by the states or by local districts and funded accordingly.

As for health care plans, I don't completely like either the proposed Repub plan (which I've noticed the Repubs haven't spent a lot of time pushing, so I don't think they are united on it) or the Dem plan. I am opposed to doing nothing. I am also opposed to any plan that involves a single-payer system or which involves raising taxes on the middle class.

From the Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124277551107536...

“The nexus of their plan is redirecting the $300 billion annual tax subsidy for employment-based health insurance to individuals in the form of refundable, advanceable tax credits. Families would get $5,700 a year and individuals $2,300 to buy insurance and invest in Health Savings Accounts.”

Here is that “redirecting” the tax subsidy for employment-based health insurance. In other words, abolish this subsidy and start taxing the job-related health benefits as income. Of course the employer could suck up the extra cost, but it's highly doubtful that they would do so. Instead, the workers get stuck with a tax increase.

Okay, families get $5700 a year and individuals get $2300 as tax deductions. Most workers (including myself) pay a lot more than that each year for health insurance benefits, deductibles, co–pays, etc. So again, working people end up getting stuck with an increase in taxes and a decrease in take-home pay.

As for the Dems plan to require everyone to get insurance. I distinctly heard Obama tell the reporters at the press conference that he was opposed to that idea. And he has re-iterated his opposition with sticking workers with a tax increase by removing the deduction for employer-based insurance plans (which some of the Dems, along with some Repubs have been pushing).

I agree that the connection of health insurance and jobs is something that needs to be explored. However, raising taxes or eliminating tax benefits is not the way to deal with this.

And, I do work. I have worked as many as 60 hours a week, but sadly the wages I was paid were relatively low. I'm essentially a wage slave. I have enough money to live, but no money for insurance, no money for a 401k. Nothing.

I do strive to better myself, and certainly being financially stable is an element of that. I do agree with the idea that work as much as you can and be frugal. I do both of those, and still I struggle.

Giving pat answers to such complex questions is a bit patronizing, although I'm sure you don't mean to be.

Finally, I don't believe in entitlements either, and I agree there are plenty folks who think they deserve this or that. But, medical care is too expensive and the right is that we live in a free country, we shouldn't have to fear that we'll be made destitute by affliction.

Health care reform is a complex issue, to be sure, but not as complex as Congress is making it.

http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseA...

I don't know whether it's “THE” Republicans plan but it's certainly “A” Republican plan. Check it out. The problem with Rep. Paul's plan is that income tax deductions won't help people afford insurance who don't pay income taxes (most of the poor). Tax credits would help, but deductions are basically useless.

(Also, sorry I never got back to you on the Episcopal Church thread but my Disqus isn't working that well. I didn't mean to leave you hanging there!)

And sticking workers who have employer-based health care with a hefty tax increase? This is what McCain wanted and one reason why I voted against him. The last thing we need is a tax increase that hits the middle-class such as what this one would do.

And if that is the scenario, more individuals are looking for and competing for affordable insurance… which means costs will go down. Gee, it's like basic economics actually works!

I am fine removing the tax benefit for employers, but that does not relieve the company of my total pay package. So the burden of compensation will remain the same for the business.

If I write the check for my health insurance it must come from somewhere, so my take home pay would increase.

Wow, is Sojo saying that workers are being over compensated?

Unfortunately, I don't agree that health services should be (or are) a “right,” because we do not have the right to the free use of someone else’s labor. If you object that you are willing to compensate the health industry for its labor, where does this compensation come from? From the labor of others. And that, you can be assured, is not yours to give away.

You are free, Kevin. You are free to work as hard as you possibly can, for yourself, and for your family. You are free to make decisions about what you buy, where you spend your money, and how much you save. It's not easy, it's not simple, and it is certainly not a quick solution. You are free to be creative and innovative. You are free to provide services for people that others cannot provide, or do it at a better price and therefore serve others better. But the fact that you (and others) do not have access to something that others do does not mean you have the right to their money, wealth, or access.

I will however, mourn with you the fact that health care is not affordable to you. It is not affordable for a variety of reasons, some of which is the insurance companies, some of which is the government, and some of which is our thinking that we are entitled to things to which we are not truly entitled. There are many problems to our health care system. There are many possible reforms. The ones that make you more free to choose your health insurance and negotiate privately with insurance agencies and doctors is going to be the best solution. What won't work is a government plan or legislation “guaranteeing” somebody else's labor to you and to others. That is not freedom, that is domination.

Amen, Valerie! People just don't realize, in the heat of dashing off to war (usually sending someone else, our young soldiers) the budget-breaking expense of these wars. Plus the situation of solders returning maimed and wounded with PTSD and other physical and psychological problems.

I personally support Ron Paul's plan of having 100% tax deductions for all health care expenses. And those who treat people who are disabled or unemployed (and therefore lack sufficient income to be taxed) would get 100% tax deductions for their service. Of course this will never happen because then the government would have to reduce spending. And would have to stop spending the trillions it takes to send soldiers off to foreign countries (which Rep. Paul firmly opposes) in order for the U.S. to put itself up as the Morality Thought Police of the World.

However, I would support President Obama's plan to doing nothing. Until the Repubs actually come up with a concrete alternative to what we have now, then I'm going to have to side with the President on this one.