The
administration of healthcare is a nightmare of complexity in our nation. We all should be able to agree on that, at
least. It’s an issue that is easy to passionately hold forth upon when one
is alone with a computer screen, but when looking into the eyes of a human
being with a severe illness and dire circumstances, some of the starch tends to
run out of us. At least I hope it does.
Those
of us who have passionate convictions regarding the economic and governmental
principles that should govern decisions about healthcare should take care,
however, in our public responses to yesterday’s SCOTUS ruling. Whatever
decisions may be made regarding the future disposition of the issue of
universal coverage, there will most certainly be unintended consequences, so some
humility is in order from both sides.
What we post online is likely to be retweeted and reposted, shared and
re-shared, because everyone is examining responses to the ruling.
To my friends who are not believers, I say, “Be nice.
Venom does not further productive debate.” For my believing friends, let us all
start each discussion and debate with an admonition from Colossians 4:5-6, "Be wise in the way you act toward
outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always
full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (NIV) I am taking the verse somewhat out of
context, I realize; however, it’s useful to remember when our conversation is taking place in an e-fishbowl, that our every interaction represents something, and Someone, greater than ourselves. After all, the future of the kingdom does not depend on US domestic policy.
And
finally and purely personally, I’d like to just add that people who have never
had a moment’s self-doubt scare me most of all, regardless of their political
convictions. If we enact our ideal choice of legislation regarding this issue today, chances are that the
greatest long-term consequences for our nation will come home to roost a generation or two
after we are dead. So we’ll never really know if it was the best decision or
not, will we?
