Healthcare, SCOTUS, & Playing Nice

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?