Out of Egypt:

letter to MA congressmen about health care

Despite the current bill's flaws (of which there are many), I believe it is our best chance for reform now. If we wait another 10-14 years, it will be too late.

Thus, here is the letter which I sent last night to Rep. Lynch, Rep. Capuano, Sen. Brown, Sen. Kerry, et al., through Sojourners' website:

We still need health-care reform. Like many Massachusetts residents, I have benefited from the MassHealth system, but if I lived in another state, I would never have been able to afford my $25,000 hospital bill from 2008.

I know there are flaws in what has happened in Massachusetts, but something is better than nothing, which is precisely what many Americans have.

As a Christian, I believe that all people are created in the image of God and have an inherent right to life. Without health-care reform, thousands will die unnecessarily. Furthermore, the current system is bankrupting both our government and our country. Even a flawed bill will help to contain costs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of Medicare and Medicaid.

Health care is not an issue to be made into a political soundbite. Let's work together to make the U.S. system something of which we can all be proud.

I voted for Scott Brown in the recent MA election, but only because Coakley was such a poor candidate, and showed gross insensitivity to Catholics and other people of faith.

Sen. Brown, if you receive this message, please remember that you voted for the MA health care bill when you were in the State House here. Don't tread the party line simply because that is the easy thing to do.

Likewise, Rep. Lynch, remember the needs of your constituents - the working-class citizens of South Boston who elected you. They know this bill will help them. It may not do as much to contain costs as you would like, but this is your only chance to improve matters.

One thing that I don't quite understand is how so people truly believe it is "our only chance". A bill this grievous and wrong should be voted down. As your friend, I have a cursory knowledge of your circumstances. Yet, you are the exception to the rule of the majority of Americans. You are hardworking. You aren't wanting the government to coddle you from cradle to the grave.

I'm very persuaded by the argument that people aren't entitled for someone else to pay for their healthcare. Moreover, a bill like this should not be thought of when we already sinking in debt. More taxes would be created. On principle, I have to put up a fight as it taking more money away from many families who would love to be more generous to those in need.

Also, I'm not sure about the "inherent right to life". Or at least your line of reasoning for supporting a bill that includes government subsidized abortions.

Personally, I wish we didn't need to have insurance in the first place. Health insurance prices are out of control. I'll give you that.

In 3 months of marriage, it makes my skin crawl that we have paid roughly $1,000 for insurance and I have gone to the doctor once. The bill was $155. There is no reward or discount for good behavior.

However, introducing the concept of "free healthcare" isn't going to do any good. Insurance prices will rise with the out of control health care prices. That's more money out of our pocket. On top of that, there will be a tax increase to pay for all of this. We are already burdened with enough tax increases.

I vote for less taxes so my husband and I can be more generous. We can put more away in savings. If a friend is hospitalized, we can help pay for it. With this bill we have no control over how our money is spent. We have to trust people who aren't trustworthy.

I just don't see how this "last ditch effort" is worth supporting in the least.

Posted by: Carrie at March 21, 2010 1:32 PM

I wish we didn't have to have health insurance either. In an ideal world, people wouldn't get sick. In a slightly less ideal world, Christians would all share medical expenses and have money left over to give to those in need.

But we don't live in either of those worlds. We live in a very fallen world. And in this world health insurance is an economic necessity for most people.

There are many Americans who are hardworking, like me, who don't have adequate health care. The bill that just passed won't solve all their problems, but I believe it is a step in the right direction, and one that we can build on now that it has passed. Furthermore, I am pleased to hear that the President has signed an Executive Order in an effort to preserve the Hyde Amendment and keep the bill funding-neutral with regard to abortion. Regardless of the reasons he signed that order, I think it is a good thing.

I don't think that this bill will necessarily require a tax increase. The GAO said it was at least deficit-neutral, if not actually causing a deficit reduction because it would help contain health care costs for Medicare and Medicaid. In any case, I believe in a progressive income tax, where the bulk of the tax burden will fall on those who can afford to shoulder it.

History has shown that "trickle-down" economics does not work. Neither do "Great Society"-like programs of government handouts. But this bill does not actually give us a single payer nationalized medicine system. So I am not concerned on that front.
As the risk pool for health insurance is broadened, costs can actually go down. That is due to the statistical "law of large numbers," where the healthy subsidize the sick. That's why I don't necessarily support nationalization of health care, but I support expanding coverage, for economic as well as humanitarian reasons.

Posted by: Evan Donovan at March 22, 2010 8:35 AM