A Christian Creed on Health-Care Reform

I signed it.

A Christian Creed on Health-Care Reform

As one of God's children, I believe that protecting the health of each human being is a profoundly important personal and communal responsibility for people of faith.

I believe God created each person in the divine image to be spiritually and physically healthy. I feel the pain of sickness and disease in our broken world (Genesis 1:27, Romans 8:22).

I believe life and healing are core tenets of the Christian life. Christ's ministry included physical healing, and we are called to participate in God's new creation as instruments of healing and redemption (Matthew 4:23, Luke 9:1-6; Mark 7:32-35, Acts 10:38). Our nation should strive to ensure all people have access to life-giving treatments and care.

I believe, as taught by the Hebrew prophets and Jesus, that the measure of a society is seen in how it treats the most vulnerable. The current discussion about health-care reform is important for the United States to move toward a more just system of providing care to all people (Isaiah 1:16-17, Jeremiah 7:5-7, Matthew 25:31-45).

I believe that all people have a moral obligation to tell the truth. To serve the common good of our entire nation, all parties debating reform should tell the truth and refrain from distorting facts or using fear-based messaging (Leviticus 19:11; Ephesians 4:14-15, 25; Proverbs 6:16-19).

I believe that Christians should seek to bring health and well-being (shalom) to the society into which God has placed us, for a healthy society benefits all members (Jeremiah 29:7).

I believe in a time when all will live long and healthy lives, from infancy to old age (Isaiah 65:20), and "mourning and crying and pain will be no more" (Revelation 21:4). My heart breaks for my brothers and sisters who watch their loved ones suffer, or who suffer themselves, because they cannot afford a trip to the doctor. I stand with them in their suffering.

I believe health-care reform must rest on a foundation of values that affirm each and every life as a sacred gift from the Creator (Genesis 2:7).

Amen.
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H/t to Grandmere Mimi

How dumb is this guy?

This is New York State Assemblyman David Gantt (D)who represents a district near Rochester. Among his responsibilities is being chair of the Assembly Committee on Transportation. And that's what brings him to our attention.

There is currently a piece of legislation in Albany that would make texting while driving illegal. The goal of the bill is to save the lives of teens, who are the most likely age group to try this very stupid activity. That bill is stuck in process and hasn't been considered by the Assembly yet. While Assemblyman Gantt insists that he is NOT blocking consideration of the bill pretty much everyone else in Albany says he is. It has already passed the Senate and has enormous support in the Assembly. If you follow big time politics you know that committee chairs can play games if they so choose. There is every indication that Mr. Gantt is doing just that.

Now I'm not questioning his smarts because he chooses to block the bill. He has that right. Blocking it against the overwhelming support of your own party? That's dumb. Refusing to meet with the mom of a teen who died in accident caused by his texting who is advocating for the bill? Really dumb.

But that's not what put me over the edge about the Assemblyman. You see he has a pet piece of legislation of his own that he'd like to see passed. One that is much more sweeping than this bill. It's a "distractions while driving" bill that would do things like make it illegal to eat while driving. Yeah, I know it's not a great practice but I do it sometimes. It wouldn't be the end of the world if I stopped and was a little safer on the road. Then I kept reading. It would make changing channels on the radio illegal.

Let me say that again.

It would make changing the station on your car radio while you're motoring down the highway against the law.

Seriously?

Seriously.

And instead of passing this simple piece of legislation that might just get some folks attention and save lives he's holding onto a bill that is just idiotic in scope. It's been floating around Albany for awhile apparently and no one wants any part of it.

Gee I wonder why?

But I guess the Assemblyman is right and all the rest of us are wrong.

Nope, I don't think so. There's only one person in this equation that dumb. Hey, 133rd Assembly District! You need to have a talk with your Assemblyman.

Check out Donn Esmonde's column in today's Buffalo News for more.

Just how stupid can one man be?

Paterson Increases Aides’ Pay

ALBANY - Gov. David Paterson is taking heat from public employee unions that say he should be ashamed of giving pay raises to his inner circle during a fiscal crisis.

Paterson, however, said Tuesday the $250,000 in salary increases spread among some staff members is part of a net cut in executive chamber pay because he eliminated some jobs and cut executive branch spending 10 percent overall.
Full Story


I don't do politics on this blog but this morning's headline in the local paper set me off. The following is the copy of a letter I've sent to Governor Paterson:

"Dear Governor,
I was outraged at today's headline outlining your plan to give raises to members of your staff. To be perfectly blunt Gov. Paterson have you taken leave of your senses? At a time when many of us are facing pay cuts, reductions in hours or outright loss of our jobs what are we supposed to think as we watch your staff getting pay raises?

Will you justify by saying they're doing more work? Some of us are holding down multiple jobs to pay our bills.

As we criticize the Wall Street fat cats for insuring they get their year bonuses how do we justify padding the paychecks of the Governor's staff?

Times are hard and you are proposing a budget that will take even more money OUT of MY pocket to cover the institutional failures of the budget process in this state. Now I'm told you need more money so your staff can have raises?!?!?!

I'm a lifelong Democrat Governor but this action puts in serious doubt any chance of you earning my support in the future.

Come to your senses, show that you AND your staff are willing to work along side the people of New York in these tough times. Not that your staff is a privileged elite who deserve more than the people for whom they work."

Beyond the incredible injustice of handing out raises to your own staff while you're raising taxes and fees on almost everything how on earth did he think he'd survive the PR storm? Sadly our Governor has shown an incredible tin ear to public opinion in his short tenure.

Wonder who's planning on running against him?

Peace
JP

Stupidest man in America?

On another note is this the stupidest man in America?

From the Associated Press:

CHICAGO – Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on Tuesday on charges that he brazenly conspired to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder.

Seriously?

Seriously!??!?!?!?!

What you figured no one would notice?

Because it's important

For the years that I was a morning man in radio one of my recurrent themes was the importance of voting. I'm a firm believer that if you don't vote, don't complain. You abdicated your responsibility as a citizen of our nation. Vote for whatever party, vote as a protest, write in Mickey Mouse, Homer Simpson, right in MY name, whatever. But for the love of God vote.

You can still register to vote in the state of NY through at least October 10. So make sure you're registered. If you're 18 or older get registered. And then vote. Check out the video. It says it as well as I can think of any way to say it. Yes, they're all celebrities (except for Julie) but even celebrities are right some times. Oh and be warned some of the language is pretty raw. Not a lot but some.

But the message is important enough to use that language. Copping out on voting is not an option I believe for people of faith. It's not an option for people who care. Is the system messed up? Sure it is, you have to be an idiot not to understand that. Even Winston Churchill said "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." (House of Commons speech on Nov. 11, 1947) If enough people care enough to vote the system can, does, has and will change.

Get out and vote.

Parking lot politics

As I walked back to my car outside the Wal of Marts the other day I saw this bumper sticker:

Do you want Politicians legislating morality?

And I thought "Hell no. I don't want ANYONE legislating morality"

The history of morality legislation stinks. The biggest example, and likewise the biggest failure, was the Volstead Act otherwise known as the National Prohibition Act of 1919. Prohibition was a complete flop as is virtually all morality legislation. You can make all the laws you want and man will still act immorally. In fact there's one school of thought that says banning something out right makes it more attractive.

Curiously, Jesus seems to have known this. But his church manages to forget it.

Which leads me to another thought that has wandered across my mind recently. I remember distinctly being taught that Emperor Constantine's conversion and adoption of Christianity as the state religion of Rome was a great thing. A pivotal, important moment in western history.

As the years have passed I've come to completely disagree with that teaching. The connection of the church with the state is important but in a completely negative way. It was and is a catastrophe for the church.

First of all because it gave the church pretensions. It made us believe that we are entitled to rule in this world, that it is right for the church to rule in this world. Clearly this is what many of Jesus' followers expected and what Jesus himself rejected. Again that amazing ability to not listen to what the Savior taught.

Second, it has weakened the church's belief that it can change the world on its own. Instead of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, fighting for justice and peace and living out a Christ-like life we try to make the law in our own image. Why do we need the law when we have Christ? Because we've stopped believing in the power of Christ in the world.

This is not to say that people of faith shouldn't be involved in politics. But we should be involved in politics to achieve the ends of faith, not power. We should live out our political lives doing everything we can to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and fighting for justice and peace.

THAT would result in a more moral world.
THAT would result in our Lord being held in honor and praise.
THAT would result in people seeing Christianity as wise and loving and respected.

Constantine screwed up.

But it's not too late to fix it.

Peace