Conservative Student News

Date: 06-24-09

Note: This was initially a Letter to the Editor that was sent to The Catholic Spirit, but regrettably not accepted for print.

Good health care is not a basic human right. Calling something a “right” does not impose on others an obligation to accommodate the wishes of the proponent.

Good health care is an expectation in a Christian community. It cannot be dictated or provided by government. No program has been able to meet the criteria suggested by Joe Towalski, Editor of The Catholic Spirit, and all existing socialized medical programs are unraveling. In his editorial, Mr. Towalski suggested that that some criteria that would make ObamaCare palatable. I respectfully disagree.

President Obama is a proponent of socialized medicine. Catholics should be especially concerned about his current healthcare plan.

• Socialized medicine would provide for and we would be required to pay for abortion at any stage of pregnancy.
• Birth Control would be provided at any age or marital status.
• President Obama’s plan has rescinded the rule protecting the conscience rights of pro-life health care workers. They would be forced to comply.
• Hilary Care was clear- Medical care would be limited for genetic abnormalities diagnosed in utero (during pregnancy) that could have been aborted but were carried to term (delivered).
• Care for the elderly would be restricted as it has been in the UK for over 40 years. Former Surgeon General Koop said that he would not have been eligible in the UK for the life saving care he recently had here.
• Any bets on “vegetative state?”

Regarding the “47 million uninsured” figure: Roughly twelve million of that figure are people who will never afford any insurance. They are “the poor we will always have among us.” Approximately 20% of that figure has annual incomes exceeding $65,000.  (Being irresponsible is not a Christian virtue). The rest are a mix of people between jobs (easily solved by portability) and young people in good health willing to gamble. Forcing insurance companies to insure anyone at anytime regardless of prior illness makes this a pretty good gamble.

Mr. Towalski’s suggests that we should not let this “opportunity” to do something to improve healthcare pass us by and implies support for President Obama’s healthcare program. The politicians responsible for our dysfunctional fragmented system are the ones now suggesting they can fashion a better system. I’d rather take my chances with Wall Street or GM. 

Bishop Murphy said some nice things as Mr. Towalski suggests, and there may be pockets of Catholic care offering help but I am not aware of any in-depth Catholic proposal that would address the current crisis.

There was a time when everyone had health care available. Older Twin City residents will recall Ancker Hospital and Hennepin General. These were tremendous institutions that provided care to all citizens regardless of income. Private health care coverage was available for those who preferred it. They pioneered many of the sophisticated medical procedures now available while providing medical care and training physicians and nurses for the community. The history of why these institutions were eliminated and the health care delivery system changed is well-known and was due, as now, to politicians and other amateurs not familiar with health care who had no concern for the consequences of their meddling.

There are solutions that could preserve the dignity of patients and satisfy the Christian obligation to provide affordable health care. Catholics have an obligation to know them. I agree with Mr. Towalski that Catholics must keep the discussion focused on principle. It would be helpful if Catholics were informed by Church leadership as to what principles should be discussed.