A Human Right
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?” He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
The Talmud
It’s interesting to me when I look at the Americans fighting over universal health care and other things that affect the middle and lower income families.
Many of their politicians predominantly it seems republicans are under the false impression that you give tax breaks to the rich and create less government regulations things will trickle down to the poor and build them up. Sadly history has proven this not to be so.
Companies have had to be forced by legislation to make cars safer by putting seat belts and other safety devices in them. They’ve had to be forced to pay their workers at least a minimum wage that is still woefully inadequate.
Universal health care is still a hot topic. With many politicians not realizing it is the right and moral thing to do to see that everyone has access to good health care without fear of going bankrupt.
In Canada we have a federal government that is also reluctant it seems to help the poor. With an election looming they are rolling out programs to help war vets which is needed and long past due. They are also rolling out programs that help the wealthy.
Yet they have not commented on a universal drug plan that all the research seems to point to saving Canadians billions and ensuring people can afford the medications they need.
Canada is the only country in the world with universal health care that does not have a universal drug plan.
Many government leaders remind me of the scribes and pharisees of Jesus day. Jesus said of them,
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
“Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’”
Matthew 23:2-7.
I heard one politician say “health care is too costly the government can’t afford it.” think of the logic of that statement. If the government can’t afford it how can the individual?
The government has at least more money than the individual and the power to regulate and make health care affordable.
Those who serve in government both here in Canada and in the United States have far better drug, healthcare benefits and pension plans than the average citizen. Why can’t the average citizen have the same benefits as their politicians are not all men equal?
Tony Campolo an American evangelist said,
“The reason why I buy into the Democratic Party more than the Republican Party is because there are over 2,000 verses of Scripture that deal with responding to the needs of the poor.”
Tony Campolo
He also said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
When Jesus walked this earth he healed the sick took care of the poor. We as Christians should be doing all we can to help our fellow man whoever they are.
The Talmud states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?” Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual? “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
The Talmud.
What will you answer? What do you think our politicians will answer?
Please think about it.
Showing posts with label Healthcare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Healthcare. Show all posts
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Thursday, 20 November 2014
Not Until
Not until
“Not until the creation and maintenance of decent conditions of life for all men are recognized and accepted as a common obligation of all men and all countries—not until then shall we, with a certain degree of justification, be able to speak of mankind as civilized.”
Albert Einstein.
I look around the world today and I see a lot of hate, and avarice. I look at the various terrorist organizations and see men and women dealing in hate. At the same time I look at the western world and see incredible wealth mixed with greed.
By far democracy is the best way of life. That being said the while capitalism that thrives in a democracy, is an honest way of life and has produced things that are beneficial to our way of life, is not always good for people.
I find nothing wrong with honest people making as much money as they wish from things that are not essential. Hey if someone wants to sell a fancy phone for six hundred bucks or a watch for half a million dollars good for them.
My problem is when people are making a profit off someone’s suffering. I look particularly at the medical industry.
The medical industry in essential and those who work in it are honest caring and loving people who are there because they want to help. Most if not all health care workers are not in it to make profit. Like I said they are there because they care.
Still I listened in horror to a news cast today that told of a Canadian mother on vacation in Hawaii who’s ended up in hospital and had her baby prematurely. Because of complications it cost her almost a million dollars. And the travel insurance she had has refused to pay. The provincial health care system she was covered with in Canada has paid for some but it’s far less than a hundred thousand dollars.
Think of it a Million dollars! For a human life. For me no one, especially a private company should be making money off a human life.
I understand the doctors and the hospital needs money to function and provide the services. But why does it cost so much more in the United States than in Canada or other countries that have national health systems?
That example aside there are hundreds of examples especially in the area of drug treatment. I understand the drug companies put a lot out in research but isn’t a months worth of dugs costing over a thousand or even ten thousand dollars outrageous?
Who but the rich can afford them.
Ebola is good example of an illness that has no cure because there was seemingly no profit in it for the drug companies. Now thousands of people are dying.
My daughter in law works with autistic children. More and more with these children they are finding things like computers and Ipads help them. The actual computers and ipads are reasonable compared to some of the programs that have been developed. She noted one program cost $15,000 per child. Some private insurances cover a portion of it. But those without have to go cap in hand to service clubs who do a good job at helping, but should not have too.
Still why should someone with any disability or health problem not be properly covered is it not a basic human right?
Is a millionaire’s life and well being worth more than that of someone working for minimum wage or on social assistance?
In Canada and I know in all countries with national health systems the system eats up a lot of money. But it’s probably the best money the government spends. It is investing in the health and welfare of its people.
I believe God cares for the individual that’s why he sent Jesus to show how far he would go to have a personal relationship with us.
Jesus cares for the individual and leaves us with a warning.
Jesus is recorded as saying.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:34-36.
I think doctors, nurses healthcare workers and others in essential services should be among the best paid in our society.
I don’t even mind any developer of any necessary product be they drugs or medical devices making their money back even with a little interest. They took the risks in developing it they should be rewarded. Still profits should never be put ahead of the needs of people.
We as a society should be looking to the most vulnerable of our society and doing all we can to help them even if it’s in just a small way.
I do believe the words of Jesus I quoted above and I believe everyone will one day be called to account for what they did in this life be they Christian or not.
I think the Talmud say’s it best. It states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?” Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual? “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
The Talmud
What will you be able to say to God?
Think about it.
“Not until the creation and maintenance of decent conditions of life for all men are recognized and accepted as a common obligation of all men and all countries—not until then shall we, with a certain degree of justification, be able to speak of mankind as civilized.”
Albert Einstein.
I look around the world today and I see a lot of hate, and avarice. I look at the various terrorist organizations and see men and women dealing in hate. At the same time I look at the western world and see incredible wealth mixed with greed.
By far democracy is the best way of life. That being said the while capitalism that thrives in a democracy, is an honest way of life and has produced things that are beneficial to our way of life, is not always good for people.
I find nothing wrong with honest people making as much money as they wish from things that are not essential. Hey if someone wants to sell a fancy phone for six hundred bucks or a watch for half a million dollars good for them.
My problem is when people are making a profit off someone’s suffering. I look particularly at the medical industry.
The medical industry in essential and those who work in it are honest caring and loving people who are there because they want to help. Most if not all health care workers are not in it to make profit. Like I said they are there because they care.
Still I listened in horror to a news cast today that told of a Canadian mother on vacation in Hawaii who’s ended up in hospital and had her baby prematurely. Because of complications it cost her almost a million dollars. And the travel insurance she had has refused to pay. The provincial health care system she was covered with in Canada has paid for some but it’s far less than a hundred thousand dollars.
Think of it a Million dollars! For a human life. For me no one, especially a private company should be making money off a human life.
I understand the doctors and the hospital needs money to function and provide the services. But why does it cost so much more in the United States than in Canada or other countries that have national health systems?
That example aside there are hundreds of examples especially in the area of drug treatment. I understand the drug companies put a lot out in research but isn’t a months worth of dugs costing over a thousand or even ten thousand dollars outrageous?
Who but the rich can afford them.
Ebola is good example of an illness that has no cure because there was seemingly no profit in it for the drug companies. Now thousands of people are dying.
My daughter in law works with autistic children. More and more with these children they are finding things like computers and Ipads help them. The actual computers and ipads are reasonable compared to some of the programs that have been developed. She noted one program cost $15,000 per child. Some private insurances cover a portion of it. But those without have to go cap in hand to service clubs who do a good job at helping, but should not have too.
Still why should someone with any disability or health problem not be properly covered is it not a basic human right?
Is a millionaire’s life and well being worth more than that of someone working for minimum wage or on social assistance?
In Canada and I know in all countries with national health systems the system eats up a lot of money. But it’s probably the best money the government spends. It is investing in the health and welfare of its people.
I believe God cares for the individual that’s why he sent Jesus to show how far he would go to have a personal relationship with us.
Jesus cares for the individual and leaves us with a warning.
Jesus is recorded as saying.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:34-36.
I think doctors, nurses healthcare workers and others in essential services should be among the best paid in our society.
I don’t even mind any developer of any necessary product be they drugs or medical devices making their money back even with a little interest. They took the risks in developing it they should be rewarded. Still profits should never be put ahead of the needs of people.
We as a society should be looking to the most vulnerable of our society and doing all we can to help them even if it’s in just a small way.
I do believe the words of Jesus I quoted above and I believe everyone will one day be called to account for what they did in this life be they Christian or not.
I think the Talmud say’s it best. It states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?” Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual? “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
The Talmud
What will you be able to say to God?
Think about it.
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