WWJD and NHS

 The Parable of the Good Samaritan

 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”   26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”

   28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

   36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

   Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”This blog, like me, is still a work in progress. C

     So what would Jesus say about National Healthcare??? Looks pretty clear doesn't it? Am I the only person who is aware of this parable?  On several occasions I have been in "debates"( Ok arguements) about the topic of a National Healthcare System. Under a national healthcare system taxes MIGHT increase (it depends on our priorities and things like multiple wars etc.. we easily spend more on the war on terrorism than we would on NHS in a week currently) but I digress. My real issue is with the need for a NHS, and our social/moral obligation to provide a health care system to ourselves and fellow citizens (you know that "we the people" bit) of this nation. While I do not agree that this nation was "based on christianity" (I'll save that for another blog) I do believe that the majority of the country classify themselves as Christians..87% of them in fact. (http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_prac2.htm).  

       IF 87% of people in America claim to be christian how is it we don't have NHS? How many "christians" are aware of this parable? As of 2009 45,000 people die every year due to a lack of insurance aka no access to proper health care.  45,000?!?!?!?! Please understand that's not just a number. That is someone's wife, husband, daughter, son, mother, father, grandmother, grandfather or our "neighbor". This number is unacceptable.  (http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/harvard-medical-study-links-lack-of-insurance-to-45000-us-deaths-a-year/ ). How can those 87% (a majority vote) claim to be good christians yet allow 45,000 of their neighbors to die?