A Rant

I just waded into the health care debate with someone who went onto a social networking site and labeled one side of the issue as "evil" and stated that they "had to be stopped." I am concerned about the direction the debate has taken. At least one member of congress has received death threats because of his stand on the issue. I am concerned about the lies and distortions that are creating so much fear. I spoke to my aunt this week, and she had heard that the legislation said she couldn't have kidney dialysis because she is too old. It doesn't say that (I checked). Someone sent me a list of evil things that are in the bill with citations from the actual legislation. I went online and checked those citations. None of them said what the list claimed they said.

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Groups are actively trying to shut down the debate by distributing instructions on how to interrupt and keep people from completing their sentences. How is this helpful? Where has all this fear come from? When did any idea or plan become too dangerous to even discuss? When did those who disagree with us become evil?

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I am convinced that our health care system has problems that need to be addressed. I know too many people who can't get insurance for various reasons. I hear too many horror stories. Too many people are being driven into bankruptcy by medical expenses. I don't claim to know the answer or solution to those problems. I know, however, that maintaining the status quo is not the answer.

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During the last election, I prayed that God would guide us in the voting booth, and that the outcome of the election would reflect God's will for our country. I didn't tell God what I thought the outcome of the election should be. Why is it that so many Christians are now convinced that the administration is evil and that the country is headed in the wrong direction? Do they think God ignored their prayers? What if God answered all those prayers and this is the direction God wants us to take? Why are so many people convinced that God wants what they want?

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Whatever happened to integrity? Why do people think it is right to scare people and advance lies and distortions if that gets them what they want? Why do they think it is good to treat those who disagree as the enemy who needs to be stopped (or destroyed). I don't forward stories that come to me as truth without first checking them out. I stopped reading a blog that posted a bunch of urban legends as true stories and refused to post the comment I wrote that provided a link to a website that had researched the truth of them.

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I believe that as a Christian I have a responsibility to verify facts and promote the truth. I'm not going to tell people what the solution is to our health care challenges (though I will offer stories to those who claim the system is fine just the way it is). I am going to confront those who are using lies and distortions to generate fear. I am going to work to get the truth out there.

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I'd like to see those who are fighting against the legislation and promoting fear to put that energy into praying for God's guidance for our leaders. I'd like to see them trust God to guide the nation and recognize that God doesn't need the help of their lies and accusations. I'd like to see them put forward a plan that will address the challenges in a way that is in keeping with their beliefs.

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My fears for our country have nothing to do with socialism and government health care. My fears for our country are about the loss of civil debate and the loss of a willingness to work across the political spectrum for the good of our country. My fears have to do with the idea that anyone who has different beliefs is evil and must be stopped. My fears are about a society that no longer seems to be willing to tolerate diverse views and ideas. I think those things are far more likely to destroy our nation than any particular health care legislation.