What's Going On Here?

Where are my smelling salts? This healthcare ruckus is making me ill. This week we learned that if a celebrity says, "Death Panels!" in the same sentence with "parents" and "baby," lots of people will believe her. Then when those people shout, "Euthanasia!" and Rationed Medicine!" more people get upset and rush about wailing, "Keep the government out of Medicare!"

Hold on just a minute. What was that last one? Did they really say that? (yes.)

Then there are the folk warning that we ordinary people don't dare trust the government. Oh dear, how embarrassing; one of those insisting we can't trust the government --- was recently Speaker of the House of Representatives!(abc news)

Where is the misinformation coming from? Who or what is behind the blatantly misleading statements about death panels and euthanasia and programs that would leave the elderly to die without medical care?

"I must personally share with you that I've had enough of the misinformation and, frankly, misleading statements coming from those who oppose the transformation of a health system that currently renders the best health care to the wealthiest, depletes the savings of solidly middle-class Americans, and leaves 46 million people with no health-care coverage at at." Jim Wallis.

The fact is right now some cancer patients are left to die and many sick children have no medical treatment because they have no health insurance and cannot qualify for existing government programs. Too many elderly people now expire because their profit-based insurance companies refuse to pay for their medications. Far more patients and their families face financial ruin because of catastrophic medical bills. That is the healthcare system we have now.

Here is a hint: Follow the money. Who is getting rich from the present system? Who stands to gain or lose most from a program that would limit healthcare costs, that would put health insurance within the financial reach of every American, and that would no longer allow insurers or hospitals to refuse necessary treatments? Who profits now from the astronomical costs of medications, diagnostic tests and long-term therapies? Who would lose money if new legislation but limits on medical fees?

Scripture has a lot to say about liars. Think about the commandment against "bearing false witness." When a talk-show guest or radio pundit or internet blogger says the President plans to throw opponents into camps, or when they claim that this administration had thousands of mass graves dug in Arizona to bury "civilians," that's false witness (not to mention rather loony.)

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1.

Deceit repeated continues to be deceit. A falsehood that becomes incredibly popular is still false. And when a lie is repeated over and over again, and believed by multitudes of angry, excited, passionate people with very good intentions, it is still a lie.

And Christians are not supposed to lie.


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