Does anybody really believe that a system ran by the Government would be free of suffering. That a nurse provided by the Government is going to be kinder and provide better comfort than a nurse selected by the one in need of a nurse.

I pray for those in need; My heart also goes out to those who have care provided by the Government and remain tragically more in need. I know that God is aware of every tear. My chest grows tight as I put this post together because I know these people matter to God and to somebody else.

I've been to both DMV and when possible alternative private businesses for services of registering a car. Although not broken by the my experiences with the DMV I can image those people running a hospital but in some cases I don't need to imagine.

An independent inquiry found that managers at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust stopped providing safe care because they were preoccupied with government targets and cutting costs. Patients were routinely neglected or left “sobbing and humiliated” by staff.

Should I go on?

The report, which follows reviews by the Care Quality Commission and the Department of Health, said that “unimaginable” suffering had been caused. Regulators said last year that between 400 and 1,200 more patients than expected may have died at the hospital from 2005 to 2008.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article7039285.ece

I've devoted the last several weeks to Bible study, prayer and meditation about health care reform, and I've come to the conclusion that the only Christian option is to support universal health care by a single-payer system.  I know I'm probably going to get some angry responses, but please bear with me here.

As Christians, we should take care of everyone who needs care - no matter what their lifestyle is (even if they are couch potatoes - we still need to love them), no matter what their immigration status is.  As Christians (not as Americans), why would we not care for everyone?  As Christians - why would we care about how much money it costs?

As an American - I was looking at the financial statements for some health insurance companies.  Half of their expenses are health care costs to doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, etc.  The other half is administrative and profits.  If we got rid of health insurance completely, our health care costs could be cut by at least a third (considering that some costs are now paid by government).  We don't get rid of them because many of us invest in them because they make a nice profit for us.  That's not Christian - that's capitalism.

What if doctors were just federal employees paid salaries - not on a per diem?  Then they could spend as much time as necessary to take care of each patient, and do what each patient needs, instead of being held hostage by health insurance companies?

After President Obama's speech tonight, it is still apparent that he is defying the will of the American people who do not want a government option included in health care reform or the numerous government mandates he listed in his speech.  The including of a so-called "trigger" - blackmailing health care insurance companies, as some Democrats propose - basically guarantees a government-run health care system in America. 

The fact that American taxpayers will eventually pay for elective abortions is abominable and is reason enough to vote against the health care bill being proposed by the Democrats.