And Jesus Wept

[berni_mccoy]

"As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them."

"Norma Rae" dies from lack of health care
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/09/15/crystal-lee-sutton/

32 year old Woman dies from untreated lupus and no Insurance
http://www.daytondailynews.com/opinion/columnists/nicholas-kristof-woman-without-insurance-dies-at-32-298912.html?imw=Y

Woman's insurance denies transplant; she dies
http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/content/woman-dies-after-being-denied-transplant-due-pot-use

34-year old Woman dies after losing insurance
http://www.wftv.com/news/18026973/detail.html

Young Father dies; no health insurance, no health care
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=150x17625

56 year old man loses insurance, dies from cancer
http://www.planputnam.org/ntm/2009/09/man-who-had-no-insurance-dies-of-cancer-recordonline-com/

37 year old man denied treatment by insurance company, dies
http://www.kmbc.com/health/6882159/detail.html

Young man dies from lack of insurance (no employer benefit, private insurance too expensive)
http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/71308FE8-30C7-4B65-A32E-4DBD340DCF97/

Ron Paul staffer dies of pneumonia and no health insurance
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/16/172747/149/580/552670

"Whoever harms a child would be better to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."

12 year old child dies from untreated toothache, no insurance
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3138049

2 year old boy denied treatment by health insurance dies
http://articles.latimes.com/1997/sep/27/local/me-36680

17 year old dies waiting for Cigna to approve transplant
http://cbs2.com/local/nataline.sarkisyan.CIGNA.2.615167.html

Tens of thousands of Americans die every year because they can't afford Health Care.

Christians need to speak out on the right side of this issue. They need to speak out now.

[MNDemNY]

1. Maybe that is all true, but...

How are those insurance company profits??? You never think of that , do you? Selfish fuck.

[Pharaoh]

2. WTF?

[LiberalAndProud]

4. The sarcasm tag is implied.

Indeed, we must preserve the insurance industry at all costs.

[MNDemNY]

8. Indeed.

[MNDemNY]

5. ?

[lapislzi]

6. I think MNDem forgot the sarcasm tag. n/t

[aquart]

16. Good Lord, is the language so difficient that someone needed it?

[MNDemNY]

18. I never use'm.

[11 Bravo]

36. Anyone who needed it there probably wouldn't know what the word means.

[grantcart]

37. good - neither do I

[subcomhd]

26. ... nt

[jgraz]

33. No, but the bleating from the corporatists is just that ridiculous

Republicans have long ago rendered satire obsolete. There's no joke we can make today that they won't propose as serious policy tomorrow.

[roguevalley]

38. he means the companies.

[LeftishBrit]

43. I think that was a bit of sarcasm.

[cdsilv]

9. If an insurance co did not/would not/refused to pay for care that would have prevented death, then..

..the $$ that would have been expended will make it to the bottom line somehow. What is not spent, is kept. Might be spent elsewhere, but net outlay is still below what it would have been.

[MNDemNY]

17. My point , exactly.

Leave the Insurance companies alone! They are here to help us.They can only help us if they make scads of money.

[berni_mccoy]

19. lol, following up on the MoveOn Ad eh?

[merh]

20. Protect Insurance Companies PSA

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/041b5acaf5/protect-insurance-companies-psa

[ThePantaloon.com]

48. the real victims

Insurane Executives ... the real victims. Love Will Ferrell.

[lunatica]

70. Not everyone can see your sardonic facial expression

Do I need to add the sarcasm gif, or do you get it?

[MNDemNY]

71. .

;-)

[leftstreet]

3. So....insurance is the answer?

Or is single payer healthcare the answer?

[berni_mccoy]

7. Obviously not since in many of the cases above were insured by denied coverage.

Strong Public Option or Single Payer.

[leftstreet]

30. Meh, this bs is all about reforming insurance, not reforming healthcare

agree with you about the single payer

[merh]

22. As Senatory Kennedy said in the past "Medicare for All"

.

[JaneFordA]

42. When a business...

... engages in such egregious behavior, said business forfeits the right to "do business." Close ALL their doors and send a bunch of 'em to the pen!

[gateley]

25. Door Number 2, Monty. nt

[gratuitous]

10. Uh, Christians have been speaking out on this issue

Many of them have framed it in historic and biblical terms, including Matthew 25 and countless citations to major and minor prophets in the Hebrew Testment (e.g., Isaiah).

Judging by the lack of awareness on the part of a number of DUers, it's apparent that for some reason this message, as loud and clear as it has been in come circles, isn't penetrating the popular consciousness through the mass media. I wonder why that is?

[berni_mccoy]

12. Some have been speaking out (recently) on the wrong side of it, claiming a Public Option would

pay for abortions.

[MNDemNY]

27. That is health care . Any option should pay for health care.

keep religion out of health care.

[aquart]

11. This is the list we need to keep.

Is there a website for it?

[berni_mccoy]

15. I just googled these. There are many many more. You could compile hundreds in a list...

if not more.

[aquart]

24. That would be one powerful list.

Anyone have a place to put it?

[ddeclue]

13. But Ron Paul is a DOCTOR isn't he? He couldn't write a scrip for his own staffer?

:eyes:

:argh:

[LeftishBrit]

44. I think that says it all about Ron Paul.

[gateley]

14. Forward your OP to all of Congress, and the WH -- it's sobering and heartbreaking. nt

[Orsino]

21. I notice you omitted the verses...

...in which Jesus directed the sick to an in-network provider, or first checked their citizenship and religious affiliations.

[berni_mccoy]

28. lol!

[zeemike]

40. And I understand he was big on pre existing conditions.

If he found someone with a pre existing condition he turned them away....no healing for you!

[JuniperLea]

46. And when he refuses to bring Lazarus back to life...

Because "death" is a pre-existing condition. And how Lepers are treated the same way "we" treat gays and people of color.

[tosh]

64. There are also the verses in which ...

...Jesus advised the sick to sell there possessions in order to qualify for low-income healthcare and THEN seek charity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-yyiJpeA4w

[BrklynLiberal]

23. Superb post.

[1776Forever]

29. These would be a good sign to carry in support of better health care.

If each person dressed in black and carried one of these names and links and walked in a line it would be very powerful I think! Death panels are real and they have been here since Nixon!

:grouphug:

[Fire1]

31. Good post. Thanks berni! n/t

[Uncle Joe]

32. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, berni.

[LynneSin]

34. I thought the Dems were creating the 'Death Panels'. Seem they exist already

:grr:

[Name removed]

35. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[noel711]

39. All due respect BErni...

Have you been paying attention?

Or focusing yourself elsewhere...

Because in my world, in my congregation, in my church (ELCA)

There sure has been a lot of loud, passionate talk
about all the bullshit in the universe.

BUT the media don't pay us lefty Christians a whole lot of attention
because we're not wingnuts. We're not idiots like Palin or Beck.
We're not wealthy or influential or out in front of the cameras.

I've posted here at DU, along with other lefty Christians
over and over and over again.

And we've gotten flamed over and over and over again
for being Christians, and living out of faith in our lives.

So.. we lefty Christians take a beating from the conservatives
so-called 'christians'.. and from the left wing who say we're
all delusional for being faithful...

And mostly I go on with my life and faith because we were told
by Jesus himself that rejection is what we face when we try
to live as he did.

But don't say we're not doing anything.

Come to my church.. listen to my sermons,
listen to the sermons (and the actions ) of a whole
lot more Christians. We are doing our part in our part
of the world in which we live.

We're out here. But don't say we're not because you
aren't paying attention. You see, we're the little people;
most of us seem to be powerless because we don't carry big guns,
but we try to make a difference one step at a time,
one person at a time, one message at a time.

Most of us don't have the time nor the option of going to
Washington, or other sites of power...
we're working for the little guy.

[JuniperLea]

47. With all due respect...

Outside of a few outspoken Christian Lefties like yourself, here on DU, I've not heard one iota about Christian support of HC reform except for the recent press release by the Catholic church.

Good for you! As a recovering Fundy, now Agnostic due to the Fundy hypocrisy that drove me from too many churches to list here, I'm tickled pink to hear that someone is actually following the teachings of Jesus! Real or not, some of what is attributed to him is beautiful and wise:)

I support your efforts with a hearty "Hurrah" and good wishes toward further such actions!

Mostly, I support "free will" and all the choices it brings:) If God hadn't specifically wanted us to have choices, this whole Earthbound exercise would be for naught.

[Critters2]

49. The relitgious coalition for health care reform has held a conference

call every Wednesday afternoon since early August. A lot of denominations have been involved--Jews, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, and UUs.

Jim Wallis and Sojourners have been doing advocacy, and the UCC has a petition drive, trying to get 100,000 signatures in support of a public option.

Where've you been?

[JuniperLea]

50. Has it been in the news?

If it has, it's been buried. I've heard nothing. I'm here daily.

[Critters2]

51. Not that I know of, but I know the Coalition and the UCC have issued press releases.

If nothing happens with the releases, that's the fault of the media, not the religious groups.

The Religious Left is ignored by the media, no matter how hard we try.

Edited because it's spelled "coalition".

[JuniperLea]

52. Anything Left is ignored by the media...

Unless it's negative.

I never blamed the religious groups for the lack of news... it's clear this is a journalism issue... there is no real journalism anymore.

Newspapers are dying due to mismanagement... Faux Gnus style agencies will take over completely if we aren't careful.

[noel711]

60. Juni, here's the work of my church...

http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Justice/Advocacy/Issues/Health-Policy-and-Global-Disease/Health-Care-Reform.aspx

But as far as the mass media, there is zilch coverage.

If its sensational, with screaming, and bizarre behavior,
it's all over the news. But rational, compassionate people
are boring.

[JerseygirlCT]

63. It's true, isn't it?

Have 5 members of Fred Phelps' family show up to "protest" a church, and they're on the news.

Feed hundreds of people or do something else for those in need? Crickets.

[JuniperLea]

65. Thank you!

This brings tears to my eyes... beautiful to see.

It's too bad there isn't much in the way of real journalism left in the country.

I'm going to send your link to a couple of faux-Christian, Obama hating cousins of mine... this is exactly what I've been trying to relate to them. Their pastor tells them not to listen to anyone but him and Faux Gnus... sad what is done in the name of God.

Thanks again!

:hug:

[Mithreal]

75. Well said. nt

[winyanstaz]

41. Insurance companies are death panels...

Christians are not the only ones that need to speak out.
Those on insurance boards that deny care that ends in death need to be tried for murder because that is what they are doing...murdering people for a profit.

[LeftishBrit]

45. This is just horrific.

Unbelievable.

[rd_kent]

53. Jesus has nothing to do with it.

If he did, then everyone could just PRAY to be better or not get sick.

[berni_mccoy]

54. I take it you are not familiar with the origin of the phrase?

[lib_wit_it]

55. I'm not. My grandma used to say it a lot, but I never got it.

[Critters2]

56. It's from the Gospel of John.

When Jesus learns of the death of his friend, Lazarus, he wept.

[Mithreal]

69. Nah, Jesus had the magic touch. Can't just pray to him. nt

[MNDemNY]

72. Alou??

Damn good shortstop.

[Ken Burch]

57. As far as I can see, everyone on the "Religious Right"

would have shouted for Barabbas.

[midnight]

58. I was in a grocery line waiting when I was introduced to a women

with a five year old. She said she was nervous because he was going to be in school all day, and she would miss him. It was also explained to me in the conversation that she does not feel entitled to govt. insurance and she pays for everything out of pocket from her tips as a waitress. I replied that she was lucky she wasn't worried about her sons health. After leaving this grocery store, the person I was with explained that she was dating a republican. Even if you are with a republican and make a waitress wage, what if a chronic condition or an overnight stay at a hospital should occur?

[berni_mccoy]

59. She would never be able to pay for the meds and supplies if her son had a chronic illness

on waitress tips. Believe me, I know first hand how much this stuff costs.

[malaise]

61. But but but Eric Cantor said that

she can hope for charity.

[newspeak]

66. yeah, Cantor was featured on KO

You see, after you lose all of your worldly goods, then government aid may kick in and you can depend on the charity of others. Ya'll seen those begging cans at the stores--trying to get money for your child's operation. You're at the mercy of the kindness of others.

[Patiod]

62. Many "Christians" are nothing more than Republicans

My father's priest called a few nights ago. I said "sorry, he's listening to Obama's speech, he'll call you back. Oh, and Father, I guess this is one topic where you do agree on Obama, huh?" (he's a rabid Republican) "You can't really say what Jesus would do in many situations, but I think the Bible was pretty clear about where he stood on taking care of the sick".

My dad says the guy's ONLY issue is abortion, so I suggested that better health coverage might also lead to more full-term pregancies. "Since insurance treats pregnancy as a pre-existing condition, if a woman is between jobs, or starting a new job, and becomes pregnant, and has to choose between a $400 abortion and a $6000 live birth, don't we want to encourage live birth?"

His reply? "Buying health insurance when you have a pre-existing condition is like buying fire insurance when your house is on fire". I did NOT say what I was thinking, which was "spoken like someone with guaranteed health care for life courtesy of the Church". Arguing with this guy, who isn't capable of accepting that women have anything valid to say anyway, is like teaching a pig to sing, so i said my dad would call him back after the speech.

But there is absolutely no doubt where Jesus Christ in the Bible stood on health care. Totally black-and-white issue.

You're either a sheep or a goat on this one.

[Mithreal]

68. They have betrayed Jesus. Want to march on the churches with me? nt

[Mithreal]

67. Jesus had low self-esteem.

Commie socialist hippy Jesus is so yesterday. If Jesus hadn't left so soon he would have grown out of that liberalism.

When he returns it will be as ass kicking and taking names Jesus, yeeHa!

[indepat]

73. Among those who take Christianity serious, sadly millions of them seemingly would be better

to have a great millstone fastened around their necks and drowned in the depth of the sea. :P

[Blue_Tires]

74. ttt

[JDPriestly]

76. Thank you.

[Hissyspit]

77. Here's the original DU thread on "Norma Rae," Berni, that ThinkProgress got it from:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6531099

[Echo In Light]

78. Error: you can only recommend threads which were started in the past 24 hours