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Real Answers™
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Copyright: © 2010 Gary Hardaway
685 words

WHAT HAPPENED TO JUSTICE FOR ALL?

By:  Gary Hardaway

Our editorial syndicate strives to avoid partisan political discourse. We do, however, tackle moral and ethical issues, wherever they arise.

Such issues have now arisen. In Congress. In the dynamics of the health care debate.

Citizens and their representatives disagree as to whether the current Senate bill is good or bad for the country. That argument may go on for years. But, without taking sides on the substance, let’s take it as self-evident that a good bill deserves vigorous support and a bad bill deserves equally spirited opposition.

Now we come to a perplexing phenomenon. In recent months, senator after senator has come to the floor to announce they would not support the bill unless Congress granted their state special financial favors that would offset the cost impacts of the bill. In other words, it was fine for other states to have to pay the costs, but not tolerable for their particular state. These particular senators demanded a different set of rules for their states.

If the bill was such a blessing for the country, why didn’t these special pleaders support it on its merits? Why did Ben Nelson of Nebraska receive an $871 million package, along with “permanent and full federal aid for his state’s expanded Medicaid population?” (Fox News.com). Why was he glad to saddle all insurance companies with cumbersome new taxes, while making sure Mutual of Omaha and Blue Shield of Nebraska get a free ride? His vote was bought – with your money and mine.

While Nelson’s case may be the most egregious, many others lined up for a share of the 1700 pork barrel projects in the Senate version. Mary Landreu began the parade, procuring $300 million extra Medicaid cash for Louisiana.

According to unchallenged sources at Fox News, “Vermont and Massachusetts got $1.2 billion in Medicaid money . . . . Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders also boasted . . . he requested and won an investment worth between $10 and $14 billion for community health centers.” Other sources reported that Senator Chris Dodd, obtained $100 million for a new facility in Connecticut.

Florida, New York and Pennsylvania “will have their seniors' Medicare Advantage benefits protected, even as the program sees massive cuts elsewhere.”  Thanks to the influence of Senator Max Baucus, Montana picked up some bonus money to treat asbestos-related illness. Other states that received special financial favors include Hawaii, North Dakota, Iowa, and Indiana.

In George Orwell’s satire of Communism, Animal Farm, every animal was declared equal. However, the pigs – who had taken over the master’s house and had become the de facto government – were “more equal” than others. The sweat and toil of the other creatures served to fatten the pigs’ Now, decades later, we see similar behavior from our legislators.

As citizens we cannot tolerate the buying and selling of votes. Vast sums of money are involved. Some are gorging at the public trough. Others – most of us – are being shoved aside so that the “more equal” may devour far more than their rightful share.

This is not health care reform. As one Senate opponent declared, “This is not legislation; this is corruption.” Neither party should endorse these shameful payoffs, but should insist on impartial, merit-based decision-making. Sadly, a spokesman for Senate Majority leader, Harry Reid, told us, “This is just part of the normal legislative process."

If political prostitution has become “normal,” our country is sinking into dire spiritual bankruptcy. We must reform our conscience and character before we can reform something as vital as health care.

Our founders relied heavily on the Bible, which refers to justice and just behavior over 160 times. Most of the imperatives for justice are addressed to leaders, often to kings. Both monarchs and elected officials are accountable to absolute standards of right and wrong. To them is entrusted the well-being of those who have no voice in the councils of power.

“This is what the Lord Almighty says, “Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor.”

Gary Hardaway, a regular contributor to the Amy Internet Syndicate, directs Summit School of Ministry in Bellingham, WA.

"Real Answers™" furnished courtesy of The Amy Foundation Internet Syndicate. To contact the author or The Amy Foundation, write or E-mail to: P. O. Box 16091, Lansing, MI 48901-6091; amyfoundtn@aol.com

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