Better Health Care? Just Tax The Rich!

As Americans get more and more concerned over who will ‘really’ pay for the massive new health care proposals, more and more seem to favor one source: anyone but themselves. Translated into everyday language: tax others, namely the rich.

This comes from a new AP poll based on phone interviews with 1,502 adults from October 29 to November 8. The findings were good news to Democrats who now hope to get their lengthy legislation package through the Senate after narrowly passing in the House.

Lawmakers are also looking at other options including taxing insurance companies, drug companies and medical device makers. The only problem with these measures is that any additional expense would eventually target the consumer anyway when prices are raised to pay for added tax hikes. Also, taxing the rich at a higher rate carries with it more than a strong hint of socialism - a system that has never worked for very long or advanced any nation very well.

Health care is critical. The issue’s current fever pitch surrounding it (no pun intended) makes that fact beyond the obvious. And it would be a gross understatement to say that there is much at stake to those with and without adequate coverage. But there is another struggle –one that infinitely exceeds any level of maintaining or repairing the physical body alone.

While the country’s leadership debates and battles on how to best alter, and then pay for, the perceived benefits for its citizens, the spiritual health of America remains assigned to the back burner – if it is even on the stove at all. And only a precious few politicians ever equate the results of sin and reckless living with the skyrocketing need for bigger and better care.

But there is at least one leading political voice that gets it. He stated his simple and common sense position like this. “America does not have a ‘health care’ problem as much as it has a basic health problem.” His point was right on target. In other words, if Americans would simply elect to live cleaner, healthier, and morally responsible lives, that ingredient alone would help to financially unburden the current system. That in turn would mean less overall medical intervention while allowing unavoidable health problems to gain the adequate treatment they require.

Heath care is an expensive proposition both in the physical and spiritual realms. The first category costs the nation ongoing aggravation and vast sums of money. But the other came at a cost to God’s Son and went far beyond any financial figures or fix. One requires a constant and ever-growing cash flow to meet the ever-increasing demand caused by poor personal choices and/or legitimate human sickness. The other was paid for in full when Christ died for the healing of the souls of men. His sacrifice never needs any improvement or adjustment. “It is finished” (John 19:30).

God’s spiritual wellness plan, in one way, did tax the rich to heal the poor. It covered the price forever for those who could never meet the requirement of the Creator of absolute holiness. (1 Peter 1:15-16)

Paul shared this sobering doctrinal truth in 2 Corinthians 8:9 where he wrote, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” The tenants of socialism, which will falter in any secular setting, become the very pinnacle of success and the ultimate spiritual solution. Basically, God’s redemptive plan was patterned upon socialism. It took the sinless perfection from His holy and beloved Son and placed it squarely in the account of any sinful man who freely embraces God’s grace and mercy through faith.

The hymn writer spoke that miraculous and ultra-effective plan like this:
“Jesus paid it all.
All to Him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain.
He washed it what as snow.”

America is in far greater need of spiritual revival than some man-made rejuvenation of its health care procedures – whether good or bad. In reality, the former could have a massive positive impact on the latter. But as long as the nation refuses to recognize or accept the cause and effect link between physical and spiritual health the current dilemma and plan will likely become more frustrating, expensive, intrusive, and ironically, more inefficient as time as precious time proceeds.

That is a rather unattractive option number one. The second alternative option comes via the supernatural wisdom given by the author of life, designer of the body, and Savior of the soul in Proverbs 3:5-8. The choice is simple - but the results are both practical and even eternal!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.”

Bill Breckenridge