Morality and faith, indeed

After posting the story on the Bush Fish crapola, I listened to NPR while getting ready. They had a story this morning on the pressure that states are under to manage the growth of Medicaid. In Missouri, evidently, the debate is leading to people being removed from the rolls--nearly 90,000.

NPR : Debating Medicaid and Morality in Missouri: "The proposals have opened a moral schism, with some preachers expressing outrage, but the governor, a devout Christian, defends the cuts as morally correct. Gov. Matt Blunt says not cutting Medicaid would force him to raise taxes -- and in his eyes, raising taxes is wrong."

First of all, when did raising taxes become a sin? I am pretty sure that Jesus never said that. He did seem to speak pretty strongly about taking care of the poor. How is it more moral to not ask a sacrifice from the wealthy and middle class while turning your back on the poor?

Part of this really bothers me because the debate is, once again, centered around theoreticals that are really not useful. Conservatives like to say that the churches should be helping the poor, not the government. In theory, I understand, but helping the poor is more than giving someone down on their luck a few dollars to help them between jobs. It is also dealing with people who are trying to work and take care of their family at the same time. People, like the woman in this story who works at McDonalds. Under the new changes, she will not qualify for Medicaid until her weekly income falls to under 86 dollars week! Meanwhile, she takes care of three children. One illness, and she could be done. And with the changes in bankruptcy law, she could be in worse shape. Where is the Christian faith in that?

Well, Streak, she needs to be married and have her husband work, you might say. Ok, say that I buy that. (I don't, but say I do). But what about the disabled poor? Another woman in the story is 44, and has Cerebral palsy. The changes will force her to get rid of her only companions (dogs) and ration her food.

You tell me? Where is the Christ in this story? If Jesus were walking around, would he be patting the Governor on the back for making tough decisions? Or would he be out there with Irene Shivers helping her?

Taxes are not sins. They can be horrible, I understand. But they are not sins. What bothers me the most is the lack of compassion, and the lack of recognition--this could be any of us. We have coverage now, and we have our health. That can change. We could be on the street and wondering where our food and medicine is coming from. The local church might feed us, but will they manage that kind of unique care? Where will the wealthiest Americans be?

This isn't Christian and whoever created the version of our faith that allows this Governor to stand on "moral" ground deserves their own unique punishment.