Sunday, March 04, 2007

Here's a Moral Issue the GOP Should Embrace

Republicans have proclaimed themselves the moral majority for decades now and what do they have to show for it? Not much. Poverty has increased, our president lied and led our country to war, stewardship of the environment has suffered, the gap between the haves and have nots has increased, and the number of people without health care has continued to rise. Why they consider themselves moral is beyond me. Morality isn't just about sexual behavior and abortion, it's also concern for the well being of people.

The example being set by the Republicans is outdated and out of step with the rest of America, especially when it comes to health care, as
this recent poll indicates:
A majority of Americans say the federal government should guarantee health insurance to every American, especially children, and are willing to pay higher taxes to do it, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.
The "lets keep cutting taxes" crowd are losing their clout as people suffer, yet they keep spouting off their nonsense about nanny governments and voicing their opposition to universal health care instead of listening to the taxpayers.

It's not too late for them to change direction though, and there is a way to provide health care to some Americans [via Tom Paine], which is a start:
Health coverage can be provided to every child in America in 2007. The funding necessary to expand coverage to all children and pregnant women would be the equivalent to just nine days of Defense Department spending in 2007, and three months of the tax cuts to the richest one percent of Americans this year. [emphasis added]
The public wants to do what is morally right. The question is do Republicans?

4 comments:

Lew Scannon said...

The Republicans are looking to do what morally expedient;that which appeals to the rabid anti-abortion and homophobic rapture waiters while not offending the insurance-centric corporocratic part at the core of their base.

Anonymous said...

It's a compelling argument, but the GOP has never seemed be on board with issues that resonate with the electorate. Look at Bush's response to the November debacle.

I'm ready for universal health care. Think the Dems will be in 2008?

Kathy said...

Lew, your point is well-taken. The Republicans are putting money above people's welfare and corporations and insurance companies are aiding and abetting them.

Kvatch, I'm hopeful the Dems will make health care a campaign issue. Edwards, Obama, Clinton and others are on board, as are a majority of Americans. Bush messed up the Medicare drug plan so badly that few people I know trust him or the GOP to solve our health care crisis, so they're depending on the Democrats to do something about it - soon!!

Anonymous said...

That last quote you posted is maddening, isn't it?

You said it perfectly - the right has a pretty odd idea about what morality is.