All is Lost

This healthcare debate has been fascinating. I have followed it pretty closely. My interests were not so much what the bill contained (or didn't) it was not so much conservative or liberal, lifer or choice, socialist or imperialist, but was instead a study in conflict management. The give and take of the argument.

Frankly the actual bill and all it contains gives me "tired head." I suspect the 500 or so legislators haven't read the 2800 page bill either, probably gives them tired head as well. Although it does make me wonder if the poor staffer who had to type the stinking thing didn't load a few things, just to see if anyone was reading it.

"Your claim is denied for surgery on your in-grown toenail on your right foot."
"How can you deny this claim?! I had surgery just last year on the other foot!"
"Well, I'm sorry, on page 2,268 of the ObamaCare Bill, it excludes right feet."
"That's outrageous! This is bigotry, it is probably racial! What will us righties do?!"
"You folks on the right had your chance, now move along."

You can see where this is going.

What really was fascinating was the posing. The casting of the other side as all that represents evil in our society. The socialists are trying to take over every facet of our lives, the imperialists are trying to make sure big business is running everything. We will have "death panels" Oh wait, it seems pretty clear that we are all going to face a death panel at some point. Frankly, at the end for me the last thing you want to do is gather an audience, talk about a sermon. "I have a few things I want to get off my chest, just stand up when I mention your name..."
So each side assigned the worst possible motives to the other side and came up with really scary terms to describe them. I had a minor skirmish with my M-i-L when she was railing against Obama and what a liar he was, and I mentioned that, in my opinion, they were all liars. Our discussion basically devolved into a "are to" "are not" sort of conversation. However, I modestly point out that scripture is on my side, Psalms 116 says, "In my despair, I cried, 'all men are liars.'" Only slightly out of context.

So where does this go now? I think the conservatives are dug in. Obama could now suggest that all legislation will be GOP written and they will still vote against it. The system is now officially locked down. Other bills may pass, but it will be such an ordeal that it won't mean much. I am stunned that men and women as bright as these folks are supposed to be didn't see this coming. When you exclude one side from the process, then strip them of "face" as we mediators call it, you are guaranteed a stand-off, every time.

So how do I feel about this new legislation? The words to the old song come to mind, "This world is not my home, I'm just a'passing through." Personally I think the single thing that is preventing Christ-view people from maturing is their money. So if we lose some of it, it may help in the long run. I always try to remember that in other countries men and women of faith are being martyred. This kind of brings me back to reality, that we live in an incredibly ego-centric society. The I-am-second campaign is not gaining much momentum here in America (have you noticed it is always someone on the ad who has a little pocket change?) If you are all worked up over the new world order, feel that life as we know it is over, that all is lost, break out the old book, read the Gospels, see if any of that makes you feel better. It does me.

Anyway, Godspeed out there. I think I will go have this toe looked at.
Don