In response to my previous post (Taking care of the hyprocrites), someone said this:

... if people see the government [providing health care] and they start thinking they can just stop reaching out to those in need, that's a mistaken perspective, and I think God will hold them accountable for leaving the loving to the government."

This refrain is oft repeated and I need to address its problems.

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Why aren't Christians insisting on public health care, based on the teaching in the bible? Take care of the poor and the sick. It is one of the clearest and most consistent messages in the bible. If I recall correctly, there are thousands of references to taking care of the poor and the sick. Even if there aren't thousands, but merely hundreds, the bible does not vary or waver on the point - they are to be cared for.

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I live in Ohio and I am a Progressive Independent. If Senator Clinton wins the nomination, she will have to do something very impressive to get my vote. If Senator Obama wins the nomination, he will have to do something incredibly stupid to lose my vote. In summary, I'll likely abstain if Hillary gets the nomination, and I'll very likely vote for Barack if he gets the nomination. Superdelegates, please take this into consideration when you vote.

"No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the house. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before the house is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at the truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings." - Patrick Henry

Go read the whole thing. A simple vocabulary shift and it's eerily appropriate in the current political climate.

I don't know if the President has the Constitutional authority to order torture. What I do know, however, is this: Waterboarding is torture. And any person who would order, engage in, allow, or support torture is an evil person. Period. Torture is evil, and any level of acceptance casts a pall over the soul. Such a person cannot be said, however, to be evil to the core, or beyond redemption.

There's a lot of speculation that Bush's war will fuel terrorists and their recruitment for years to come. I don't doubt that myself. But there's another side to it. It's not a silver lining per se, but it does mitigate the otherwise absolute badness of the Tyranny of the Neocons. A whole lot of our soldiers in Iraq, and elsewhere, are being treated like crap by the administration. Will they remember that it was the Republican party that put them in harm's way? Will they remember their fallen friends who might have survived if they'd been properly protected? Will these soldiers understand that Bush's war will increase the risk to America and its citizens, and also thereby increase the degree and frequency of risk next years soldiers will face? I hope so.