WWJD

I think it is important to start with what this is not. WWJD is normally shorthand for What Would Jesus Do. There seem to be lots of opinions about that. Many seem to think they know the mind of God. I, in all honesty, do not. I understand we have free choice but I have difficulty reconciling free choice with how many religious folks are willing to treat their fellow human beings. We have choices to make as individuals and as a nation. Today is about basic human needs. Food, shelter, clothing and health care. Today WWJD is What Would Jeff Do.

 This is one of the graphics I have seen with the highest estimate of uninsured under the current proposal pending in Congress. It saddens me that the number in the middle is accurate. I spent part of my adult life in the uninsured category. Those who have never been in that position will never understand how stressful that can be. You make too much to be on a government medical program and too little to afford the insurance offered by your employer. We had children. You were a heartbeat away from disaster. A fall, an unexpected illness, any kind of accident would change your circumstances perhaps forever. There are those in Congress who argue that the new health plan will give you access to health care. I remember having access back in those days when I did not have insurance. It was a choice. You had the option of having insurance but that left insufficient money for housing and food. What good is an option you cannot afford?

It isn't often that I agree with a religious leader. The question becomes this. How do we get from where we are to universal health care?

We spend a staggering amount of money on weapons of war. The other day we (the American taxpayer) spent about a million dollars to see if a Patriot missile could shoot down an unmanned drone aircraft. It was a drone you could buy for a few hundred dollars at Amazon. If it makes you feel safer, it did work. What could we have done with that million dollars? Or with this money?

Maybe the graphic below will help put our spending priorities in order.

Do we really need two more of those?

I am perhaps a bit odd. I am pro-choice and pro-life. I would prefer there were no abortions but I am unwilling to substitute my judgement for that of a woman who is faced with that choice. I do wonder why we are so willing as a country to fight for the unborn and at the same time less willing to assist in the health care, nutrition, education and housing of the child after it is born?

The graphic above shows how many hours you would have to work to afford a one bedroom apartment at the fair market rent rate in each state if you made minimum wage. I understand there is considerable opposition to raising the federal minimum wage. States have gone so far as preventing local governments from raising the minimum wage in their area. Many in Congress argue that decisions would be better made at the state or local level. That is, of course, until a decision is made they do not approve. Things like legalized marijuana and increasing the minimum wage. The minimum wage must be a living wage.

So, WWJD? We must provide for the basic needs of all our citizens. Food, shelter, clothing, education, and healthcare. They are our fundamental needs and we have a right to them and a responsibility to provide them to each citizens of our nation. The argument we cannot afford them is stupid. We are too willing to feed our war machine rather than care for our neighbors. It is wrong. It will lead to our ultimate undoing as a nation.