Timothy Parker was right on in the piece he wrote in last week’s paper. It is time those of us in Fayette County, who do not ascribe to the same extreme views as many who routinely speak out, let our voices be heard.
Those of us who grew up poor know all too well what it is like to not get to go to a doctor for a sore throat and it turns out to be strep and we end up with rheumatic fever.
I know too many people that do not have health insurance presently and they have to treat themselves as best they know how.
These people are not on any kind of public assistance, they work hard but simply cannot feed themselves, pay car insurance, buy gas, pay the rent or mortgage payment and do what is necessary to live day to day and then buy health insurance.
Their resources end before these necessities are all paid for. And if their old car breaks down, where is the money going to come from to fix it?
The stresses that this kind of life bring on is overwhelming for them. We should be ashamed. We live in the wealthiest country in the world, not to mention the fact that the majority calls themselves born-again Christians and we allow this atrocity to continue.
I think it would do some Christians a lot of good to get in God’s Word and read (without preconceived notions) what it says about the poor. I did.
I am one of those born-again Christians who had their beliefs too far to the right for far too many years. Now, if something does not line up with what God’s word says, I want to adjust my thinking to get in line with the truth.
Here’s one of my favorite passages pertaining to the poor, “Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord will preserve him and keep him alive. And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him on the bed of his illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed.”Psalm 41: 1-3.
Now to those of you who will try to find a scripture to counter that, all I can say is, I was where you are at one time, I even read Rush Limbaugh’s book years ago (someone loaned it to me). It would be a good idea to ask yourself, WWJD.
To those in Washington, I say, raise my taxes. I do not make over $250,000 but I have enough to share with those who are less fortunate. Let’s forsake our American god of materialism and get our focus where it should be. Universal healthcare is long overdue.
Rita Cole
Peachtree City, Ga.
