A Fine Point

It is not normal to wake up at 4 am with a sick stomach.  Yet, once again at the conclusion of an American election, my body speaks more forthrightly than I can find words to express. 

But not finding words has never been a reason for me to stop speaking. Or writing.
 
I would be dim to pay no attention to last night's vote.  Republicans won the House and nearly won the Senate. Americans overwhelmingly have spoken in favor of fiscal conservatism.  Including a loud and braying call to repeal "Obamacare."

I've got to figure this out and I can't do it abstractly. I can only do it concretely.

Meet Marie.  She is the church's full-time custodian.  She has no insurance.  Her son, Matt, has insurance through the state of Illinois' KidCare.  (which I guess technically we hate, since it is a program supported by tax dollars).  To purchase insurance for Marie will cost in the neighborhood of $500 per month for a program with a $1000 deductible, 80% coverage and no dental.  So, $6000 per year on a roughly $28,000 salary, or an additional 21% in cost to the church on top of her salary.

With our vote we have declared:  No National Healthcare.  No "socialized" medicine.  We want to keep doing it the way we've been doing it.  So I'm correct to assume the responsibility for her insurance rests squarely on the shoulders of her employers, the church?

I arrive at this conclusion making the following presumptions:
1.  People who work full-time (not those slacker, unemployed welfare people who have socialized health care coverage through Medicaid) but people who are holding up their end of the American bargain, which is to be employed and pay taxes, should reasonably expect America to uphold its end of the bargain, which is to provide healthcare.

2.  Employers in our country, by and large, have been the primary providers of healthcare.  (except for all the retired people who also have socialized health care coverage through Medicare). 

If Point 1 and Point 2 are true, then it is my church's obligation (and every other small business) to provide insurance for their full-time employees, right?

But, our current economic climate says small business should be exempt because the high cost of health insurance would seriously threaten a small business' economic viability.

So, my former conclusion is wrong.  What we have voted for is this:  Marie, who makes about $28,000 per year, should go without insurance or pay her own annual premiums of $6000. 

Not to put too fine a point on it, but after taxes and insurance premiums Marie will take home about $1483 per month.  No worries.  A mortgage on a modest home will run around $600.  Food for two will be about $400 per month.  Car payment of $200.  Gas in the neighborhood of $100.  Utilities for $100? That leaves $83 for dental care, or clothing, or a car repair, or public school fees, or school supplies, or a movie with her son, or a birthday gift for her mom or her grandson.  She'll be fine, right?

Meanwhile, the congregation, the compassionate followers of Jesus Christ who stand on the side of justice and the marginalized are off the hook, while we trot off to the doctor with our insurance cards in hand because our full-time employment, which pays more to start with, also provides health insurance. 

How many Maries in the US face this bleak future?

Really?  This is the plan?  This is what caused Americans across our great nation to rejoice?  What am I missing that I cannot rejoice?

My stomach hurts and my faith is challenged.  Not my faith in God; my faith in the goodwill of a nation to ensure that the basic needs of all its citizens are met.