[CaptainHaplo]

Skybird.....

Your right that there is a paradox. However, as a man of the cloth, perhaps I can address it.

There is a big difference between a "universal" right to something, and the spiritual gift of compassion. Health care is not a RIGHT, it is a service provided by people who work hard. If it was a RIGHT, then those trained to provide it would have the DUTY to provide it, with or without compensation.

Ultimately, that leads to more demand than its worth to those skilled, and thus a shortage of the needed people. How many medical folks do you think you will have once you start demanding their skills for nothing? Granted - that is an extreme - but its used to illustrate a point.

Compassion on the other hand, is not a responsibility either. Spiritually speaking, it is a character trait to strive for. However, compassion, like patience and other positive things, has its limits. To be compassionate does not mean to turn a blind eye and give the shirt off your back without thought. It doesn't mean to look to "protect everyone". It means to look at those who are suffering and desire a way to try and help. However, in almost every biblical illustration of compassion, it is bestowed upon those in need who are in need due to no or limited fault of their own.

It means look at the children who are hungry or sick and get some people to help provide what they need, by choice. It means look at the man or woman beaten in the street, robbed or worse, and go aid them.

It doesn't mean look at those who choose to harm themselves or others, and provide them "blanket protection". It doesn't mean to see those who refuse to help themselves, and do it for them, or enable them to continue.

Now, before someone rants about being "judgemental" (and that always comes up like its some baseball bat they can hit a christian over the head with), there is a difference between judging a person, and discerning whether your compassion will be wasted. The spiritual gift of compassion is not to be given lightly, and is an individual choice.

I was asked once by a very liberal supporter of universal health care, after they mocked faith and people of faith, "well what would your precious Jesus do?". Thinking he had me in a bind, the fool laughed as if a victory was won. The answer was simple. Jesus would create a perfect remedy. However, we are humans, and we can do no such thing. Thus we must discern where our abilities can best be used to support those who need it. This is why compassion is not a global possibility. We are not the Son of God, we are not perfect, and no system we create ever will be. However, to waste what we can do on those who will choose to take that compassion and throw it away, is to ignore the teachings of Jesus. Mercy and compassion are not catch alls, no more than the blood of Jesus is a credit card to swipe after a sin for forgiveness.