My recent experience of the UK National Health Service (long post)

[Sea Demon]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

but one would think that Christians would be the first ones to support a system that protects everyone. That is not meant to demean anyone who is Christian, but rather to point out the seeming paradox of values in any large society; and American society on the whole claims the mantle of Christianity.

As a Christian, I can say that it is not Christian to support a system that subjects the life and property of "free" people to the claws of government. Nor is it Christian to create and grow dependancy on such a system. Thusly, government control at the expense of individual freedom is not Christian at all.

It is Christian for individuals to pursue a system that upholds the liberty of people, protects their life and property, and thus can use their own resources to help people under their own free will. America acts as a Christian nation when free individuals are free to help those around them, without empowering government to be the arbiter of who has what at the voting boot. Voting away other people's property or freedom for redistributive purposes is utterly antithetical to Christian values.

Especially as we've seen the poor results of government acting as a charity. Often times it being destructive to many people. I just can't see any Christian helping others through an all powrful government at the expense of freedom, economic liberty, and property rights. I'm of the opinion trying to use government iin this way actually kills the true spirit of giving, as it is actually people being generous with other people's resources.