Want to be used again?

Baptist writer Bruce Gourley traces the history of Southern reactionary conservatism back to Civil War opposition to the abolition of slavery, and finds those sentiments reignited in the opposition to health care reform:

The white anger over Obama’s presidency and health care reform, in the words of protesters, ultimately rests in claims that the federal government is plotting to take away their freedoms and liberties. Video clips of this month’s town hall meetings across the nation include angry senior citizens living on socialized medicine (Medicare) ranting against … socialized medicine. The video clips also reveal claims that the government “outlawed prayer and legalized abortion” and now wants to take away the right to decide one’s own health care, and “we’re not gonna take it anymore!”

The social engineers who are exploiting those old grievances know they’re trafficking in untruths.

Like Ralph Reed, who used Christian conservatives in his promotion of Indian gaming interests and other causes, these groups want to use Christian conservatives for their own purposes.

Reed was out beating the drum again last week, singing what for him is a lucrative old song.

How eager are you to be used, again?

Our Lady of the Death Panels on the Daily Show

This is a thoughtful, courteous discussion:

Part One

Part Two

Too busy for the Daily Show interview? Just read the brief interview with Conservative Southern Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson, who said in part:

I just had a phone call where someone said Sarah Palin’s web site had talked about the House bill having death panels on it where people would be euthanized. How someone could take an end of life directive or a living will as that is nuts. You’re putting the authority in the individual rather than the government. I don’t know how that got so mixed up.

The Isakson interview is here.

How to think theologically about health care

At Street Prophets’ pastordan writes:

It’s not about “us” at all. Harry Jackson, of all people, gets it right when we calls health care reform “reverse classism.” It is! It is about choosing the side of the poor, the working and the middle class over and against the rich. … that’s the side God takes. God has taken a preferential option for the poor, and God will work out the implications of that choice in due time. We are only involved to the extent that we choose to cooperate with the plan or not.

Read the entire piece here.