Comments on: Religion in Senate Healthcare Bill

By: Freethinker

Freethinker — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:36:38 +0000

I wanted to ask about your article. What about Native American healers and the use of Chinese medicine are these being covered in the Senate Bill? I see them as spiritually based but not religious and also they are not praying over someone, but offering alternative to Western Medicine.

By: Second Class Citizen Extraordinaire. — The Gaytheists

Second Class Citizen Extraordinaire. — The Gaytheists — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:30:22 +0000

[...] this was a post about religious privilege and the health care debate. I had a relatively thoughtful discussion about how we were in danger [...]

By: muggle

muggle — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:18:45 +0000

Might as well cover snake oil. Same difference.

I’ll point out that nobody wins with anarchy. Nobody. Not even the big, bad bully that kicks everyone else’s ass and takes their stuff at will.

By: Loren Petrich

Loren Petrich — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:38:47 +0000

So governments are the cause of all the trouble in the world?

And how “small” should a government be? Zero size?

Also, I get suspicious when I see such lame utopian rhetoric as “Everybody wins”. Do the makers of such rhetoric believe it themselves? I seriously doubt it.

By: David

David — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:06:21 +0000

Mister Trickster — Have you read any of the many, many, many articles on http:/www.reason.com/blog or http://www.cato-at-liberty.org detailing why health care is so expensive under our current government regulations? Or David Goldhill’s Atlantic article (http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200909/health-care) or John Mackey’s WSJ Op-ed (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204251404574342170072865070.html)? I would recommend becoming educated on the subject. There’s a lot of good information there.

By: Matt D

Matt D — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:37:07 +0000

This is such bullshit.

Dont think this is about religion – this is about ripping of the system.

How easy would it be make bogus claims if you can claim for prayer? The prayee might even get some back from the church to cover any out of pocket costs. These slimy religious freaks are great at flim-flamming money from the gullible.

This must surely be a stunt to derail the debate about govt funded health care (fortunatley in Australia we have a pretty damn good govt funded system).

This cant happen – not even in America…can it?…

By: sc0tt

sc0tt — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:23:25 +0000

How is the fee set for praying over a sick person? Do the prayer practitioners give a written estimate of the costs ahead of time, with different rates for different diseases, different amounts of prayer, different clerical qualifications of the prayer delivery specialists?

I imagine they’d have to see a prayer “gatekeeper” or primary prayer practitioner first who would give them a referal to a healing prayer specialist. Of course that would all be subject to the formulary of prayers covered by the public plan and the patient would still be responsible for unreimbursed prayer payments.

By: beckster

beckster — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:18:17 +0000

@Miko – I am trying to get pregnant and can only get maternity coverage from ONE health insurance company. Talk about choices. I would love to be able to choose from a for-profit health insurance company with a CEO making millions of dollars in bonuses and a non-profit public plan. I would choose the public plan, even if it cost me more and meant I had to wait an extra week for a routine appointment. As it is, I have no choice.

If only prayer could prevent an emergency c-section. sigh. . .

By: writerdd

writerdd — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:14:45 +0000

Jesus F-ing Christ. I can’t think of anything else to say. Sorry.

By: Mister Trickster

Mister Trickster — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:09:41 +0000

Whoops. The end of the quote should have been wins instead of existed.

Either way, nice article, Jesse.