While I was sleeping, a health care reform bill passed the House. That's nice. Now if it passes the Senate and becomes law, about a million people a year who would otherwise declare bankruptcy when faced with mounting bills for medicine and other medical expenses probably won't have to. And around 40,000 people a year will get to keep on living instead of dying from a preventable illness or medical complication.
It's hard to believe, but 215 Representatives, mostly Republicans, voted against the measure.
I have a modest proposal: Each of those no-voting Representatives should have to attend the funerals of those who die for lack of health care. Since the new proposals won't take effect for a while, there are still certain to be a few thousand who will die this year alone before the legislation is enacted.
And before the Senate even has time to vote, thousands of families who won't get a chance to purchase affordable insurance on the new exchanges will have to declare bankruptcy when faced with the cost of medical treatment. I propose that the dissenting Representatives have to explain to their creditors why they didn't vote for legislation that would have prevented this from happening in the future.
And then all 215 should be striped of their own health insurance, so that one day they will have to face the choice of paying their mortgage or paying for a daughter's operation.
And finally, I propose that those Representatives who voted against providing health care for all Americans be excommunicated from their church congregations.
Because Jesus dies just a little inside every time someone votes to deny one of His loved ones health care.
