Paragraphs 33 & 46 of Pope Leo XII’s open letter, “Rerum Novarum” [1], provide remarkable guidance as it comes to healthcare:

33. There is another and deeper consideration which must not be lost sight of. As regards the State, the interests of all, whether high or low, are equal. The members of the working classes are citizens by nature and by the same right as the rich; they are real parts, living the life which makes up, through the family, the body of the commonwealth; and it need hardly be said that they are in every city very largely in the majority. It would be irrational to neglect one portion of the citizens and favor another, and therefore the public administration must duly and solicitously provide for the welfare and the comfort of the working classes; otherwise, that law of justice will be violated which ordains that each man shall have his due. To cite the wise words of St. Thomas Aquinas: “As the part and the whole are in a certain sense identical, so that which belongs to the whole in a sense belongs to the part.”(27) Among the many and grave duties of rulers who would do their best for the people, the first and chief is to act with strict justice – with that justice which is called distributive – toward each and every class alike.

46. If a workman’s wages be sufficient to enable him comfortably to support himself, his wife, and his children, he will find it easy, if he be a sensible man, to practice thrift, and he will not fail, by cutting down expenses, to put by some little savings and thus secure a modest source of income. Nature itself would urge him to this. We have seen that this great labor question cannot be solved save by assuming as a principle that private ownership must be held sacred and inviolable. The law, therefore, should favor ownership, and its policy should be to induce as many as possible of the people to become owners.

Healthcare is clearly a requirement for comfort and welfare. Further, the risks we are born with and the risks we cannot control are enemies of ownership, as they artificially alter our discount rates. The State should provide healthcare for its citizens.

VAGrandmotherof4,

If “Billary” means more NAFTA, more WTO, more welfare reform, and more markets, then that would be a good thing.

Purpleslog & Steve,

I wonder if those Democrats who supported Obama and insisted that the long primary campaign was good for the party still feel this way? I doubt it. [2]

Galrahn,

Thanks! I particularly liked your post on the USS Lassen’s recent visit to Shanghai! [3]

[1] http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/leo_xiii/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum_en.html
[2] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/04/14/at-least-willie-horton-didnt-question-why-you-confess-your-religion.html
[3] http://informationdissemination.blogspot.com/2008/04/sunday-photo-album-pictures-from.html

Can someone find me a President who will arrange for me to have Dental?

Seriously…this is the 21st Century, and I am in danger of losing my life because I can’t afford extensive dental work!

Maybe if I had a gun I’d be clutching it.

Bitterness already/easily/widely available.

Amen. Nor should they.

As a new reader, I find your analysis of politics very insightful. Very cool blog sir.

And Dan, I can’t find your email address anywhere, could you email me? I have a question on another matter.

Hillary…another Billary – it’s all the same.