I rarely blog about matters political. After all my 44 years in the US is merely a temporary fling. I begin, in the modern manner, which I normally avoid, by waxing anecdotal.
My grandfather was born in St. Lucia or mixws race ancestry. I first met him after World War 2 and disgraced my self by exclaiming “My Grandpa is a Black Man.” He trained as a doctor at the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, I have his diplomas on my bookshelf. He practiced before the age of national health plans. He visited his patients in their homes, was paid in money, chickens, eggs and sometimes not at all. He believed that the Hippocratic oath obliged him to treat all, wheter he received payment or not.
My mother was a Yorkshire coal miner’s daughter. She didn’t go to High School. Determined to be a qualified nurse she sent applications all over England and was constantly rejected until a hospital chief nurse decided to take the risk and admitted her to nursing school. She “graduated” with a gold medal and went on to complete midwifery training. She was very proud to place after her name, SCN, SCM, State Certified Nurse, State Certified Midwife. Before National Health came into law, she visited all the sick in the villages which were her “parish” and delivered most of the babies, whether she was paid or not. It was her calling.
I was too young when the National Health system came into play in England. No doubt there were those who fought against it because they could afford to pay and were damned if they would pay fo the poor to receive medical attention. I presume some of the opponents were doctors and some Insurance Company.
My cousin’s husband has just had a heart operation in England. It was paid for on the National Health. Mercifully Jack is doing well. He waited a few weeks, true. He wasn’t in great danger and if he had been would have been seen to immediately.
What baffles me totally is how Christians can support the idea that the right to “Life”, as in Liberty and Happiness, is somehow a lesser right than the right to a free education. It baffles me that people can oppose giving medical care to anyone in need. Baffling and deeply troubling.
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Anglican Thoughts 
Being also from the other side of the pond I agree wholeheartedly. For me health care for all, regardless of economic circumstances, is the sign of a civilized society. It does indeed rank with education and somehow I believe that society owes it to itself to ensure equal access and treatment in the arena of health care.
Last week we celebrated the Feast of the Holy And Unmercenary Doctors Cosmas and Damian. There were actually three such pairs of the same names, presumably the first lot inspired the others to emulate them, even to the extent of taking their names.
How far we have fome from that! And also to proclaim that Abraham was dead wrong in what he said to the rich man who left the health care of Lazarus to the dogs.