A one year old baby boy known in the media as "Baby Joseph" lies in a hospital bed as the government controlled medical system, backed by a court order decides that it is time for a quick death for the infant. A tracheotomy, a surgical procedure that would provide a safe and secure way to use a mechanical ventilator was declined by the Canadian medical system. The doctor said the breathing tube should be removed and little Joseph Maraachli should be allowed to die.
The parents , Moe and Sana Maraachli, obviously wanted to do anything they could to save the little boy. Can you blame them for resisting the Canadian court order which said to remove the child's breathing tube without a replacement and issue a do-not-resusitate mandate ?
Then enter the good news. A number of US and Canadian Pro life groups heard of the tragedy and went to bat for little Joseph. Washington based "Faith and Action" sent a representative, Rev. Pat Mahoney, who prayed with the family and coordinated the work of many organizations. Father Frank Pavone flew to negotiate for the release of the child to come to a US hospital for a second opinion and care. A hospital was located in Missouri and Priests for Life paid for the air ambulance to transport Joseph and his family. According to "Faith and Action" "US doctors now suspect that Joseph was misdiagnosed and may not be as sick as Canadian officials deemed him to be". As Fr. Pavone said he "needs to be in a hospital that cherishes life over the bottom line."
The case of baby Joseph illustrates a number of issues. First it shows that life has been devalued in the medical world and society in general. Secondly, it shows us what happens when the government runs health care and of necessity must approve some procedures and deny others as their budgets are finite. Thirdly, it shows us that if those who believe in the worth and value of every life will unite, amazing, life-saving things can happen.
Government taking over healthcare is not the solution. Forcing all people into a system which cannot cope with individual issues creates more problems then it solves- and at great expense in money and in the devaluation of the individual. The big government approach is doomed to failure.
To this point I'm sure many of my conservative friends would be in agreement. However I would also say that those who are fiscal conservatives only also miss the mark on such a case. If all we are concerned with is our bottom line and what the government shouldn't do then we miss the power and love that can change society one person at a time. A facebook friend, Corie Rafols Moore, has asked for prayer for a small child of her friends for whom surgery is being denied because "she's going to die anyway". ..and this is in America. Insurance companies can be equally heartless. Fiscal conservatism which teaches personal responsibility is so necessary but only when wed to social conservatism that says there are needs that should be met by a caring people. No, the government should not run the show a la Obamacare or Romneycare but the government as a last resort can be a safety net for kids who have no other option as in Gov. Huckabee's ArkKids program which he instituted while Governor. Gov. Huckabee has said repeatedly that the government is not the first option. He believes that personal resonsibility is the first source of help. As a society it seems we have strayed in a 360 degree direction from (Democratic )president John F Kennedy when he said "ask not what your country can do for you..." Today we ask at every juncture. Help begins with all of us taking responsibility. Secondly Gov. Huckabee points out that churches and other non-governmental agencies should be encouraged to reach out to those who are truly needy. In a recent phone interview the Governor pointed out that if Christian churches would reach out with all the help in their power the needs would be dramatically lessened. After all other avenues have been exhausted the care of the American people through their government can be expressed. Thats a far cry from the government intruding on all of our care.
I first became attracted to the candidacy of Mike Huckabee in 2007 when I saw that he was the most articulate spokesman out there for the sanctity of Human life. My support was cemented when I saw that his Christian worldview made him in line with a whole plethera of beliefs that I espouse. And the support was made still stronger when I found our aggreement on fiscal issues such as the need to totally revamp a chaotic tax system to foreign policy issues such as the need to support wholeheartedly the nation of Israel. But the key to me has always been his status as the proponent of valuing every life from conception to natural death. Its not just about abortion. Its about saying that yes, that baby in the womb is valuable. And yes, the small child without a family is valuable, yes the student in the schoolroom is valuable, yes, the soldier in battle is valuable and we will not leave him behind, yes, the elderly are precious in the eyes of their creator as well. This passion does not mean that the government runs our lives from cradle to grave and thus provides the care we need. The government is utterly unable , unprepared, and untasked in the constitution for such a job. Only God is capable of dealing with the enormous needs of any of our lives. We need a leader who inspires us once again to ask not what your country can do for us - but rather to ask what we can do for ourselves, for others and for our country. There comes a time when the government is quite useful (National defense, roads etc. come to mind) but the government should not be our Savior. God provided that in the person of His Son. When put in its proper, subserviant role, the government if led by the right person can echo and support that caring view that I think still is there somewhere deep in the heart of the American people. I believe Mike Huckabee is that leader.
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