Citizens of the UK have enjoyed the benefits of the Welfare State for generations. As I lay in bed and reflected on the care I was receiving from the hospital staff, the drugs being supplied, the excellent meals, I was so grateful that I did not have to pay for that directly.
My taxes and National Insurance contributions over my working life were my part in making a free National Health Service possible. My fellow-citizens paid their part too. Some of us more than others, as our incomes differed, yet all get the same access.
Some people, good brethren among them, look on State Welfare as if it is Socialism. They go to the root of public welfare, the authority and mandate of the State, and insist that the State goes beyond its mandate when it intervenes to supply the needs of its citizens. The only legitimate role they see for the State is to defend the nation from foreign aggression and from criminality at home. Exactly where they draw the line on State intervention may differ – I reckon many will be happy for the State to employ fire-fighters as well as policemen. But here I will make the case for welfare as opposed to their minimalist understanding of the State's role in governance of the nation.
The mandate given to the State by God is clearly stated in several Scripture passages. The most famous is that given in Paul's letter to the Romans:
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
Peter also addresses the issue of the Christian and the State:
1 Peter 2:13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Do these texts limit the State to restraining criminality internally and military defence toward external foes? Not at all.
They tell us that the State is ordained to not only defend us from criminals and foreign foes, but to be for our good; to not only punish the wicked but to praise those who do good.
In addition to that, the role of the State is revealed in the rest of Scripture to be pastoral; the king is appointed to care for his people as a shepherd cares for his sheep.
2 Samuel 5:2 Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ”
Isaiah 44:28 Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd,
And he shall perform all My pleasure,
Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,”
And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.” ’
Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,”
And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.” ’
Jeremiah 25:35 And the shepherds will have no way to flee,
Nor the leaders of the flock to escape.
Nor the leaders of the flock to escape.
Ezekiel 34:10 Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.”
Nahum 3:18 Your shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria;
Your nobles rest in the dust.
Your people are scattered on the mountains,
And no one gathers them.
Matthew 2:6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
The shepherd not only defends the sheep from predators, he leads them to good pasture, and treats their sickness and injuries. The welfare of the flock is his mandate.
Same for those whom God has appointed rulers over a nation. God will require an accounting for that office. Lazy or abusive rulers will answer for it in the day of Judgment.
So it is not right that the State sits on its hands and expects each citizen to look after his/her own welfare, no matter their resources and circumstances. It is perfectly within the State’s duties to tax everyone to ensure sufficient resources will be available for those in need. Medical care, basic food and shelter. No one should have to live on the streets or go hungry, or suffer without medical care.
Not that the State has to be directly involved in operating a NHS – it would be sufficient for them to require everyone to enter a private medical insurance scheme of the person's choice. As long as the State makes sure it works for all.
Nor is the State obliged to aid those who are able to work but refuse to. The Scripture gives the rule : Those who will not work, should not eat:
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
I thank God for the NHS the governments of the UK set up and continue to fund. Yes, it could be organized and funded a lot better, but it is a blessing even in its neglected state.
⏭Ian Major grew up a heathen Protestant, was converted at 17. He lives out his Evangelical faith as a Baptist.
Well that's a wide ranging and deranged way of looking at things Ian.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a disconnect in your thinking about what socialism is, and you are falling into that Tory trap of assuming every aspect of socialism is bad.
The NHS was set up to look after the people, the same people who thought that if they could afford a war they could afford a healthcare system. Outrageous I know, what on earth were they thinking?
The absolute worse thing anyone can do is involve the'for profit' private sector. Chomsky warns us rather starkly, the capitalist wants to defund, run it into the ground and sell it off to his corporate pals who will jack the price up so much that the very lowest in society will be denied basic care due to the horrendous crime of being poor.
I'm glad you are recieving treatment and benefiting from the NHS but would point out that it may be a tad more charitable, and dare I say Christian of you if you would be so kind not to promote it's death by oddly attempting to use the term 'socialism' as a pejorative.
Quite frankly it's insulting and hypocritical.
Steve - I took a much less jaundiced view of the piece because I sensed Ian was trying to promote the concept of the NHS against a cruel right wing perspective which wants the state to stick almost exclusively to defending order against internal or external threat.
DeleteGovernment is so essential to modern societies that it is impossible for me to comprehend how society can function without them. But if that function is limited to law and order issues, and the poor can die on the streets so long as they do it in an orderly fashion, then the value of government is undermined. At root all wars and much conflict is about who should govern or how they should govern.
Steve, as AM said, it was originally addressed to those who fear that State Welfare is an open door to neck-shots and gulags.
ReplyDeleteI am merely showing them that is not the case.
Yes, I share your fear that private enterprise would run the NHS in survival mode. That's why I said the State would have to make sure it actually worked.
"When my neighbour quotes scripture, I count my sheep."
ReplyDeleteThe Dude 17:98
This parable isn't concerned with the welfare of the sheep, indeed even the Shepard wants to feast, fleece or fuck the sheep, rather it is a metaphor regarding the unintended consequences of preaching ideas which haven't been entirely worked out. Like...
"Not that the State has to be directly involved in operating a NHS – it would be sufficient for them to require everyone to enter a private medical insurance scheme of the person's choice. As long as the State makes sure it works for all."
...which is a model of Private-Public Partnership, which is privatizations first step. The State, particularly right wing Tory governments who invariably are whores for their corporate mates will be the very epitome of an absentee landlord who simply does not give a fuck.
Steve, I agree that many governments are biased to their core supporters, and so cannot be trusted to control PPPs. I was only giving the principle, that it could be worked. I wouldn't trust this or any recent UK government to do so.
ReplyDelete