Yes, Health Care Reform is a Civil Rights Issue.

[soupkitchen]

And the President should sell it as such. This is his trump card, to turn access to health care into the moral imperative of the day.

Simply put, the Declaration of Independence states that all people are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, none of which is possible if enslaved to sickness and debt.

Access to health care then becomes a natural extension of the ideals proposed in the Declaration of Independence as well as the natural duty of a Congress constitutionally charged with the responsibility of providing for the General Welfare of the United States.

And when you turn health care into a civil rights issue a funny thing happens. It turn out that the same forces opposing health care are the same forces that have opposed every civil rights issue in the history of the United States. (And who have been defeated in every civil rights argument when confronted in debate head on.)

And let's not forget the obvious here: minorities are disproportionately under-insured. And it's rather amazing how that fact has been underplayed: muted by the left, shouted over by the right.

While I'm not oblivious to the economic advantages to Health Care reform, the truth is, as we're finding out, economic arguments can be bought and sold, are themselves subject to the corruption of the market place.

But framed as a moral question, as a civil rights issue, you either want all citizens to inherit the promised legacy of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, or you don't. You either align yourself with those who sacrificed to make America a better country, or side with the Plantation owners and the overseers: or there modern incarnation: the corporation and the conservative talk show host (always ready to apply the lash, are they not?)

Again, I have faith in the American people. Define Health Care as a civil rights issue, health care wins. Make it all about Economics and you're letting the Devil play the Devil's game.

[JuniperLea]

1. I think he should appeal to the so-called Christian Right...

This is God's work. All the anti-choice people are being scared off by the "abortions will be easier to get" meme.