A big factor for the intense opposition to health care is fundamentalist "religion".

Think about it.

One of the selling points for the mega-churches and the televangelists is that God rewards TRUE CHRISTIANS with prosperity and happiness. This is the source of the immense pressure the disciples of these Prosperity Preachers feel and why quite a few eventually implode: they can't hide their less-than-totally-wonderful lifestyles. They scrimp and borrow and work themselves sick trying to keep up the appearance that they are not just getting by, they are PROSPERING, i.e., they are Good Christians.

So how do these people feel about people who are sick and can't even afford health insurance? Well, they have been programmed to believe that these folks are apparently "not favored" by God. They are sick and poor and, of course, not too happy. Therefore, they are not True Christians.

These uninsureds don't need a public option or single-payer. They just need to "get a job" and "get right with God!"

TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE.

RELIGIOUS CONSCIENCE EXEMPTION:

(A) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) shall not apply to any individual (and any qualifying child residing with such individual) for any period if such individual has in effect an exemption which certifies that such individual is a member of a recognized religious sect or division thereof described in section 1402(g)(1) and an adherent of established tenets or teachings of such sect or division as described in such section.

Page 300 of the bill:

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3962ih.txt.pdf

:thumbsup:
Quite simply laid out, fundies can "opt-out" of anything they personally are offended about.:shrug:

It used to be the religious nutjobs stayed home and didn't vote. But now the churches are interjecting themselves into politics and we are seeing the results. I think it's time to send the IRS after those churches tax free status unless they stop the political proselytizing.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." - Philippians 2:3-4.

For all of the "Christian" pomposity I saw on the steps of the Capitol Thursday, for all of the "say 'God' REALLY LOUD because it will make the liberals mad!" ... I didn't see very much of the attitude exhorted in that verse.

If it's any consolation, we're not all like them. ;)

People don't necessarily have to believe in god to believe in the "prosperity gospel." They just have to believe in the notion that your talents and worth as an individual is directly correlated with your monetary worth. All the "best people" are the ones with the most money, and you can be rich too if you just try hard enough. Poor people just didn't WILL themselves out of poverty enough (ergo, they are lazy and undeserving of assistance).

The appeal of these sets of beliefs is exactly like the appeal of religion. It gives your life validation if you were one of the "chosen" few (that is, even if you happened to be born into wealth), and if you are not as fortunate, it gives you hope that just by wishing and desiring success hard enough, you can achieve it.

Unfortunately, this type of fundamentalism has successfully taken over the entire country.