by Sidney Sweeting, DDS
Those of us who are opposed to this Government’s hasty and ill-conceived health care plan expect insults from the members of Government, it is their version of honest debate. They have accused us of acting out of self-interest, of not being patriotic and unconcerned about the average Bahamian.
Now there is a new twist – we are spiritually immature, according to Rev Dr William Thompson, head of the Bahamas Christian Council.
I question whether Dr.Thompson has read the NHI bill that was rushed through Parliament.
If he has not read it then his statement is very irresponsible.
If he has read it and listened to the honest criticism then he is the one with a problem.
Unfair labeling of honest critics is expected of politicians, but the clergy!
Perhaps Dr.Thompson will be prepared to explain to his flock why they are unable to get the cradle to the grave medical treatment that this Government is promising while the country is suffering through an economic disaster and a health care nightmare as a result of this plan that he believes will be a health care utopia.
The statement by Rev Dr. William Thompson that “those in leadership positions in the country who oppose the National Health Insurance Plan are ‘spiritually immature’” is socially irresponsible. Different people who are reasonable, of good conscience, and have high moral standards view things differently and have differing opinions, especially when the issue is complex, simply because everyone is different.
Instead of marginalizing those with opposing points of view the correct social response should be the encouragement of healthy discussion in order to freely share information and knowledge with the recognition that each individual has a right to their own opinion.
The statement is also spiritually abusive in that he has used his religious authority in an attempt to manipulate a purely political position. NHI can only be viewed as political at this stage since there is no detailed plan that has been provided to the Bahamian public. Blind faith in God may be spiritually mature, however blind faith in Government is plain stupid.