Bad economy means more abortions and more abortions means bad economies

We truly do get what we deserve, and we deserve God's wrath. I just hope the believers can handle it and don't turn weak, especially when the weak fall and are asking for forgiveness and prayer.

Given that the reason people are turning to PP for abortion services is that they can't afford the hospital bills associated with pregnancy, would it make sense to have national health insurance? That would certainly solve at least part of the problem in a compassionate way.
BTW, what did the abortion numbers look like in the 90's? I recall things were going pretty well then.

Stick to pastoring, Steve. Economics isn't your strong suit.

Stick to pastoring? THat's precisely what I'm doing… I'm offering free commentary for people on what Bible says about how to be blessed and what brings curse upon a land. At some point God lifts prosperity off a land when he deems their rejection of him is complete. The 90's were a grace period.

But you don't care about the Bible. Even so, the point could be made without it. Abortion costs society dearly. Kill off 40 or 50 million potential citizens, and you just might suffer a 35 TRILLION-dollar hit to your GDP.

And some dude - what should I tell you to stick to?  Cartooning? It seems to me you have an opinion about everything but you have expertise in what???

"And some dude - what should I tell you to stick to? Cartooning? It seems to me you have an opinion about everything but you have expertise in what???"

l3wis is the cartoonist. My expertise is in business, economics, and finance with a creative outlet in the kitchen.
I can tell you without a doubt that more people does not man more wealth for everyone. If that was true, India would be paradise.
I simply posed a question: Given that many women are turning to PP for abortion services due to the staggering costs associated with giving birth, does it make sense to institute a national health insurance program?

So we've established you are not expert either. I have taken a few econ classes and have read a few books too, and more.

The govt can't run the DMV, I can't wait to see what they do to healthcare.

What staggering costs for giving birth?

Sure - if you actually believe what the insurance companies pay the hospitals for a birth and delivery…But, those values are artificially inflated.

Try going in as a cash or self-pay patient…it's MUCH cheaper.

A typical delivery and birth (in reality not insurance claims) costs between 3,000-7,000….with a hospital stay. A midwife…maybe $1500. Now, if you get the insurance rip-off prices, then you end up seeing statements for 15+G…absurd.

Dude…universal health care…(my personal preference) I don't want it. I don't have insurance now, and don't want any.

my fellow south dakotans who voted NO because they think the state needs to put its money some where besides lawyer fees to defnend the abortion law need to read this http://www.nrlc.org/news/2001/NRL01/laura.html

some dude has ""economic expertise"" my ass. sounds like he works at citi with the rest of us ""experts"" in finance and business and economics. the only thing he ""knows"" is good beer and the talking points of his political party the democrats. we go to another church but listen to steves podcast some times and he spoke on the subject of biblical economics one time. pastor steve, you should talk about that here becuaes democrats think the goverment is the SOurce of every thing. you taught that verse about where ""God gives the power to make wealth"" and how all good things come from Him. the age old question for those who believe in God is ""why do the wicked prosper"" the answer is they may for a while but God is just and the good rabbi here is right that our ""grace period"" seems to be coming to a end. this is from the link given to us already on an economic crash coming::

Howard recalled his 1997 report titled, “The Abortion Bomb: America’s Demographic Disaster.” In it he said, “I see little hope that we can avoid an eventual crash on Wall Street that will make the 1930’s look like cashing in your cards after a bad game of Monopoly."

He also predicted, "It will last longer than the Great Depression, and if it takes a war to get out of it - as happened with World War II - America as we know it may not survive."

Mr expert ….thanks for your comments.

Your last thought… f it takes a war to get out of it - as happened with World War II - America as we know it may not survive.

Can I say Amen to that? (is it ok to say so?)

amen
that last thought i was a quoting from the link

So many assumtions, so little time… where to begin?

First, I don't work at Citi. It is a soulless and depressing place, just like all the other cubicle jungles in town.
Second, I'm not a democrat. I'm just playing devil's advocate and seeing if pastor Steve would be willing to put his money where his mouth is. I have no doubt that a national health insurance system (read: not universal healthcare) would reduce abortion numbers - certainly more so than a patchwork of states with different laws/bans.
If you want to look to the Bible for the source of this nation's (and the world's) economic woes, look up the parts about greed and fear. Greed causes inflated markets, fear causes massive selloffs.
Finally, if you had an answer to the cheapo brigade, why wasn't it used during the campaign?

Oh, and going without insurance is irresponsible. Who pays your bills if you get hit by a bus and have to be sewn/stapled/screwed back together?

Yeah, I knew you were quoting from the article. I was quoting your quoting from the article…so I was quoting you…quoting the article.

I remember early in my marriage 20 years ago, being without health care Planned Parenthood was actually very helpful with providing me with low cost birth control and yearly pap smears. Thanks to Planned Parenthood I discovered that my wonderful church going christian husband had given me a nice std, genital warts. i may not have 'saved myself for marriage, but I did for my husband, and that was my repayment.
Had it not been for PP I might not have been informed due to the fact that we could not afford a visit to a regular doctor.
After becoming pregnant a few year later, with health insurance, it was an AVERA doctor who directed me to Leslee Unruhs favorite obgyn, Buck Wiliams to help me with my problem.

Planned Parenthood is not the problem, ignorance is.

going without insurance is irresponsible. Who pays your bills if you get hit by a bus and have to be sewn/stapled/screwed back together?

I'm sorry - that is your opinion…based on the fear of "what if's".

I pay my own bills, if I have bills.

I have heard that rebut too many times, and frankly I am tired of debating it. It's a cyclical and nonsensical debate - pinning one conviction against another.

I am against insurance as a whole. I only have that which I am legally required to have…and that is my personal conviction. I do not concern myself with "what if" fear mongering tactics. Also, I don't think any less of those who feel the need to have insurance.

When health care costs are paid by someone other than the person receiving care, typically an insurance company or the government, the Biblical model outlined in Galatians 6:2 is undermined. I believe many of the current problems with the health care system are the direct result of restricting personal freedom and responsibility through dependence on third-party payers. The church should respond based not on what you can receive financially if you have a need, but how you can help others with the needs they have right now (Acts 20:35).

As far as universal health care goes, if we thought health care was expensive now, wait until it's free! To top that off poverty women who cannot afford health insurance can get on medicaid! Teenage women know all about it. I've even gotten the pleasure of listening to some of them talk about how if they get pregnant no big deal. They'll just get on medicaid and go to school for free. Universal health care is just going to increase this mentality.

"As far as universal health care goes, if we thought health care was expensive now, wait until it's free!"

For a lot of people, it's free now. You still pay for it whether you know it or not. Hence, the rest of your post.

"I'm sorry - that is your opinion…based on the fear of "what if's".

I pay my own bills, if I have bills."

In other words, you get hit by a bus (or more likely, get cancer some day) and the taxpayers will foot your bill - or you'll go bankrupt. Very nice. I hope you have a lot of people praying for you.

Dude…

Your comments (in regard to my bills) is grounded in your inaccurate assumption of who I am.

Why would tax payers foot my bill? Only if I would use government funded insurance programs would that happen. They have never paid for my bills before - shy should they start now?

You are making assumptions and deriving your conclusions without having complete information.

Sure, I might get cancer some day. I might get hit by a bus someday - but I'm not going to plan my life expecting these calamities to happen….that is a hopeless existence.

And, yes - I would have a lot of people praying for me too. Needless to say, cancer doesn't scare me - because I know too many people that don't have cancer anymore - the Lord still does amazing works. I know too many people who were blind….quite a few people who were in need of reconstructive surgery - but after prayer, don't need it anymore. I'd go to Him before I see the doctor…