15. Agency and the Role of Government

I just read an amazing article that really made me think about the new Health Care Bill. I don't want to make this blog about politics, but I do want to discuss some principles gospel principles and how I see them relating to the current Health Care Bill. These thoughts come from an article written by Steven D Brignone, a lawyer and member of the Church.

The purpose of government is to "secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience" (D&C 134:2). This means it's job is to protect the environment God has put us into on earth in accordance with His Plan of Salvation: namely, that we are free to make either good choices that bring joy to us and others or to make bad choices that can potentially bring sorrow. God allows this because He respects our agency--even if that means allowing some of his children to feel that sorrow. Government's role is simply to protect that environment which includes the consequences of choice. That means removing any person or institution that would take away someones ability to choose, like those who commit crimes against them. But if government steps in and removes the consequences of others choices because they desire to remove the negative effects, they have encroached on their agency.

This seams to be the problem we are seeing with the current Health Care Bill. Those who are for it mainly argue that it equals everyone's opportunities for Health Insurance regardless of circumstances. The problem I see with this is the fundamental problem of removing responsibility from the individual. Having health care is a choice and with this choice comes consequences. Removing certain consequences deemed "unfavorable" is simply removing the choice which violates the role of government. This principle makes clear to me that the current Health Bill violates our constitution and America's view of government.