Would Jesus have supported expanding Medicare?

Recently there was an article in the Daily Inter Lake opinion page stating that Matthew 25 “gives a moral and necessary reason to expand Medicaid.” I disagree.

The author quoted Jesus, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” But the author doesn’t seem to realize Jesus was talking to him, not to the government. One doesn’t get credit for doing good deeds by proxy.

As a state legislator, I believe Jesus would find it repugnant if I were to force the author’s neighbors to take care of his parents to spare him having to take them in when they are no longer able to live on their own. As stated in 1 Timothy 5:8, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

It never ceases to amaze me how the socialists and communists amongst us think that if they can use the power of the government to force their neighbors to take care of the needy, they are good Christians. They seem to think it only has a positive benefit to use government money to provide all the desired benefits to everyone.

Will it show the author’s love of his neighbor if he can convince his legislators to expand government to provide all the benefits he wants people to have? What kind of love will it show if he does expand government, increases the $17 trillion debt and collapses the dollar? What Bible verses will he use to justify his acts if it collapses the government and, like with other governments that have failed in the past, people die from starvation?

Until someone comes up with satisfactory answers, I will remain a conservative legislator and continue voting against Medicaid expansion.

Rep. Jerry O’Neil, R-Columbia Falls, represents state House District 3.