We, the Speckhals family, make our homes in Red Lion, Pennsylvania–in the south-central part of York county.  The closest city of any size is, of course, York, then a few nearby cities are Harrisburg and Lancaster–each about 40 minutes away.  However, we are also in the middle of it all!  Most would never guess just how close we are to the epicenter of our American government: Washington DC.  In fact, Camp David is only about a drive worth 45 minutes through the rolling hills.  Washington is two hours away on average–give or take some time with traffic.

I promise you, the county we live in is one of the most conservative in the nation!  We almost never hear anything about Democrats unless it’s in jest or in the news.  The average person in York County is either a fifth-generation PA Dutch farmer, a suburbanite transplant who moved up from the Baltimore area for quietness and a lower cost of living, or a non-unionized contractor.  All of our elected officials are conservative, and this county has not voted for a Democratic president since Andrew Jackson.  Really, the only liberal bastion of this area is the inner-city of York.

“Just around the corner” one of the largest partisan debates is being held in our nation’s capital over “healthcare.”  When the town-hall meetings were happening across the country last August, I desperately wanted to go to one.  The funny thing is that our district is  so conservative that there weren’t any meetings for miles around.  Then, there was the big gathering in Washington on 9/12.  We thought for a second about going, but ended up not going.

We are a conservative district in the midst of a somewhat liberal state.  All you have to do is look at Pennsylvania’s two senators: Arlen Spector (a once liberal republican recently turned democrat) and liberal Bob Casey.  Our governor is an Obama-lover too: Ed Rendell.  Thank you Pittsburgh and Philadelphia!

From what I see about this healthcare battle, I am glad that the country has stepped back and taken a big breath…and looked at the proposals.  The more we hear about this government run “option” the more we dislike it.  We, as Christians believe in benevolence and love, but also for personal responsibility and choice.  When someone who is able to work and provide for himself (anyone without a SERIOUS mental or physical handicap).  Our tax dollars are not to provide a living for anyone else.  Our tax dollars are for our protection.  They are not to pay for anyone else’s insurance/health.  “What about single mothers with multiple children?,” some may ask.  First, it was their responsibility to not get into the situation to have children in the first place.  I answer the last question with this question: “Why does my responsibility have to pay for someone else’s irresponsibility?”  I believe the only true welfare for the unfortunate and irresponsible is the Gospel of Jesus Christ: just the way the Bible says.  The only true hope for all of mankind is the Gospel.  Providing healthcare for the irresponsible will only breed more irresponsibility.

Then their is the issue of the House bill that will force me into the same irresponsible system.  I will have to be under the government-run plan over the next several years.  Basically all of us will.  It’s just one step closer to a single-payer system: our President’s goal, according to his own words (on the record).

What can I do?

Vote and pray!