Marie: One of the big problems is that the few lazy folks are held up as examples for everyone else but the majority of folks out there are in young families, with jobs that barely cover the heat bill let alone anything else, doing everything they can to make it. To toss the baby out with the bathwater has been the Right’s motto for a long time. I would say that…85% of religious people I know are at least some hypocritical, if not more. This is why I shy away from it to avoid the issue entirely.

Stacey: Don’t think I don’t hear your protest, because I do. And there’s certainly something to be said for eliminating other programs in favor of this one if we think it to be important enough. However, that being said, if the plan that the President has proposed (because the plans in Congress are wide and varied) gets brought up, voted on, and passed, then most of your fears will be alleviated. The taxes will come, but only for the rich. The public option will be self-funded, so there’s no problem there. And I don’t think anyone’s proposed dictating your health care just yet. But of course, what comes out of Congress may not line up with the President, and I’m waiting if that happens to see if he follows through with veto or not.

Ultimately, if they came out and said, “Look, we can pass health care but it’ll cost you a bit more in taxes, or we can kill it,” I would vote in favor of passage because, despite the taxes we already bear, I can’t say that I don’t want those uninsured and crappily-insured Americans to get better coverage. I’d rather they do it without additional tax burden, of course. But lesser of two evils.

Wayne: You’re right in saying that there are plenty of lazy folk out there, but as I said above, I don’t think that’s the majority of people, although there’s certainly a lot of folks that, given the opportunity, will take a handout. I’m sure some of the people at the biz appreciation suppers are truly lazy, and some are simply tight.

No, I would never put the title of hypocrite on all religious people myself, but I’ve known plenty, and I would state that more are than not, that’s why I don’t associate myself with it anymore (well, one of the reasons). And I have no problem in stating that I not done much charity work myself — but then again, I don’t profess to believe in a religion that dictates that I should be doing so. Hence, I avoid the hypocrisy. Should I do more? Well, certainly. I think we all can, and it need not be religiously motivated, because there’s something to be said about just being a good person, fullstop. We could all do better by thinking that way all the time.