Political Etiquette On Facebook

In the hours following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act first passed into law in 2010, Facebook was the place to voice one's opinions on the matter. There's an old joke about a bunch of men at the local diner fixing the world's problems over coffee. My friends, that's exactly what we are seeing on Facebook: Everybody has an opinion, and, yes, their opinion is the right one.

Should Facebook be used this way? Some would say, 'why not?' Others would say that it exemplifies the beauty of free speech in our country. Others would contend that it opens up dialog and discourse. I'm annoyed by it all, honestly. I'm finding myself judging people because they aired their opinion on a complex political issue. By posting your opinion on a hot-button topic that affects everyone, you're taking a chance. There will be plenty of people who will agree with you, and plenty who will not. Are you willing to alienate yourself that way? To be a divisive voice amongst your 'friends'?

CNN's Belief Blog ran a great follow-up article on this health care reform issue. John Blake, the article's author, notes that Jesus "was a healer, a provider of universal health care, a man of compassion who treated those with preexisting medical conditions." Now we certainly don't know what Christ would think about individual mandates, but we know what the New Testament says about him. There is a moral dimension to this debate, and at its heart is how the nation should best help "its 'least of these,' an estimated 50 million Americans who can’t afford health insurance, as well as those who could go broke or die because they can’t afford medical care." Most agree that health care should be widely available and also affordable, but Christians who quote the same Jesus come up with very opposite conclusions.

And these 'conclusions' end up on Facebook.

My point here is to say that certain opinions should be guarded carefully. Lots of very experienced, intelligent voices are weighing in on these legal decisions. Should we trust our government? Maybe not, but we should trust our God who is over all. And ranting opinions on a controversial topic will not bring anything but more controversy and debate. Instead of worrying about how our own health care may or may not be affected, we should be more concerned—every day—with all of those who are without.