This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Allen Christensen used Republican rhetoric to argue against the expansion of Medicaid ("Medicaid expansion is just forced charity," Opinion, Dec. 22), but he offered no alternative suggestion for providing health care for Utah's working poor. He mentioned private charity, as demonstrated by shoppers emptying the shelves of toy stores, but I don't think that kind of "charity" will deliver any health care to those in need.

I doubt if all the money given to bell ringers would cover the costs of the sort of medical care that Sen. Christensen enjoys but would prefer to deny to those less fortunate than himself. In the end, he simply opposes health care for the poor.

The recurrent message of Christ's ministry was the importance of caring for the poor. Christ himself provided free health care for the poor. Is it possible for a Christian to oppose health care for the poor?

Until Utah's "Christians" propose an alternative method for financing health care for the poor, opposition to the expansion of Medicaid is, de facto, opposition to health care for the poor.

Merry Christmas, poor people, and if you get sick, please die in a gutter where I won't have to see you.

Brooke Jennings

Salt Lake City