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Let's Try Biblical Economics
If you listen to the hard-headed people who presumably keep us prosperous, Biblical and Quranic economics are, of course, quaint and unrealistic. They're based on romantic ideas about benefiting the poor, the landless, the outcast. Good for motivating open-hearted charity; bad for making hard-headed decisions necessary to run a successful economy.
Right. Which is why the hard-headed folks have created a crazy economic yo-yo skidding on the edge of massive disaster, in which the worst-hit will of course not be the Wall Street / Washington power-houses but the rest of us.
But the basic religious economic premise was not just about being nice to poor folks. It was about the flow of God's abundance that must move through the whole society, not get stuck in the pockets of the rich. When the flow gets stuck, the clumps of super-wealth become an embolus. They stop the flow of healing blood, the arteries choke up, the heart stutters and stops -- and society keels over.
Massive depressions are not good for societies or for the human race. I had just been born when a major industrial nation that had lost a war, had lost its sense of place and identity and its allies in the world, had gone through a massive economic disaster, then responded to its own fear and anger by choosing an aged, addle-headed war hero to hold power. Faced with rising chaos, he chose as his successor a ultra-right-wing crazy, who everybody said was sure to calm down once he actually held power.
The war hero was Von Hindenburg. His successor? Look it up.
So it is certainly urgent to shape our financial system so that such a collapse does not descend upon us. But are we simply propping up the old system - the same one that has set up our risk of disaster? Are we turning over the process to many of the same people who set up the disaster in the first place?
Or can we address the basic issues, the ones our religious traditions teach, the ones that the hard-headed masters of disaster dismiss contemptuously?
So far, the most "radical" poultices have been that a governmental economic czar will save the financial institutions that are in trouble, by buying and selling their assets -- and taxpayers will bear the burden and the risk.
There has begun to be discussion of a slightly deeper remedy - the re-regulation of these institutions so that greed and ambition cannot so easily pocket the abundance that must move through society.
But so far the whole notion of rhythmically redistributing wealth - a vision at the heart of Biblical economics - is not on the agenda. That vision is encoded partly in the redemption and redistribution of family land each fifty years -- the Jubilee - and the annulment of debt each seventh year - all in the context that for the seventh day, the seventh month, the seventh year, and the year of seven cycles - seven times seven plus one - the whole society rests and reflects, along with the earth itself. Not only physical work pauses, but hierarchy pauses as well. Boss and servant vanish, for a day, a month, a year.
And the redistribution is also encoded in the right of the landless to feed themselves by working, gleaning, in the fields of the landowners. No one can deny them this relationship with the means of production. No "unemployment."
And no compulsory overtime. Shabbat is for everyone.
Let us start to imagine how to transcribe this wisdom for a society that needs to let the earth rest from our pouring CO2 into its breath, from our sucking out the water from its veins, from our injecting poisons in its body.
We can restore our economy for both work and rest by building energy-efficient railroads, windmills, solar collectors. We can use the new governmental ownership and oversight of banks to insist on micro-lending to the poor for urban gardens, for workplaces within walking distance of our homes, for insulating our houses to save the heat and money that are pouring out of our porous doors and windows.
We can insist not only on a living wage, but also livable hours. Time to sing, to dance, to pray and meditate, to rear the children, to care for the elders, to make love.
If the flow of abundance starts at the grass roots, it will reach everyone. Our banking crisis and the fear that elevates a Hindenburg will vanish.
The decentralized, shared economy of the future starts with the decentralized polity, the shared citizenry of today. If politics begins at the grass roots, so will economics. In this very moment, it's up to us.
Shalom , salaam, peace -
Arthur
(Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Awaskow@shalomctr.org)
By
Arthur Waskow
|
September 22, 2008; 12:00 AM ET
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Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 4:44 AM
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Jesus said render unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's and unto God what is God's. The bible says do no lay up riches for yourself on earth where moth and rust do corrupt, but to store your riches in heaven. And of course Jesus said, "the poor are with you always."
Why is it we assume that Christianity is the path to prosperity for all? In fact, most Christian biblical teaching is about sacrefice and suffering in this life. Athiestic Communinism teaches that society should work for the prosperity of all.
Christ teaches turn the other cheek, do unto others as you have them do unto you (not as they do do unto you), and to go the extra mile if forced to go one mile. None of these precepts is consistent with microeconomic theory.
Old Testament teaches an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Ghandi complained that an eye for an eye would make us all blind, but his smile revealed he did have some experience in the tooth for a tooth category.
Posted by: Kacoo | September 23, 2008 10:11 AM
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Good thing this guy is just some rabbi somewhere, and not actually making policy.
If he actually studied some economics, he might realize that his ideas about "no unemployment," etc., while nice-sounding, cannot be so easily instituted by government. Maybe just having our government stick to one of the ten commandments, "Thou shalt not steal," is a better way to institute "Biblical Economics."
Posted by: Matt | September 22, 2008 6:01 PM
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AMAZiNG () NO GRACE!
Here goes them desperate wannabe god (not Our) players who hath nothing else better to do after their organized 'Club' meetings, on Sundays/Sabbaths... and invite & self Serve themselves, in SEcular & Science, not Church, Biz as usual!
-The Federal [SECULAR] Government, aka 'S T A T E' should have a Federal Rule, Code or Regulation; Forbidding ALL Agency's thereof & therefore, From recognizing, as Academic any 'C H U R C H' based issued , so called "DiViNiTY-Degrees" Thus turning them Satan’s in religio places , a/k/a "Licensed Jealousy For Hiring’s" into Professional 'Liars', not 'Lawyers' or D & D'r's [Do It & then Deny It'r's]!
Note: A while ago, "i" wrote , exclusively on WAPO, about "HOW TO LEGALLY GET RID OF GOVERNMENT CHAPLAiNS" whom built a Church [illegally] inside the Federal Bureau Of Prison Ministries et al illegally. And
"i" also hath wrote extensively on how 'Organized Religion(s) (who compete for a Name, For their man-made god(s), instead of our G-D() innate Hol{i} System) THAT
They are ripe for 'RElIGiOUS-MAFiOSO-ACTiViTies" , Domestically & Abroad, using Church's as Embassy's, and that "WE The People" should throw the Book at them [i.e, Rick Warren; CNN , ARMAGEDON & rabbi Jesus loving John Hagge , Robertson (said to Assassinate Prez Chavez?) for being an Accomplice’s in a Conspiracy or attempt to stage a 'Coup D' Atat' of our (not their) Federal Officials [Secularist] via their swear by Rabbi JESUS stories & songs,. not ours]
Note Again: Remember: It was These 'Pre-Apocalyptic Attorneys/Lawyers, aka Liars via Rabbi JESUS Lovers, whom 'LiED, Lyed, with Straight Faces and attempted to sneakaroo, their 'iNTELLIgent Design Flaw, as if genuine Science, to a 'Secular' Federal Judge, in a secular Federal Court. Thank Goodness, that the Judgeships saw through them a Ruled that "I.D. (un-intell designed & Creationist Companions & payees) is Not Predictable", thus can never be a Science! So for another reason, Vote:
Remove All Their [Pulpit Legislating Leaderships], not our, I.R.S., 501c3 'Tax-Free/Exempt Status" a Privilege & not a right here. And
Reverse, Usurping, Nepotistic Bush's so called 'Executive Orders', i.e., his "Church Based Initiative " Hand-Outs, (not Our) should be abolished forever!!!! THiS
is Payback, like to Rick Warren & Co.'s attempt To corrupt or defile & Hijack, via JESUS, Our U.S. Government Employees while politicking via PULPiT Legislation.
iMPORTANT: The Evangelicals & the Catholics are the Investors & Contributors to UNCLE SAM & AUNT LIBERTY financial woes today or Cycles!.
They all made money investing their "TAX-FREE" money in Church Based PORFOLiO's! Remember the Savings & Loan Evangelical Scandal? The ENRON Evangelical Scandal? The Derivatives Scandal? And Now the Privat Home Owners & KOREAN Mortgage Scandal!????
Please see 'John McCain & "FRiEND's" caught with their Hand in Uncle Sams & Aunt Liberties Purse (cookie Jar, not theirs!). ScHAME! ScHAME McCain!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keating_Five
Wow! Quick-Draw John McCain , Born in Panama, unlike Obama in Awaii, is BLAME BLAMiNG, and using Omissions about HiS iNVOLVEMENT (not by Borack nor Bidens) by Distraction-tactics & the infamous Thomas-Promises so called, "Tell a Big Lie" strategy [by Protecting/isolating, his partners Bush, Chaney & Co. of Culprits, but hoping Stupid Voters will absorb it] and in vain, using Carrots & Pork against Obama, Biden et al! [A Republican Victim, or Holding their Bag, so to spaketh in sHAME!
Wherefore: VOTE: To Make it Mandatory, via Federal + States Regulations, That
ALL, Every & Any [no Exceptions] Church-Based & Registered Organization, or Institution {as Business's] Must make their {To the U.S.Public at large + their Congregants} their 'F i N A N C i A L S', i.e. Balance Sheet, Consolidated Income Statements, Assets, Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds , Commodities, Cash [tax free Tithes] on hand and or Loans etc...
QUESTiON: i.E., What is the honest? 'Net-Worth' of say the AMERiCAN Evangelicals {Episcopalian]?? Or U.S. Vatican Banks Churches, here?? The Mormons? etc.. TiMe for a honest Accounting & Awareness! No more god-Delusion! NO MORE, Mr. Nice Guys n Gals!
VOTE:
A M N E S T Y" to 1st time Private HOME, Co-Op & Condo Buyers, but only for those who hath Problems Today! Hence Cold Turkey America! A Once in a Life-Tome AMNESTY (Domestic, not international!)
Not/NO/Zero/NADDA, any more illegal Aliens Amnesty anymore! WE, The People need an accounting! Time to add-up all the Heads, so to spaketh! Hence there is a Tool: FormW-7 (D.O.T. & I.R.S.) that All Police Percents’ should Promote & Enforce on All Business's!
Note: It was the Usurping & Testy/Flouting Wordmerchants, Mr. [dis] Honorable Chaney & Nepotistic BUSH(s), and partners in crime McCAiNS, Palins et al whom exacerbated, or condoned or Multiplied [not Money Multiplier] Or Made Worse for 'The-Common-People"!
Vote: Throw the Book At ALL the "U.S. based CHURCH's receiving I.R.S. relief/Privileges: Hence Use this RICO ACT against their 'Organized Religio Mafiosos Leaderships"!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racketeer_Influenced_and_Corrupt_Organizations_Act
PS: Help Re-enforce the "Visa Waiver" Program. [involving 27 Nations & +/- 14-Million Visitors, passed 1986 to increase tourism; more Money than Drugs; hence the U.S. Dollar's cheap now] But All [Waiverers + Illegal’s should file as well] must file a "U.S. Treasury & IRS" FORM-W-27. Please see How To Register, Legally, illegal’s here! Thank You! http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96287,00.html
- VOTO/VOTE
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- Sir Prez & vPrez:
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"WE are US!"
Ps: 'C N N' should Loose their 'F.C.C.' Privileges (not a Right also) for Devilishly taking a charitable , church based Tax Deduction, via Rich Warren et al, for being one of the 'KiNg PiN(s)' in Forwarding their JESUS (not our) in our SECULAR-Government (not their) BiZ!
PS: Rick Warren’s (not Our) Saddle Back Court, via Church Based ‘Legislating from the Pulpit’ game, should be severely Punished/Accountable for Usurping & bad mouth. Via CNN et al, Our “U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTiCES , whom hath a Constitutional Right (not a privilege) to Legislate from the Bench for the Voters, aka for the People, not via legislating from church Congregants & their Pre-Apocalyptic (not Our) Covenants! Instead of Constitution!
Remember & Never Forget: Secular-Morality, is superior to any Biblical-Morality (if Any)!
WHEREFORE: "The American People" Hath Prophetically Spaketh!
Posted by: By the American JO{KTAN-Maitreya/Mahdi/Deliveror-Party 2013+, Automatic Citizen/Denizen of 1Earth | September 22, 2008 3:50 PM
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Christianity/Bible based West European socialism is not Communism. In Soviet style Communism the ordinary man worked hard so that an elite ruling class called the state could have a great life without being questioned. The state was god.
In capitalism we are given this incredible explanation, if the rich don't get richer and the poor don't bail out the rich, the country is in great trouble. Now it takes the poor three jobs to make ends meet, but if the rich are not bailed out by the poor, it might take them four jobs to make ends meet. Interesting logic.