“Where your treasure is”: The Economy and Values

Why is it that as soon as we start talking about the economy, jobs, government

spending, and taxes, Republicans put away their Bibles and turn instead to
Darwinian social and economic theories to support their policy positions?

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As we contemplate the fact that Republicans are arguing for
the largest U.S. government interference in the free markets in our nation’s history—a
bailout just shy of being equal to the entire US debt when Ronald Regan became
President—Democrats MUST speak out on this issue and challenge Republicans on
their hypocrisy, failed economic programs, and broken values that have led us
to this point. 

Before I get into the values issue, let me provide a few
facts about what the failed Republican economic policies have wrought:   Despite
budget surpluses and debt reduction during the Clinton
administration, Presidents Regan, Bush
I, and Bush II have increased the U.S. debt by more than 900% during
their tenures in office.  The U.S.
debt will increase more under George W. Bush than all other presidents combined. 

The result is that over 10% of the U.S.
government’s income each year goes toward paying interest on that debt.  National debt and interest may not be as newsworthy
in this 24/7 media world as where Sarah Palin buys her Tina Fey glasses, but here’s
something to chew on:  For the same
amount of money we waste each year paying interest on the debt accrued by
Republican administrations, the U.S. Government could provide universal
healthcare to every American, pay the tuition of every college student in this
country, and triple the U.S. spending on medical research.  Think about it… 

And now the Republicans want a $700 BILLION bailout for Wall
Street (this following on the heels of the hundreds of billions already spent
to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and AIG).  If ever there was a time to start talking
values, now is it.  Economics, budgets,
tax policy, jobs…these are all value issues. 

Remember when Bush vetoed the $7 billion-a-year expansion of
SCHIP that would have provided healthcare to over 4.1 million uninsured
children because it was “too expensive”? 
So here are the values of Republican leaders:  A $700 billion bailout of Wall Street–something
we must act on immediately—but spending1% of that amount to keep parents of 4.1
million American children from having to face the soul-crushing realization
that they cannot afford the treatment necessary to make their sick child well–not
worth the price.  As Jesus said, where
your treasure is, there your heart is also. 

Time and again, when we talk about marriage, birth control,
etc., Republicans and their advocates on the extreme religious right line up to
claim self-righteously that they cannot leave their faith at the door when it
comes to legislating on these issues.  They
argue that the state must intervene to ensure that our country places God above
our selfish and sinful desires.  But now
that we are talking about economic policy, about taxes, and about bailing out
the richest Americans and making regular tax payers foot the bill, that open expression
of faith is silent…a silence that speaks volumes.

We need to ask Republicans and their conservative allies the
same question again and again.  Why is it that as soon as we start talking about the economy, jobs, government
spending, and taxes, Republicans put away their Bibles and turn instead to
Darwinian social and economic theories to support their policy positions?

As Democrats, it is not our place to judge the depth or
source of our political opponents’ faith. 
It would be much better if instead of focusing on attacking their
appeals to faith on their pet wedge issues, we simply challenged them to
continue their faith-laden dialogue as we discuss the Bush proposal of a $700 billion
dollar bailout of Wall Street. 

Here are a few of many passages they might find useful when
they do:

“The poor are shunned
by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.”  Proverbs 14:20

 “Everyone loves a bribe and runs
after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless.  The widow’s cause does not come before them.”
Isaiah 1:23

“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't
show favoritism.  ²Suppose a
man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor
man in shabby clothes also comes in.  ³If
you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say,
"Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You
stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," ⁴have
you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? ⁵Listen,
my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the
world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love
him? ⁶But you have insulted the poor.” James 2:1-6

“Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You give a tenth of your spices…but you
neglect the more important matters of the Law—justice, mercy, and
faithfulness…You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the
outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything
unclean.  On the outside you appear to
people as righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and
wickedness” Matthew 23:23-28