Category Archives: Economics
creation needs more than a tax
I have written previously on the Federal Government’s carbon tax, and if you were to read those posts you would know that I am a supporter of the levy.
However I want to set the record straight and state that I don’t believe a carbon tax is enough to deal with the climatological problems we are experiencing in our world.
Is this a political rant? A scientific one? No; if anything it is theological.
While a carbon tax/ETS could potentially help the world inasmuch as citizens of different nations are encouraged to adapt their carbon habits, it seems to me somewhat misguided to think that a market band-aid can truly heal an open sore that has been created by humans abusing the same market; more on that in a second. Read the rest of this entry
carbon tax creates some warming of its own
The Gillard government’s carbon tax has, over the past few weeks, caused some warming of its own.
Mostly the heat generated by the carbon tax issue has been around the increased cost of living for families when it is implemented. The focus of the debate is of course on the government’s plan; the Coalition’s plan has flown mostly under the radar because it is at this point not being discussed as a reality in Parliament.
Annabel Crabb’s Tuesday article on The Drum website made an apt observation, namely that climate policy always seems to be fought on the enemy’s lawn; keep the focus on them and you will prosper. This is certainly the Coalition’s plan, and in a way it is successful. Read the rest of this entry
commie talk… sort of
My friend Josh, over at his blog Incoherent Ramblings (…of a Mad Man?), has posted a piece entitled ‘Continuing with the Commie Talk’. In it he outlines some biblical reflections on our economic system, similar to what I did in my post ‘Is There a Third Way in Economics?’, except Josh reflects on some different biblical texts. Well worth a read!
http://joshdowton.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/continuing-with-the-commie-talk/#comment-88
MCA
is there a third way in economics?
Back again for another round of musings in 2011…
I’ll kick this year off with something that has been on my mind for quite a while. I have posted on this subject before, and I’m sure my opinions about it will continue to evolve as I continue to learn throughout my life.
That subject is economics.
Just to inform people, I have never been an economics student; in fact when it comes to the technical side of economics I’m sure that I’m very ignorant (though as Michael Moore recently showed, not even Wall St economists can explain derivatives…). Indeed I have friends who are far more familiar with studies in economics than I will probably ever be.
This, however, does not exclude me (or you for that matter) from discussions about economics. While most people may not understand the technicalities of economics, the fact is that this sphere of reality affects their lives every day – everybody is involved with economics. A wise economics-savvy friend once told me, “Economics is not so much about numbers as it is about anthropology; how do humans behave in regards to money.” In my experience this is an apt statement.
My question today is, which economic philosophy should Christians adopt? Of course, there will be no definite or comprehensive answer here, but I want to briefly explore some reflections on a Christian response to capitalism and socialism.
Western Christians (and Western people in general) have largely derided socialism as a perverse and ridiculous theory that has too often led to totalitarian regimes. The same people however often fail to note the similar accusations that should be equally levelled against capitalism. Keep Reading…
capitalism is a jealous god
I found this great little piece by Ben Griffith here.
Then Capitalism spoke all these words:
I am Capitalism your God–the spirit of the American Dream–who brought you out of the Great Depression, who brought you from poverty and a mere speck on the map to being the greatest empire on earth. You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not think up for yourself a god that disagrees with me, whether he is one who disagrees with the free-market, laissez faire economics, the desire to be filthy rich, or any other of my values. You shall not bow down and worship them; for I, Capitalism your god, am a jealous god, punishing the lazy and those who can’t help themselves with generational poverty, but showing kindness to all those who work hard and dedicate themselves to the pursuit of money and power.
You shall not slander my name in any way. In fact, you should hold classes in your schools that glorify my name and slander the unspeakable name of Socialism. If you question me, I will make sure that you are embarrassed and thrown out of our business circles–doomed to mail rooms and cleaning toilets.
Never stop working…not for anything. Some people believe in rest. But the days are not yours, they belong to the market. And if you think that you can make it in this world, then rest assured, you will never rest. For by hard work and labor, the industrial revolution, the technological revolution, and Wall Street were created, and those who pioneered them still haven’t rested.
Take advantage of whoever you want–even if it’s your father and mother. This is the only way you will prosper and have the retirement that you want.
You shall not murder–that’s illegal–but anything else is fair game. You can slander, defame, and threaten anyone that gets in your way. That is the only way to the top.
You shall not commit adultery–that’s scandalous–but never let your wife distract you from your firm. Don’t get caught having sex with another woman, but the company must come first.
You shall not steal. Well, at least don’t commit accounting fraud or embezzle, but don’t worry about stealing from neighboring countries by using their cheap labor. After all, that’s my sprit of Global Economics.
Be prepared to misrepresent your competitor. It can be a problem when you attack a fellow employee (at least publicly), but that can sometimes be advantageous too. But always paint your competitor as incompetent, selfish, and below you. Lie if you have to, do what you need to succeed.
Covet everything. Covet your neighbor’s house, maids, cars, and everything else that he has. After all, the world is yours for the taking.
a world of illusions
“As Wall Street has so dramatically demonstrated, the world of money is a world of illusions, accounting tricks, and scams by which the rich expand their control of Earth’s declining base of real living wealth without the burden of producing anything of value in return. We must turn our attention to defining problems and solutions in terms of the goal of restoring and equitably stewarding Earth’s real living wealth.”
- David Korten
(You can read the whole article this is from here)
MCA
the simple life (?)
Over-extended work hours
Lack of family time
Outrageous and widespread financial debt
Ravenous natural resource usage
Sedentary “security”
Gluttonous consumption
Time-wasting “convenience”
Growing gap between rich and poor
Firmly plotted-out social segregation
Control by societal conception of “desirability”
Eating ourselves to death…
(…while others starve to death)
Wanting what I don’t need
Needing what I don’t want
“Disposable” income
Institutions supporting our descent in meaninglessness
Churches supporting our descent in meaninglessness
Theologies supporting our descent in meaninglessness
.
This is not a rant. It is a question…
Can’t life be simpler?
.
Why do I have to capitulate to a certain social/economic/political system?
To a certain theological/philosophical/ontological reading that supports the system?
To the seductive claws of the beast “empire”?
.
(I fear she will eat me alive, and I will never even know it.)
.
Is there a different way to live?
Yes.
.
So what is it? How is it?
.
Let Your Kingdom come…
