Social Justice

Boosh’s former speechwriter, Michael Gerson has written an article taking Fred Thompson to task for being hard-hearted. The article is interesting on two levels: 1) it delineates philosophical differences between liberals and conservatives on the one hand and 2) provides a unique insight into the psyche (whether we want one or not) of G. W. Boosh on the other.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/07/AR2008020703692.html?sub=AR

Apparently the laconic former Senator was asked if, as a Christian and as a conservative he supported Boosh’s African AIDS initiative. He answered, “Christ didn't tell us to go to the government and pass a bill to get some of these social problems dealt with. He told us to do it. The government has its role, but we need to keep firmly in mind the role of the government, and the role of us as individuals and as Christians on the other." Gerson, in turn, helpfully parses Fred’s response by suggesting he is pandering to the isolationists among us and displays a failure to understand that fighting disease and promoting development are important foreign policy tools. Gerson then dons the mantle of common knowledge by noting “…[C]enturies of reflection on the words of the Bible that have led to a nearly universal Christian conviction that government has obligations to help the weak and pursue social justice.” He offers as examples child labor laws and improvements in public health. I’ve seen that very sword of common knowledge unsheathed here. In fact, Gerson suggests that Fred lacks “moral seriousness”.

If centuries of reflection have “led to nearly universal Christian convictions that government has obligations” why are those obligations not reflected in our Constitution since the Constitution itself is but two centuries old? And if the obligations are not codified within the Constitution do they even exist? And if those “obligations” are not codified within the Constitution can we even exercise them? Is it really common knowledge that the government has an obligation to help every victim?

But as Brad Lips and Carrie Lucas point out in their rebuttal in National Review, government efforts…”tend to have unintended consequences that render them ineffective.” Years of foreign aid given with all the best intentions and (one suspects) compassion have resulted in the savage tyranny of a host of disparate and clownish despots and the total absence of anything resembling local entrepreneurship or private development from any source. In fact, Lips and Lucas quote Kenyan James Shikwati to dramatic effect: “Huge bureaucracies are financed (with the aid money), corruption and complacency are promoted, Africans are taught to be beggars and not to be independent. . . . development aid weakens the local markets everywhere and dampens the spirit of entrepreneurship that we so desperately need. As absurd as it may sound: Development aid is one of the reasons for Africa’s problems.” Now how do you square that with your Christian obligation to promote social justice?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/07/AR2008020703692.html?sub=AR

Government aid has accomplished very little beyond assuaging the guilt of a variety of do-gooders. There is some evidence that private charity, the true kind of charity, is discouraged by government aid. “Why should I give – the government is taking care of it?”.

And, as the list of victims expands, so, too, does the definition of victim. If we are to aid tsunami victims and hurricane victims how can we turn our backs on those who fail to read their contracts and sign away their lives on mortgages they can ill afford? How many people do you know that have sold their parents’ home so that they can be eligible for Medicare and Medicaid? Do we really absolve ourselves of our obligations to our parents by splitting up our inheritance five years before our parents require round-the-clock care? I think not.

The government’s responsibilities are crystal clear: to provide for the common defense, regulate commerce, and maintain the infrastructure. Oh, sure, there’s delivering the mail and enforcing federal law… But not much more.

Jesus Christ said to 'render unto Ceasar's what is Ceasar's...'

Considering entitlement programs are clearly unconstitutional, I think that is a practice we as a country need to get back to.

Lets face the facts, Government has strayed from their Constitutional duties to creating and funding Social Programs because ……. there are votes to be gained and money to be made via each and every one of said Social Programs.

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We need the Doctor so he can do this: (who thinks this stuff up?)