Reframing the issue

Not too long ago a woman named Kelley McDaniel of Portland, Maine decide to speak on the proposed Governor’s budget for that state.  She's a part-time librarian at King Middle School – and she provided a very teachable moment, in all of 3 minutes

She talked about how the state budget in Maine (in a way similar to that in Wisconsin) contains $200 million in tax cuts -- including an expansion of the estate-tax exemption from $1 million to $2 million -- that largely would benefit Mainers who aren't exactly scraping to get by. 

Observed McDaniel, "I don't understand the rationale for this proposal."  She said she doesn't buy the idea that the tax cuts, putting significantly more money back into the pockets (or portfolios) of Maine's wealthy, will stimulate the economy.  Citing reports from the Congressional Budget Office, McDaniel said "the best way to stimulate the economy is to give modest increases to the poor. Wealthy people tend to hold on to their money, while poor people tend to spend it as they get it."

Then McDaniel, as those experts might say, "re-framed the issue."

"I don't think it's a moral decision, because taking money from people who don't have much money and giving it to people who have more money than the people you took it from seems, well, greedy," she said. "Greed is frowned upon in every major world religion -- and I don't think agnostics and atheists look too kindly upon it, either."

In other words stealing from the poor to give to the rich is a moral no-brainer.  Except for many of those who now hold political power.

I am reminded of the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes in the New Testament.  There are many ways to look at this miracle.  But at least one important way is to recognize the miracle that happened when many people, miles from the nearest grocery store, were motivated to let go of their tightly held food, and share it with others.  It was at the very least a miracle of generosity.  But the bottom line was this.  When everyone share what they had, there was enough for everyone.

We aren’t broke in American, but we do have a distribution problem.  A distribution problem that is being legislated into greater intensity in the name of economic necessity and fiscal responsibility.  I am sorry. That is so much…….. ok this is a public forum so I will refrain. 

What is needed is for people to take the words, and ministry, of Jesus seriously.  We are not measured one author noted, by what we give, but by what we keep.  If the story of the loaves and fishes were told today in American what might it look like?  Many people looking around for food and finding none, while a few people sit high on the hill hugging their collected food to themselves.

So the hungry go hungry.  The well fed become bloated and obese.    And the hoarded food?  I suspect it rots!

It is time to re frame the issue.  We don’t have an economic problem.  We have a heart problem. A spirit problem.