Economics as if people mattered
I'm not one for political soap boxing, usually whatever their hue, most politicians seem the same these days.
However, like many others recently, I've been struck by how there has been a change in the way the less advantaged in society are being labelled as responsible for the nations financial problems and how they are being made to feel guilty if not working.
Of course, there has always been a minority who work the system but the vast majority of people who are unemployed, or are in part-time work or on low incomes, would love to work hard and contribute to their families well being and to the economy as well.
The shift has happened in the last six months and now those at the top of the Government are happy to blame the poor and unemployed for the UK's financial woes.
A friend on twitter linked to this article last week: austerity-has-hardened-the-nations-heart to which I then replied, "it's heartbreaking, we've a Government focused on saving money, not on the welfare of people, priorities are all wrong."
This got me thinking. It's been explicitly stated that the Governments key priority is the economy - reducing the deficit. I'm sure this is laudable, it's never good to be in excess debt. But when our leaders started to say this, it then made it okay for others to be less charitable towards the poor.
Let's try it this way, this guy had some good ideas:
Of course this also refers to being rich in spirit, in holiness, in unity with God. I sometimes think a world without money would be a better place, where all are equal. That probably comes from watching too much Star Trek and the world probably isn't ready for this yet, socialism and communism have tried it in the past and came a little unstuck. But perhaps our economists could just try a different perspective instead.
Last week the Church Times (here) ran a column about a book by EF Schumacher which sounds like it must have a lot to say for our society today. The book - Small is Beautiful: A study of economics as if people mattered - was written forty years ago and may be dated (as many things from the seventies are now - including me!) - the central premise is a vision of a world in which the economy serves people, instead of people's serving the economy.
Surely despite the economy we have today, if we were to apply an approach where the welfare of people came first (in all aspects of life - health, housing, employment, community etc.) then the financial growth of society would follow and wealth would be secondary to well being.
Maybe I'm just idealistic, but let us pray that our leaders will one day serve the people who elected them and not money.
However, like many others recently, I've been struck by how there has been a change in the way the less advantaged in society are being labelled as responsible for the nations financial problems and how they are being made to feel guilty if not working.
Of course, there has always been a minority who work the system but the vast majority of people who are unemployed, or are in part-time work or on low incomes, would love to work hard and contribute to their families well being and to the economy as well.
The shift has happened in the last six months and now those at the top of the Government are happy to blame the poor and unemployed for the UK's financial woes.
A friend on twitter linked to this article last week: austerity-has-hardened-the-nations-heart to which I then replied, "it's heartbreaking, we've a Government focused on saving money, not on the welfare of people, priorities are all wrong."
This got me thinking. It's been explicitly stated that the Governments key priority is the economy - reducing the deficit. I'm sure this is laudable, it's never good to be in excess debt. But when our leaders started to say this, it then made it okay for others to be less charitable towards the poor.
Let's try it this way, this guy had some good ideas:
Looking at his disciples, he said:
‘Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.
‘Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.
For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.
‘But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry
Luke 6:20-25
Of course this also refers to being rich in spirit, in holiness, in unity with God. I sometimes think a world without money would be a better place, where all are equal. That probably comes from watching too much Star Trek and the world probably isn't ready for this yet, socialism and communism have tried it in the past and came a little unstuck. But perhaps our economists could just try a different perspective instead.
Last week the Church Times (here) ran a column about a book by EF Schumacher which sounds like it must have a lot to say for our society today. The book - Small is Beautiful: A study of economics as if people mattered - was written forty years ago and may be dated (as many things from the seventies are now - including me!) - the central premise is a vision of a world in which the economy serves people, instead of people's serving the economy.
Surely despite the economy we have today, if we were to apply an approach where the welfare of people came first (in all aspects of life - health, housing, employment, community etc.) then the financial growth of society would follow and wealth would be secondary to well being.
Maybe I'm just idealistic, but let us pray that our leaders will one day serve the people who elected them and not money.
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