Trickle-down economics is the theory that money and benefits in the form of tax cuts trickle down to others in lower economic classes. Investors, savers, and businesses are the drivers of growth in an economy. If this is not so, then who is. It certainly is not those sitting around collecting government handouts. They have no resources or have managed their resources so poorly that they live in poverty. Only someone desiring disaster would want those in poverty driving an economy.
A story from the Bible, certainly worthy of being addressed from the pulpit, is the story of Joseph in the Old Testament. This story tells us that trickle-down economics works. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh.
The Bible says, “Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all that he did prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.” [Genesis 39:1-4]. Although, Joseph was a slave, God was with him and wealth from Potiphar flowed down to Joseph. Joseph became successful, and he prospered.
However, Potiphar’s wife lied and accused Joseph of something that he did not do. This is not all that different from how society works today. When you become successful, you will be attacked and lies will be told about you. Joseph was thrown into prison. While in prison, Joseph interpreted the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s servants. In some cases God can use prison time in His service. When Pharaoh heard of Joseph’s gift he had him brought out of prison where Joseph accurately interpreted Pharaoh’s dream. As a result, he was appointed second-in-command over Egypt. God gifts us all with a wide variety of gifts. If we fail to use them we have no one but ourselves to blame. The Bible says, “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph,’Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” [Genesis 41:39-40]. Thus Joseph rose from slavery to become successful. It was a trickle-down effect from those that he helped and served that had resources.
We need to understand, selling to wealthy individuals will earn you more income than selling to people in poverty. People in poverty do not have money. How else are people in the middle or lower economic levels going to climb the ladder to success? Even if you lack education, through trickle-down economics you can become successful and wealthy if you work hard. It comes down to “You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” The Bible story of Joseph proves it. If you sell enough of anything to someone or help enough people get what they want, you will become wealthy. One of the wonderful things about free markets is that the path to greater wealth comes not from looting, plundering, and enslaving one’s fellow man, as it has throughout most of human history, but by serving and pleasing him. Though, keep in mind that ‘wealth’ is relative and can be measured by the joys and happiness one finds in life as well as by a bank statement. Monetary wealth can sometimes bring misery.
But don’t be deceived to believe that the liberal platform doesn’t have it’s own form of ‘trickle-down’ economics. It is called taxation and wealth redistribution. It requires no work. The plan takes from the wealthy and working individuals and redistributes without someone having to earn it. A few other liberal important facts must be identified: If you give people money, they do not value it, because they have not vested time earning it. If you give people a lot of money that are not good at managing money, they are not going to manage this money properly as well. The liberal platform needs a permanent underclass of dependent people to continue to vote to prop up liberal programs. They need more and more of these dependent people as people escape lower levels of the middle class or poverty to become more self-reliant. Self-reliance is the biggest enemy of the liberal platform. They need to keep supplying the country with essentially a number of people every year that will equate to a permanent underclass that will constantly keep liberal programs in place.
So how do you approach the young generation so as to convince them that the liberal agenda is the only way to go? Maybe you might tell them that you’re engaging in social justice for equality and fairness and to right all previous injustices that began with the founding of the country from slavery forward. You create the idea that what you’re literally doing is establishing a utopia, where there will be no judgmentalism and there will be no unhappiness and there will be no unfairness and there will be no inequality, and there won’t be any of the things that upset people. That’s how you might attract the young generation. Like a dream, it’s working on college campuses today.
The Bible says, “Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life; You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” [1 Thessalonians 4:10-12].
We must remember that God is perfect and government is not. This poses a problem with making an idol out of government. Government institutions are all imperfect and run by people who are imperfect. Politicians have been known to have selfish motivations and use power to enrich themselves. Politicians have been known to lie, steal, and do unethical things. It is a mistake to forsake a perfect and loving God (whose Word is truth and never changes) and believe and trust in an imperfect government (that can lie, deceive, and enrich itself).
So what does the Bible say about the characteristics of God? Shouldn’t these characteristics be relayed from the pulpit in relation to our government and shouldn’t the church remind our government representatives as to the character God expects our representatives to display?
“God is not a man, that He should lie.” [Numbers 23:19]
“He is a Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.” [Deuteronomy 32:4]
“…the word of our God stands forever.” [Isaiah 40:8]
“As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust Him.” Psalm 18:30]
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” [Hebrews 13:8]
For those in government service who have put aside the precepts of the Bible in order to fulfill their own objectives, these characteristics mean nothing. What better place to evaluate a politician’s character than in a Christian church? Certainly it should be a topic of civil discussion so church members can make political decisions based on Biblical guidance. There is not many other places where this guidance is available.
Next week we will take a look at a subject that has held a center of attention in a political conflict between conservatives and liberals…a secure border, i.e. a border wall.
– Bob Munsey
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Winston Churchill
Geezer Politics 