Priorities

All of us make moral decisions (consciously or unconsciously) when we choose how, when and where to spend our money. Likewise, when the federal government submits a budget, it too is (implicitly if not explicitly) making moral choices. What's more, the federal government is spending OUR money. The budget submitted by the Bush administration for FY 2007 is 2.77 TRILLION dollars. I can't even fathom that that much money exists in the world, let alone for our government to spend. And I think that the enormity of the numbers involved works in favor of the spenders because it does seem so unreal to many of us. Once again, large increases for military spending are included in this budget while social programs are again cut. Even more unbelievable to my eyes is the continuation of tax cuts. I'm no economist, but how can taxes (income) continue to be cut while spending continues to increase? I don't get it.

But I digress...I am a believer in social programs to care for the less fortunate. I believe that those of us who are blessed with plenntiful resources are obligated to share those resources and I think that obligation extends to the government. I grew up in the era of Johnson's War on Poverty, and however misguided some of his policies might have been, the intent in the War on Poverty was a good intent. The Bush administration has slowly and surely attempting to dismantle social programs--not only Johnson's but also programs dating back to the New Deal (look at what Bush wants to do to Social Security). In my perhaps naive view, these social programs were the government's way of meeting the obligation to take care of the less fortunate. If one purpose of government is to serve the people, then this seems appropriate to me.

But are we saving $$ by cutting social programs? NO. Every penny that is taken away from social programs and MORE now goes to military spending, largely to fund a war that a majority of tax payers no longer favor. As a pacifist, I find this morally reprehensible. That's not how I want my tax dollars spent.

Again, I digress; I don't want to start ranting about the war. What I am concerned about is world hunger. In a world of plenty, it is inexcusable for so many to be hungry--in the US and even more overseas. Check out this link to learn more. The article points out that despite Bush's own commitment to fight world hunger, the effort is being undercut by the need for increased military spending, and it outlines ways domestic programs are being cut back.

Bread for the World is a liberal Christian organization devoted to fighting world hunger. I get really impatient with the way Christians are generally portrayed in the media--often as narrow minded, homophobic, and unfailingly right wing--and with Bush's appeal to the Christian Right as reprenting all Christians. All of that is antithetical to my understanding of what and who God is calling me to be; Bread for the World (what I know about it so far) is far more representative of what we should be about in the world. Christians are called in the gospels to feed the hungry, to care for those in need. This imperative is something I believe that we share with other faiths; it's a moral imperative that transcends religious differences. Can't we do something about it instead of fighting more wars?