For the Common Good
by Jane Hanna, former president of the
Witherspoon Society
[1-31-03]
My religious values and the public policies of my country are at odds. This
conflict is uncomfortable. The biblical message I learned over a lifetime of
Presbyterian teaching is that God loves all humanity, the whole of cosmic
creation and we are to do likewise. We are born citizens of the world. That
we are also born in nations is humanity's doing, not God's.
As the cost of running for public office has risen with
each decade, administrations and congress are more strongly influenced by
the interests of campaign contributors than by public interest. Large
corporations whose leaders give the biggest share of these "donations" then
exercise power to shape and control legislation. The question becomes, and
perhaps has always been, by what criteria should public decisions be made?
How do we evaluate the policies and practices of societies? It seems to me
that the biblical message, in simple terms, would be to judge by what is
best for the "common good."
Most religious faiths are based on the need to create just
and harmonious communities. The most fundamental beliefs within
spiritual/theological traditions are grounded in how people treat one
another, that God requires justice, equity, and compassion. Peace and social
justice would be the natural hallmarks of societies following God's will.
That history has not adhered very well to these traditions and intentions is
no reason for discarding the ideals. It is not too late, although some would
say the world is getting close. How would America's relationship to the rest
of the world look if biblical values were strictly adhered to? How would our
own communities fare? I don't mean that someone or some authorities would
monitor behavior. We seem to be headed in that direction for entirely
different reasons and goals. I mean structuring our economic and political
systems in ways that ensure basic necessities for a meaningful life would be
available for all, both within our nation and worldwide.
The United States currently has the power and means to
lead the nations in such a direction. American interests control the most
relevant economic and political decisions affecting the globe. Our nation
dominates the world economy, the United Nations Security Council, military
power, and all the global institutions in which the U.S. participates. US
influence over major decisions impacting the economies and levels of
conflict in the world have never been so great. Too often, however, policies
claimed in the "national interest" are frequently for commercial interests.
Rather than withdraw from international treaties, a
biblically based response would be to strengthen them and hold nations
accountable to one another for compliance. The US once led efforts to
contain the proliferation of weapons and their escalating capacity to kill,
to keep space free of weapons. There no longer seems a commitment to the
destruction of landmines littering the landscapes of previous conflicts, or
decreasing environmental abuse. We refuse to cooperate in an international
justice system and no longer support international agreements on biological
and chemical weapons. Pledges for relief of poor country debts and monetary
assistance for AIDS afflicted populations have not been as forthcoming as
promised.
Regrettably, we have accepted ideological mythologies that
help drive and support economic injustice and military dominance in much of
the world. There is the notion that democracy and free markets go hand in
hand, particularly that capitalism will automatically be followed by
democracy. Close observation indicates that until people are economically
secure, their democratic rights are clearly curtailed. Does a culture of
individualism, free-market economics, unbridled consumerism and survival
-of-the-fittest social policies define the values of our citizenry? Do we
really believe that "free trade," competition, and economic growth will
benefit all?
Many of the dimensions of globalization can benefit
humanity and have created great possibilities for people around the world to
join hands for the wellbeing of all. Unfortunately, the most powerful aspect
of globalization, a corporate-led economic system, is having an enormous
negative impact on people everywhere. World trade was extolled as the means
by which millions would be lifted from poverty. Instead, the number of
desperately poor increases daily while the wealth of the world is controlled
by an ever-smaller percentage of the human family. Unjust trade agreements
such as NAFTA are to blame for much of the contrast to the affluent future
that was touted. This is largely because of the way trade agreements are
written and enforced. They are heavily weighted in favor of rich countries
and transnational corporations who dominate world trade and write the rules
to protect their markets.
The current economic system searches for the cheapest
labor, taking jobs and adequate pay from richer countries to the poorest.
Protections for labor and the environment are missing in most agreements and
seldom enforced. The spread of huge market chains and fast-food restaurants
wipes out the family owned businesses that traditionally supported a middle
class in poorer countries. The welfare of workers and consumers is low on a
list of priorities when profit is the predominate value.
When 35,000 people die of starvation every day, can we
blithely thank God for our blessings as though we're more deserving than are
those who struggle and perish? Early in the biblical narrative of God's
relationship to humanity, we read of manna which nourished the Israelites on
their long desert trek. The heart of that story is God's command that there
be enough for everyone, that food rotted for those taking more than needed.
God's instructions included a Sabbath Day and Jubilee Year for canceling
debts to free people from the bondage of poverty. The prophets consistently
called the people to honor God's intentions for the well being of all. They
spoke out against the political, economic and ecclesiastical systems that
caused poverty and injustice. Jesus began his ministry by quoting the words
of Isaiah about bringing good news to the poor, liberty to captives and
setting free the oppressed. His sermons and parables addressed the evil of
injustice.
A biblically modeled economic system would affirm the
eradication of poverty as its major goal. Because the United States is
presently the most powerful nation in the world we can and should be the
leading proponents for more equity in the way nations interrelate. The time
is right, while we have the potential, to develop an economic system and
trade agreements for the benefit of the "common good." A strengthened United
Nations represented by people rather than nations would be the democratic
and transparent way for major global decisions to be made. Allowing the
richest nations to have the most influence neglects the needs of the
poorest. Indigenous people and those in highly populated countries are
marginalized and seldom heard.
Together, the international community should be assessing
the world's resources upon which all life depends and plan together how to
allocate them so all people have access to enough clean water, nutritious
food, shelter, health care, education, and meaningful work at a living wage.
Some say it is naïve to think it could be achieved. How do we know when it
has rarely been tried? The Bible indicates it is God's intention. I trust
God's promise that there is enough for all.
Jane Hanna
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