Financial Recovery?

Have you noticed how well the financial recovery is going? Since the crash in 2007-2008 the stock market has bounced back to over 11,000. You may have also observed that there are nice profits for major corporations. These signs of recovery are made possible by the tax cuts enacted under the last administration; tax cuts and TARP (bail-out) also signed by President Bush. These financial institutions are leading the way in buying back their own stock; and thereby increasing the value of their personal fortunes.

One argument for the extension of the tax cuts is that the wealthy will spend their extra money on jobs for the middle class. Problem is that this is not happening. In fact, for the decade that these cuts have been in effect we have seen a net loss in jobs. Giving tax cuts to the wealthy in order to create jobs has been a disastrous deception. The top 2% of Americans is accumulating more and more of the country’s wealth. At the same time the majority suffer.

If the take-home pay of the middle class is increased there is no doubt that the money will be spent; and therefore circulate throughout the economy. The overwhelming majority of Americans are living (month to month) on their pay check.

The compassion of Jesus calls for an equal distribution of the blessings provided to this country. Only when all people are seen as brothers and sisters will the justice of God become our national policy. Gross inequality must be labeled what it is, "unjust". Jesus said: “No slave can serve two masters; for the slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Luke 16:13)