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Pastor’s Thoughts
“From everyone to whom much has been given,
much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted,
even more will be demanded” (Luke 12:48).
What we consider important, our priorities
in life, are well illustrated to the people around us by how we spend our
money.
For example: What would you say is important
to a neighbor who drives a brand new car, is current on their country club
dues and city club membership, yet refuses to take their spouse to the
doctor because it costs too much? Or, what would you think about someone who
has six children, goes to the pub every night, but never goes to
parent-teacher conferences and campaigns furiously against any and all new
programs and increases in the local school budget?
How we spend our money speaks clearly about
what we think is important.
Our proposed 2007 federal budget slashes or
ends many programs that help that the poor. Programs like; energy
assistance, food-stamps, and health care. There are also many cuts to
education and other programs that I consider important to all economic
levels in our country.
The justification for all these proposed
cuts in our budget is balancing the federal budget and that would be good.
However, do you believe that Jesus would
have us balance our federal budget by making cuts in programs that help the
poor? All the while continuing to give tax breaks to the rich and fund a
war of choice?
I would be the first to say that our federal
budget is probably bloated and contains programs that should be cut or
ended. I would also admit that I am not a trained economist, bureaucrat or
politician and so do not have vast knowledge or experience to speak with
authority on all aspects of this issue.
However, here are just a few of the programs that are, in the
words of our government, to be “Terminated” or have “Major Discretionary
Reductions.”
To be
“Terminated”
Department of Health and Human Services:
Maternal and Child Health Small Categorical
Grants, Urban Indian Health Program, Emergency Medical Services for Children
Department of Education:
Safe and Drug-Free Schools State Grants,
Arts in Education, Elementary and Secondary School Counseling, Alcohol Abuse Reduction, School Dropout Prevention
Department of Agriculture:
Commodity Supplemental Food Program, High
Cost Energy Grants, Public Broadcast Grants
To have
“Major Discretionary Reductions”
Department of Health and Human Services:
HRSA- Children’s GME, HRSA- Health
Professions, HRSA- Poison Control Centers, Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Administration Programs of Regional and National Significance
Department of Education:
Teaching American History, Physical
Education, Mentoring Program
Other Agencies:
Denali Commission, Corporation for Public
Broadcasting
The total budgetary savings from all the
terminations and cuts is sizeable.
Terminations: $7,314 billion
Reductions: + $7,437 billion
$14,751 billion
A question: What is your priority; the
elimination from our elementary and secondary schools of Counselors, Alcohol
Abuse and Dropout Prevention programs, or permanent tax cuts for the rich?
According to the CBO (Congressional Budget
Office) the cost of the war in Iraq is $9billion per month. So the total
savings from the aforementioned “Terminations” and “Reductions” will fund
less than 2 months of our war priority. How does the world see us when we
eliminate funding for Emergency Medical Services for Children and continue
to fund war where children die?
I do not believe our country’s current
monetary and budgetary priorities agree with Jesus’ teaching (Luke 12:48).
Tax cuts are great, but I believe Jesus
would have us give them to the poorest in our society not the richest. In my
limited understanding of economics, tax cuts are intended to stimulate the
economy and create jobs. If we give tax cuts to the rich they may invest and
create new jobs. If we give tax cuts to people of middle-income and below
I’m quite sure the money will be spent, going back into the nation’s economy
and creating jobs.
I’ll not expound, dear Reader, upon my
belief about Jesus’ teaching on war as you have often read my belief of
Jesus’ call to peace and non-violence.
Remember, in a democracy the tax money spent
is spent in accordance with the tax payers’ priorities. So, pray about it
and let your elected representatives know what you believe.
Still In One Peace ~ pastor john
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