I admit that politically and economically speaking, I am a fiscally conservative, social libertarian. I also confess, that as a pastor I shouldn’t be public with this. Typically we are to keep our politics to ourselves. However, the Occupy Movement is bringing out my political passion.
There are two reasons for this. The first is the judgment that is coming from certain groups within society about the people who were Occupying. Unfortunately, I align myself with these groups.
The first group is the Christian group. The church has generally either ignored or scoffed at the Occupiers. We have considered these people to be those we should show ‘pity’ towards, but not respect.
The second group is the politically conservative folk, who seem to view the Occupiers as dead beats who need to get a job.
A few words of explanation, despite being a Libertarian (or Classical Liberal), I am not a hard and fast supply-side economics guy. I believe that Government is good and has an important role in society. I also believe that government should stay within that the role, and when it moves outside its parameters it usually has a negative in our lives. I believe in the protection of civil liberties, but at times, citizens need to be protected from them selves. I believe in paying my share of taxes. I believe in having a strong social safety net that is equal across the country, which is why, as an Albertan, I am okay with the Transfer Payment Program. I believe that capitalism is the best means to providing a healthy economy and more jobs for all. I believe that Adam Smith’s ideals of economics are, in essence, correct, but need to be monitored and balanced with the common good. I believe that nothing is more complex than a governing country that promotes prosperity while ensuring that people’s basic needs are being met.
I also hope that I have a holistic Gospel. I am believe, rather strongly, that their needs to be both a proclamation of Truth and a demonstration of it. These should be in perfect balance. I grew up in a Christian tradition that was decidedly unbalanced: we were all proclamation, all the time. This has begun to change with the demonstration of the gospel being much more important in Evangelical circles (although generally not as important as the proclamation). When I look at Jesus’ life and words it seems rather clear to me that He wants us both to help those in need, to demonstrate the love of God, while also telling others about the love of God. I feel you can’t have one without the other. I don’t believe that one is more important than the other. We need both.
All of which made the Occupy Movement so fascinating for me.
The more I listened and watched, the more I read the emails forwarded to me as well as the comments on Twitter and Facebook, the more uncomfortable I became with what I was reading and hearing.
The Occupiers were being called things like ‘homeless’, ‘smelly’, ‘unkept’ and ‘needing to get a real job’….all of which were true about Jesus. They were also labeled as ‘hypocrites’, something Jesus was not. These labels came from elected officials, media types, and church members.
While I too was flabbergasted that these people could ‘occupy’ for so long without receiving a pay cheque (how many of us could survive a week or two without income?!?), I understood ‘why’ people are upset. And, I would surmise, that all of us who are Christ-followers AND politically curious should be a little enraged right now. Here is why.
The wealth gap in our country, as well as the United States, is growing. There is a lower to middle class cash flow squeeze that is increasing. It may become a crisis. (Consider for a moment, if the lower to middle class completely vanishes, and North America is left with two economic groups: wealthy and poor. Landowner and Serf. The trajectory is slowly moving in this direction. The ‘middle class’ no longer live comfortably, but instead, marginally.) Meanwhile, those with cash benefit because of a system that puts the wealthiest first. To be clear, I have zero issue with what the wealthiest receive rather I have issue that the same opportunities don’t exist for those who live month-to-month.
Here are a few examples:
1. Those who live month-to-month are unable to buy in bulk. They simply cannot afford $70 on wholesale pasta sauce ‘to have enough for the next 12 months.’ Those who have more cash flow can, thereby saving money over the long haul. Put another way, places like Costco mostly benefit the wealthy, not the lower class.
2. There are usually two options for parents when it comes to paying extra-curricular activities. At a discounted rate you can pay the whole cost upfront or pay month-to-month at full pop. Again, by having more cash up front, the wealthiest save money, while those who have less margin of error, pay more.
3. The better the credit rating, the better the credit rate. This is century old truism. The problem with this is that the people who need a break in their credit rate, are those who are struggling to get by. They are the ones for whom a few points can make a huge difference.
4. To invest money in stocks, real estate or precious metals, one needs a lump sum of cash. The larger the lump sum, the greater likelihood of gaining a positive return on the investment. Again, who is in a better position to make a large investment? (I recall as a 19 year old I wanted to buy some stock. I called my banker who asked how much I had. I told him that I could put in around $100 to $200 dollars. I was told I needed at least a $1000.00, and he convinced me to buy a Canada Savings Bond!)
5. The reality is, corporate bailouts, corporate handouts and tax incentives are rampant. It seems the bigger the company the more likely they are to receive government assistance in times of trouble (hello GM!). Part of this reason is to protect thousands of employees from losing their jobs. This is a good thing. But often, many employees were laid off anyway, while executives took massive salaries, bonuses and collected on stock options. (Watch the movie ‘The Company Men’).
Occupy lost its narrative (perhaps they never had it!), they lacked leadership, they never moved from Organic to Organized. They contradicted themselves – a lot.
But there is something as to WHY they were upset. There is a wealth gap, an increasing one, and the longer we choose to ignore it, could very well result in our peril.
As Christians, it is time we stood up and found our Social Justice voice and speak out against this. As Conservatives and Libertarians, it is time we found our voice and pushed our governments towards broader fiscal policy: namely, ensuring that the same opportunities exist for the lower and middle classes to borrow, invest and purchase as the rich do.
So the next time you are in Costco buying 10 packages of bacon for $35.00, remember the family who can only afford to buy one package at Walmart for $4.00. You, who can afford to, just saved $5.00, while those who cannot are forced to spend more.
When you go to purchase a vehicle and receive near wholesale cost because you paid cash, remember the family who is struggling to afford the payments on their mini-van.
When you buy a rental revenue property, cabin or a vacation home, consider the person who is struggling to keep a roof over the head of his family.
When you are looking at your company’s bottom line, perhaps remember the employees that helped get you there. Maybe consider a raise or profit sharing or incentives program, rather than just pocketing all the profits.
Although many didn’t like how the Occupiers protested, and their messengers seemed to be without a message, there is something occurring in our economics that is disconcerting. Advantages exist for high-income people, while others are left to figure out each month. This is anti-Christian, anti-Conservative and anti-Libertarian. We believe in equal opportunity for all, in fairness, justice, generosity, civil liberties and rights, and freedom.
That is why they Occupied, and that is why you and I should have supported them.
