Christian econ profs among hundreds of signatories to anti-stimulus ad.
The libertarian Cato Institute has been sponsoring an advertisement saying that "it is a triumph of hope over experience to believe that more government spending will help the U.S." fix the economy. Among the hundreds of signers were professors from several Christian colleges, including: John Lunn from Hope College, Earl Grinols from Baylor University, Seth Norton of Wheaton College, Alex Tokarev from The King's College and a World magazine correspondent, and Douglas Walker of Regent University.
While the President has promised to restore science to it's rightful place (for some a jab at the evangelical influence on the previous administration), many economists are wondering whether science or faith is driving the economic theory behind the stimulus bill. As The Atlantic's Megan McArdle points out, "The evidence for this kind of stimulus working in this kind of situation basically rests on a single instance (World War II)--the other two times it was tried (Japan in the 1990s and America in the 1930s) the economy basically rolled along in the doldrums for the rest of the decade." The burden of proof she says is on supporters of the stimulus, otherwise, "We might as well move macroeconomic policy to the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives."
Update: Justin Fox, of Time magazine's Curious Capitalist blog, argues that the stimulus bill is an economist's version of Pascal's wager--"Let us estimate these two chances. If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing." If the stimulus works, great. If not, we're only out $800 billion.
Posted by Rob Moll on February 9, 2009 9:27PM
Comments
I am wondering if these Christian economists also signed a signatory opposing the borrowing of nearly 1 trillion dollars that we did not have, to wage war against a country that did not attack us, that resulted in the deaths of 1000s of Iraqi citizens and American soldiers. I am wondering if they feel this was a better use of taxpayer funds than providing support for people desperately in need of jobs, in danger of losing their homes, and unable to feed their families. I understand that there is much not to like in the stimulus package, but it is unlikely to cost the lives of American citizens and may indeed help people in need. I know some of the people in need are in that position because of their own mistakes and poor choices, but I don't see that as a Scriptural reason not to reach out in compassion. Do I wish we didn't need this bill? Yes. But it is a far better use of funds than I have seen my government spend in quite some time.
Posted by: Bethany at February 10, 2009
Where were the Cato ads when the last president was giving away our children's future to the military contractors, failing to regulate their buddies on Wall Street and in the oil/energy industries and creating the largest deficits in history. Cato, and the signators on their ad have lost their credibility and are sounding simply like whiners and spoilers. If you want to sound like you're helping, give suggestions rather than this sarcastic, sophomoric language. Being anti-science is nothing to be proud of. Be a part of the solution! The party you have supported got us into this mess...try helping those who are trying to get us out. Shame on you.
Posted by: christine at February 10, 2009
As long as so-called "religious leaders' keep identifying the church of Jesus Christ with rightwing GOP ideology, the gospel will continue to remain tainted and compromised by partisanship and divisiveness. Where were these spiritual leaders when the Bush administration doled out 700 Billion to the banks and lenders who ripped off the American consumer or contracted out billions of dollars to war-monging profiteers in Iraq and Afghanistan? Church hypocrisy merely serves to reinforce the lack of credibility by unbelievers in our gospel and in our Savior. The gentiles blaspheme the Name of our God because of our actions. It is the Lord who raises and brings down kings and rulers. President Obama will be used by God, willingly or not, and we should respect God's choice. We had our chance during the past 8 years and we totally disgraced Christianity with political corruption and poor stewardship of executive and congressional power.
Posted by: Carlos at February 11, 2009
OUR GOVERNMENT IS IN SUCH A MESS. LETS SEE! LETS LOOK AT THIS AS PARENTS AND KIDS AND GRAND KIDS. KIDS GO OUT AND BUY AND BUY AND GET THEM SELVES IN TO A FINANCIAL MESS AND THEY THEY WANT TO BORROW FROM THE PARENTS TO BALE THEM OUT. THE PARENTS BALE THEM OUT AND THEY GO OUT AND BUY AND BUY AND THEY HAVEN'T WORKED A DAY. JUST BORROW AND BUY. SOUNDS LIKE OUR GOVERNEMENT AND WELFARE/MEDICAL AND OUR BANKS. I WONDER IF NANCY OR REED OR ANY OF THE OTHER DEMOCRATS WOULD BALE OUT THEIR KIDS IF THEY WERE NOT WORKING OR LAZY OR ON DRUGS. I DON'T THINK SO BUT THEY WANT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO ACCEPT THEIR WISE BALE OUT OF 800 BILLION AND GOING UP. THE PORK ISSUES IS THE SAME AS ALLWAYS WITH OUR GOVERNEMENT. HOPEFULLY THE REPUBLICANS WILL NOT BUY THIS MESS THAT OBAMA IS TRYING TO PUSH DOWN THE TAX PAYERS THROAT.
I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE GIVING FOREIGN COUNTRIES MONEY FOR THEIR DRUG WAR, ABORTIONS. I DON'T WANT TO BUY ANY MORE CHINESE JUNK AND BAD FOOD. DOESN'T THIS SOUND LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN EUROPE BEFORE WW11. GOD BLESS AMERICA! WE ARE BEING FED SO MUCH GARBAGE AND OBAMA WANTS TO ACCEPT THIS. NO WAY! I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW HE GOT VOTED INTO THE PRESIDENCY. I DON'T KNOW H0W ALL THOSE PEOPLE GOT TO WASHINGTON AND THEY COULDN'T GET THEM OUT OF THE TORNADO AREA.
Posted by: Nellie McConnell at February 11, 2009
When are we as christians going to wake up and realize that the government, REGARDLESS OF PARTY, will not save us. The fiscal and international policies of the last 8 years were a disaster, the moral actions and hypocrisy of the 8 years before that were an embarrassment and the current fiscal approach of our new administration is ludicrous. If we want solutions we need to look at the person in the mirror. Begin in our families, our marriages and the raising of our children to honor God and model Christlikeness. Help the under resourced, fight for the oppressed, live a high moral standard, love our neighbors, reach out to the hurting, serve in your local church; basically Christians acting like Christ. All this partisan bickering among Christ followers is a complete embarrassment; as if the government could change a single human soul. Christ didn't die to create a transforming government...He died to create the church. WE are the light of the world. Now let's act like it.
Posted by: HR Huntsman at February 12, 2009
On Feb 4, The Washington Times reported: "CBO (Congressional Budget Office), the official scorekeepers for legislation, said the House and Senate bills will help in the short term but result in so much government debt that within a few years they would crowd out private investment, actually leading to a lower Gross Domestic Product over the next 10 years than if the government had done nothing." As Christians, we need to consider the implications of this stimulus bill where stewardship is concerned. In what sense are we being good stewards by passing on such onerous debt to our children and grandchildren? And how is it "compassionate" to demand that future generations pay for other people's poor choices? (For the record, I have been vehemently opposed to the war in Iraq and have made that very clear to the the Bush administration.)
Posted by: Julie at February 12, 2009
It is interesting that so many comments attempt to hide behind a philosophy of an anti-Iraq position rather than address the weak philosophy of government as "the village." More would prefer to have the government bail them out from bad decisions than to be responsible for their own behaviors.
With regard to Iraq one must ask if it is a just war. Just war has historically been waged against the "lust for power" by a tyrant with the concern being the welfare of the people. These wars began as peace on earth was directly violated and ended when peace was restored, not necessarily improved upon.
When thinking toward the Iraq war, Christians should consider: Is coexistence with evil resulting in spiritual compromise the barrier that concerns God? When a nation is brutalized beyond being able to come against the tyrant, the stronger nation is obligated under righteousness and the ethic of God to come to the aid of the nation to defeat the intruding tyrant and his followers. To not do so brings the influence of the tyrant to bear on more nations at the expense of those God created and sent His Son to die for.
Posted by: LS Lightner at February 14, 2009
It is interesting that bloggers at this thread seem to have a
strong dislike for President George W. Bush. Why did God put Obama
in office, but not President Bush? We had a great economy for most
of the Bush presidency, until the mortgage/financial situation.
Who caused the sub-prime mortgage situation? Could it be Barney
Frank, Maxcine Waters, Christopher Dodd etal?
The Iraq War has been difficult. What did Jay Rockefeller, Hillary
Clinton, Madelyn Albright, Sandy Berger etal say about Sadam Hussein before March 2003?
Who voted for the War? It is a matter of record. Some of the comments above are just liberal talking points...
could there be a political agenda?
Posted by: Den Brostrom at February 16, 2009
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