Jesus said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command (Jn: 15:12-14).”
I wonder what He’d have to say about the politicians in Washington so addicted to their own lust for power they’d see this country’s and the world’s economy go down in flames as long as they believe by doing so and affixing the blame on the other party they will maintain and enhance control.
I have a hunch it wouldn’t be the most gentle of expressions. Or for that matter something verbalized.
We are facing a situation where the credit crunch brought on primarily by government mandate to hand out loans like candy regardless of the recipient’s ability to pay is a legitimate threat to every business in America and the world which depends on credit to cover salaries and other expenses when their own assets are tied up in non-cash forms. Right now, the crushing debt financial institutions are carrying due to short-sighted acquisition, be it through direct action or purchase, of doomed loans has eliminated the ability to extend credit. Making matters worse, the assets they do own, specifically the properties held in default due to the original loan holders failing to pay what they owed, are considered to be worthless even if they have some genuine value due to the fact that no one is willing to buy them at market or even discount price. Shelled out a few billion dollars to snag some juicy pieces of the securitization pie? Sorry, they’re no longer worth a red cent even if they’re still edible. Guess you’re out of pocket on this one. Hey, what do you mean your pockets are already empty?
This isn’t a Wall Street issue. This is an issue affecting most every business in the world regardless of size. I am not an alarmist, nor do I pretend to understand all the nuances of global finance. This I do know. The Democrats couldn’t resist shoehorning in some of their beloved pork to the financial bailout plan. They then had the gall to accuse Republicans of causing the mess brought about by the Community Reinvestment Act which was a creation of Democrats. Next, they allowed the ensuing partisan bickering to doom the financial bailout so they can now wait until the crisis becomes even worse before coming up with their “own” plan, loaded with even more pork, that they and the traditional media in their back pocket will herald as a sign of how much they love the working person… even as they tax them to death. And the Republicans? They’re too busy either waving the “Socialism Nyet!” flag, or for whatever reason allowing the lies being told to go unchallenged, to actually educate people about why we are where we are. Yeah, thanks for the dynamic leadership.
What we need right now — as in right now — is a leader following the example of Christ.
When He was single-handedly cleaning out the temple.
Jesus demonstrated that actions also speak. And, long before Indiana Jones was thought of, where there’s a whip there’s a way.
Somebody in Washington grab one and get going. Please.
