(no subject)
Hearts & Minds
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The death of compassionate conservatism
by Jim Wallis
Last week, I spoke with other religious leaders at a press
conference in the U.S. Capitol, urging the House of
Representatives to oppose cuts in social services in their
budget bill. When it was over, we walked to the rotunda to offer
a prayer for our nation and its leaders, that they would do the
right thing for people in poverty. Suddenly, we were face to
face with Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and took the
opportunity to deliver our message directly to him. He listened
politely, but offered little response.
The House is scheduled to begin debate tomorrow on its budget
bill, which includes $54 billion in cuts. On the table are cuts
of $9.5 billion in Medicaid - by requiring co-pays for pregnant
women and children for the first time; $8 billion in foster
care, child support enforcement, and aid to the disabled; and
$844 million in the Food Stamps Program, which would prevent
300,000 people from receiving food stamps. Forty thousand
children would be cut from reduced-price school lunches.
Lawmakers intend to follow these with a further cut of $70
billion in taxes that will primarily benefit the top 3% of
taxpayers. The message from Congress is that in response to
Hurricane Katrina, we're going to cut services for the poor, cut
taxes for the rich, and increase deficits for our children and
grandchildren.
These plans for deep cuts to social supports, paid for by tax
cuts for the wealthiest, are contrary to the national priorities
we need to protect our most vulnerable citizens. We need strong
moral leadership in Congress, especially during this time of
war, record deficits, rising poverty and hunger, and natural
disasters. Cutting food stamps and health care that meet the
basic needs of poor families is an outrage. Cutting social
services to pay for further tax cuts for the rich is a moral
travesty that violates biblical priorities. The House leadership
seems to be saying they literally want to take food from the
mouths of children to make rich people richer. If this ideology
and politics of rich over poor prevails and our leaders fail to
govern from a set of moral values, then the religious community
must conclude that compassionate conservatism is dead.
As this battle for the budget unfolds, I am calling on members
of Congress, some of whom make much out of their faith, to start
Bible studies before they cast votes to cut services that will
further harm the weakest in our nation. They should focus on the
gospel imperative - what Jesus tells us about our obligations to
the "least of these." Some of them have heard the slogan "What
would Jesus do?" Now they should ask, "What would Jesus cut?"
Budgets are moral documents, and they reflect our national
priorities and values. In the name of social conscience, fiscal
responsibility, equal opportunity, protecting our communities,
and the very idea of a common good, the upcoming budget votes
will be closely watched by people of faith.
I urge you to read the alert that follows, pick up your phone,
and call your member of Congress. Tell him or her to show
political will in standing up for the least of these, as Jesus
reminds us.
+++++++++++++++++++++
The death of compassionate conservatism
by Jim Wallis
Last week, I spoke with other religious leaders at a press
conference in the U.S. Capitol, urging the House of
Representatives to oppose cuts in social services in their
budget bill. When it was over, we walked to the rotunda to offer
a prayer for our nation and its leaders, that they would do the
right thing for people in poverty. Suddenly, we were face to
face with Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and took the
opportunity to deliver our message directly to him. He listened
politely, but offered little response.
The House is scheduled to begin debate tomorrow on its budget
bill, which includes $54 billion in cuts. On the table are cuts
of $9.5 billion in Medicaid - by requiring co-pays for pregnant
women and children for the first time; $8 billion in foster
care, child support enforcement, and aid to the disabled; and
$844 million in the Food Stamps Program, which would prevent
300,000 people from receiving food stamps. Forty thousand
children would be cut from reduced-price school lunches.
Lawmakers intend to follow these with a further cut of $70
billion in taxes that will primarily benefit the top 3% of
taxpayers. The message from Congress is that in response to
Hurricane Katrina, we're going to cut services for the poor, cut
taxes for the rich, and increase deficits for our children and
grandchildren.
These plans for deep cuts to social supports, paid for by tax
cuts for the wealthiest, are contrary to the national priorities
we need to protect our most vulnerable citizens. We need strong
moral leadership in Congress, especially during this time of
war, record deficits, rising poverty and hunger, and natural
disasters. Cutting food stamps and health care that meet the
basic needs of poor families is an outrage. Cutting social
services to pay for further tax cuts for the rich is a moral
travesty that violates biblical priorities. The House leadership
seems to be saying they literally want to take food from the
mouths of children to make rich people richer. If this ideology
and politics of rich over poor prevails and our leaders fail to
govern from a set of moral values, then the religious community
must conclude that compassionate conservatism is dead.
As this battle for the budget unfolds, I am calling on members
of Congress, some of whom make much out of their faith, to start
Bible studies before they cast votes to cut services that will
further harm the weakest in our nation. They should focus on the
gospel imperative - what Jesus tells us about our obligations to
the "least of these." Some of them have heard the slogan "What
would Jesus do?" Now they should ask, "What would Jesus cut?"
Budgets are moral documents, and they reflect our national
priorities and values. In the name of social conscience, fiscal
responsibility, equal opportunity, protecting our communities,
and the very idea of a common good, the upcoming budget votes
will be closely watched by people of faith.
I urge you to read the alert that follows, pick up your phone,
and call your member of Congress. Tell him or her to show
political will in standing up for the least of these, as Jesus
reminds us.