A Random Economic Theory from the Shower

I had a thought while I was in the shower tonight....some of my best and most random thinking happens in the shower. The thought is a little theory of economics that I developed that I just want to throw out there for consideration and feedback. Keep in mind, my "theory" is all of 45 minutes old.

So we hear about Republicans and their Supply Side Economics, made famous by Ronald Reagan. Then there's Consumer Side Economics which is touted, though I'm sure how implemented the practice is in actuality, by the Democrats. The idea with Supply Side Economics is that businesses employ people and that allowing the businesses to keep more of their revenue will trickle down to higher wages. The idea with Consumer Side Economics is that allowing consumers (you and I) to keep more of our hard earned cash means we'll spend more and the money will trickle up to businesses and therefore grow the economy.

The little caveat with Democrats is that I'm not so sure that they actually lower taxes so much as they raise taxes on the wealthy and businesses. However, there is a popular myth that people buy into that a Democrat in office means they will have more money. My theory is that the expectation and perception of increased future wealth triggers more spending in the present through financing (aka loans and credit cards).

The problem is that households are relying on credit so much that we're even more vulnerable to further economic deterioration than if we didn't have such a heavy reliance on credit. So, regardless of whether or not supply side economics or consumer side economics works more effectively in theory, the Democrat platform and practice in actuality with regards to economic policy tends to actually weaken economic strength.

This is just a theory. Really, to test it, one would have to do some statistical analysis on average household credit card debt holdings (which I believe is an average of over $8.3k right now) and see if it spikes around the early months of a Democrat being elected into any kind of national office or as Governor.

As another little caveat or side note: remember how businesses employ people? Well, when things become more expensive for them, they are less able to employ as many people so unemployment will rise. And rich people, when their taxes are raised, will probably cut down on spending which equals less money for businesses which means some jobs are lost. Now, will the decrease and spending and resulting job loss outweigh the increase in taxes? It depends. The point being, supply side economics has a lot going for it.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Where Is God?

Where is God? It's a question I've asked much in my life and I know many others have asked as well. It seems that as time drags on and more death, destruction, violence, and degradation of humanity occurs in this world, more people are asking where is God.

It's a perfectly legitimate question and I'm glad people ask it because it means they still care about God. The far scarier revelation is the trend to not even worry about where God is in this world. Even a popular politician is trying to fulfill the role of Jesus Christ - bearer of hope.

That aside, if you pause to reflect on whom i asking where God is and when they are asking that question, a pattern appears. Most often, it is out of pain, despair, hopelessness, or tragedy that we begin to question God's presence.

Sometimes I even think to myself, where is God when an innocent child is murdered? Where is God when people lose their jobs? When there are so many people starving to death or otherwise homeless? When gossip runs rampant and cheating is becoming normalized? When earthquakes and hurricanes destroy people's lives? When families fall apart? WHERE IS GOD?

I've come to realize, and perhaps was just reminded of that realization tonight, of where God is located in life. God is where a person gives food or money to a homeless person. God is where a person tells the truth. God is where an apology is offered and where an apology is accepted and forgiveness is given. God is where rescue volunteers rush to help those in trouble. God is where a family reconciles. He is where patience is given. He is where a driver allows another car to change lanes even if they are in a rush.

See, I don't think that God is distant at all, not even a little distant as compared to previous generations and generations before that all the way to the dawn of time. I think we've allowed ourselves to become so separated from God that we struggle to recognize His presence in ourselves and others.

God is with you.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Theology of the Conditional God

I'm sure you've had one of those days. You know. Everything is going great, God's love is practically dripping from the air around you. Life is beautiful and precious and you are so incredibly blessed. Then something happens that puts a halt to all of those warm fuzzy feelings and makes you wonder where the heck did God go because you're pretty certain He's forgotten about you at the moment.

It's interesting how we develop this theology of a conditional God. Our sense of God's love for us can be so easily torn away from our grasp by the crappy days or moments of our lives. We may know that God is always present but we feel that He is lacking when we are suffering or going through struggles. It's amazing how we act and feel as though being faithful to God and being in relationship with Him entitles us to certain luxuries or comforts, as if our cross should be made of particle board and wrapped in bubblewrap (oh how fun that would be).

I began to experience this phenomenon on Sunday night. After serving on an amazing retreat weekend, I came home to receive some stressful news within an hour of returning. I felt betrayed by God. I was being punished despite my service and trust in Him. It was a funny way of reassuring me that my trust was well placed. I sank into this conditional theology. I tried asking God to help me deal with the situation, to deal with the stress, but that only made me think about it all the more.

Finally, I realized that my mind is not where I needed the re-conversion, but that my heart was being overwhelmed by my mind. So I began with my heart and started reading some notes from the weekend that were reminders to me of God's love for me and His faithfulness to me (and to all of His children, just to be clear). I began to feel peace, the peace I had longed for. My mind tried to fight a little, but my heart, where the peace of Christ dwells, had control. I was able to sleep and to wake the next morning and still find peace despite the situation getting worse overnight.

Now, the situation didn't really change or get much better. There's still some issues I have to work through with regard to the situation, but I feel secure knowing that God is by my side and in my heart, offering me the peace I need to get through the stress. The problem went from a catastrophe, to finding a more balanced and manageable quality about it. What I mean is that my mind fretted over the issue and made it a very big deal, but God's peace allows me to shrink the size of the problem so that I'm able to more calmly and rationally deal with it.

The lesson(s) learned? Many. To name just a few: I can't live this life on my own power and my own will - I'm too weak. God will give me strength. Others will remind me of God's love. And, lastly, whenever I think God is silent or missing, I probably need to shift the center of where I'm living my life from...from my head to my heart because it is the heart that will calm the restlessness and despair of the mind.

Thursday, October 16, 2008