"On God's Side"

[This is the second part of a discussion of Jim Wallis' On God's Side. The first post (September 17, 2013) can be found at this link.]

"Common good is the whole network of social conditions which enable human individuals and groups to flourish and live a fully, genuinely human life, otherwise described as 'integral human development.' All are responsible for all, collectively, at the level of society or nation, not only as individuals." - Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, The Common Good and the Catholic Church's Social Teaching

In the second part of On God's Side, Jim Wallis discusses "practices for the common good." What actions and behaviors will help our nation achieve the common good so necessary for a democracy and so essential to the Christian view of the world? The first step, Wallis believes, is a return to civility in our political discussion. Indeed, one of the drivers for writing this book in 2012 was the dysfunctional and bitterly partisan politics that had undermined "the people's deep desire for hope and change." How do we return to civility? By all parties focusing on the those ideas of our political opponents that work for the attainment of the common good. Only then will we be able to solve problems rather than assign blame for them.

Both conservative and liberal philosophies have critical contributions to make in solving our problems...The best big conservative idea is personal responsibility...Doing the right thing, the moral thing, the ethical thing in personal decision making is key not only for individual well-being but also...for the common good...The best big liberal idea is social responsibility...Compassion is an essential social virtue and should not be confused with political systems. Hubert Humphrey... expressed it well: "Compassion is not weakness, and concern for the unfortunate is not socialism."... The question of who will take responsibility [for those, in Humphrey's words, in the dawn, twilight and shadows of life] is a soul-searching one from liberals, especially if those in need are outside of our own families and groups.

Wallis gives two examples of areas where liberals and conservatives could work together to restore the common good- strengthening marriage and ending poverty. In emphasizing his call for a return to civility, he reflects on the shooting of Gabby Giffords, "the least likely person to be targeted by an angry and unhinged man." Wallis contends that the way to get back to civil discourse is by framing it as a moral argument - it's a religious issue, we always speak the truth ("Much of our worst political rhetoric these days is based on outright lies that go viral"), and hold to the early American statement E pluribus Unum - one out of many.

After calling for civility in our political discussions, Jim Wallis writes of the need to redeem democracy (from voter suppression laws, from the Citizens United decision ("one of the most disastrous judicial decisions in American history...which...virtually overturned the beginnings of campaign finance laws") and from the control of money over elections), to restore economic trust (the current global economy is "unfair, unsustainable, unstable, and [makes people] unhappy"), and to have a "servant government" ("the purpose of government...is to protect its people from the chaos of evil and to promote the good of society: to protect and promote").

Besides civility and focusing on solutions, Wallis points to two other necessary elements for making things right - that is, for changing and correcting injustices. The first element is grass-roots movements or post-candidate advocacy. "There are systems that undergird and shape the limits of the political agenda, and challenging those limits to get to root causes and real solutions is always the prophetic task....It is always movements that "change the wind," and only a change in the political wind can change the political policies in Washington..." The second element is healthy households. "Our households are critical places for the practice of human flourishing and for teaching the next generation the meaning of the common good." Wallis sees strong families and the home as the place to nurture values rather than encourage "appetites" (i.e., consumerism, materialism).

Focus on solutions rather than partisanship, encourage movements, and teach values and the common good to your children. Good advice at any time. God bless your optimistic heart, Jim. I hope you're right. 

 

Ten Decisions to Change the World

 

Want to get started on changing the world?  In the Epilogue to his book, Wallis provides "Ten Personal Decisions for the Common Good" and he re-lists these ten decisions in a Sojourners' June 30 post.  Check them out.  Jim's intro to the post reads: After traveling the country this spring — while keeping an eye on Washington, D.C. — I am more convinced than ever that our personal decisions, choices, and commitments will change the world more than our politics. The message in the Epilogue to On God’s Side says this as well as I could do again. It’s short and very practical.

 

Food Stamp Cuts

 

The day before the House of Representatives passed its draconian cuts to the food stamp program, Sojourners issued a press release concerning the call from religious leaders to reject the proposed cuts.  The leaders are from the Circle of Protection, a coalition of more than 65 heads of denominations and religious organizations, plus more than 5,000 church pastors. They have been working for more than two years to resist federal budget cuts that undermine the lives, dignity, and rights of poor and vulnerable people.  From Jim Wallis' letter to Congress: “These immoral cuts are incongruent with the shared values of our nation. They demonstrate the triumph of political ideology and self-interest over sound public policy and concern for the general welfare. Actions like these foster cynicism and distrust of government in the everyday Americans who struggle to meet their families’ basic needs and create a better life for their children.”  The common good took a beating this time but perhaps the pressure from religious and other community leaders will help reduce the size of the cuts (or eliminate them altogether) when it goes to the House-Senate conference.