The American Spectator

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Giuliani Jitters

5.7.07 @ 12:01AM

(Page 3 of 4)

With his enduring affection for Catholicism, Colson should read the writings of the Late Scholastics of the School of Salamanca (all Catholics) who were among the first scholars to propose a capitalist society. Capitalism remained an academic subject until the Erasmian Protestants of the Dutch Republic implemented the Salamancan ideas. Calvinist Protestants (another favorite of Colson's) viciously opposed free markets and free trade in the Dutch Republic, while Catholicism attempted to keep it contained within the Republic. Laissez faire capitalism is a product of the Protestant theology of the Dutch Republic, which fought for 80 years to gain its freedom from Spain. The godly Dutch didn't intend to create capitalism, they simply intended to build a government that matched as closely as possible the blue print in the Bible, especially considering the Bible's emphasis on private property rights. Free markets, they reasoned, are nothing but the natural expression of property rights.

Finally, Colson should consider that he is judging the motives of the management of Circuit City when he writes "There is no consideration of an employee's productivity or quality of work. Nor is there any claim that the company can't afford to pay what the workers are currently making -- only that it doesn't have to." Colson has always considered judging other's motives a sin because only God can discern our true motives.
-- Roger D. McKinney
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

"But now evangelical leaders seem to be trending left, almost running after Democratic politicians"? Oh, please. That's just too much of a statistical generalization, the very annoying and gross kind that the liberal mainstream media would make.

That aside, in his letter to the church at Colossus, the Apostle Paul said: "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven." Perhaps Circuit City's executives did what was "right and fair"?

And to the Circuit City employees were Christians, something else Paul also said to the church in Colossus might apply: "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward."

Being laid off is unpleasant. Been there. It can be testy, financially exhausting, demoralizing, depressing, sleep-depriving, age/experience/salary/gender-discriminating and anger-inciting. Even literally nauseating, too. It can put weight on your body or take it off. And cause loss of home and banked retirement funds, and lead to unplanned relocations.

But who's promised a smooth, unchallenged journey? Though it may be no consolation to others, at all I had some times was what Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew, "... He [the Father in Heaven] causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" and "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

In the end, perhaps what Circuit City did was best for the company and all employees who remain. Regardless, none but those people who made the decisions really know. And whether Colson likes it or not, yes, workers have become disposable commodities in this tell-me-what-you're-worth-today society. Where's he been?
-- C. Kenna Amos
Princeton, West Virginia

Doug Bandow claims to be a "Christian libertarian" but says; "There's no Christian politics, whether right or left. Nor is there any Christian economics, whether capitalist or socialist. People should be moral because they are human beings, not because they are businessmen." Both the Catholic Church and John Calvin would be astounded to hear this news.

Liberals want a public square devoid of Christians, saying that spiritual matters pertain only to the individual, not to matters of policy or business. So why would a "Christian libertarian" say pretty much the same thing? With such a philosophy, who needs liberals? Libertarianism is not merely a political philosophy, but it is actually a complete way of living and thinking, and as such is in conflict with Christianity, which also claims to have a complete way of living and thinking. Given that choice, Bandow holds forth the libertarian position.

I can hardly pontificate on the Circuit City mess, claiming to have the perfect Christian solution. But Jesus did say this:

Mt 5:47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.

Christianity has always been about doing more than is minimally required, more than the usual and expected. Simply doing what the market requires is insufficient. Clearly, that's all that happened in the Circuit City case. Therefore, no Christian should be praising or excusing what has occurred. It is rather a matter of bitter regret. Even if I am not sure of what the right answer is, I have a reasonable suspicion that something different and better could have been done had at least a minimal effort been made, and any number of non-Christian businessmen concur on that point.

Christians have a lot to say on economics, politics and every other area of life. Adding our voice to the din of libertarian and other solutions will enrich our national debate.
-- Gary Martin
Platte City, Missouri

Doug Bandow's column illustrates the problem with making politics a matter of faith. You'll like it when they see it as God's work to fight for your issues, but watch out when you're on the other side. Far better to appeal to reason in the area of politics.
-- Jason Davis

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