It’s important to get beyond various secondary arguments and focus on main principles. In talking with various people, both conservative and liberal, our core political debate comes down to two questions:

1. Are humans really as free as we often assume?

2. Is society healthier when it allows the strong to flourish and the weak to die (basic evolution)? Or is it healthier when it cares for the weak and demands help from the strong?

Most conservative views are based on the assumption that people have lots of free will, and that allowing the strong to flourish unhindered benefits everyone.

Liberals and moderates question both assumptions.

As a liberal Christian, I think unlimited free will and unregulated free markets contradict the teachings of Jesus regarding money and grace. Jesus was clearly opposed to any economic philosophy based on “survival of the fittest” and “every man for himself.” He also stressed forgiveness and mercy over judgment.

American “rugged individualism” and “reap what you sow” religion seems to stand in contrast to early Christianity.

History shows, in general, that nations that balance capitalism and socialism (freedom and mercy) tend to have a higher overall standard of living than pure capitalist societies.

Obviously the wealthy in America have it made, but our society as a whole typically rates below many developed countries when it comes to health, longevity, homicides, suicides, addiction, divorce, overall standard of living, etc.

Again, conservatives would argue that most people are capable of being wealthy if they work at it hard and long enough, but this assumes far more freedom than most humans actually have.

It ultimately depends, more than we care to admit, on genes, parents, birthplace, culture, education and lots of just being at the right place at the right time, things over which we have very little control.

Individuals must be held accountable to various degrees, but random events and the hand you were dealt at birth play a larger role in success and failure than individual freedom does.

When you’re young, you assume you will never need help from the larger group. As you age you realize the odds are greater that you will. Don’t destroy our nation’s safety nets too soon, even if it means raising taxes on millionaires.

Alan Shope
Oakwood