Just Talk

Matthew 18.10-20

I've been doing a lot of listening to the events surrounding the political situation within our national government for the last 2 weeks. I have to admit I've been wanting to voice an opinion earlier than today, but I really am the type of person to listen to as many sides as I can before coming to any conclusions. I have my personal thoughts, but those thoughts are mine and mine only - it would not be fair to impose my thoughts or beliefs on anyone before listening to as many differing ideas and thoughts as possible.

It would seem that at the root of what is happening in our nation's capital is that there are similar executions of separate ideas. Let me try to explain.

On one hand we have a group of people who honestly believe our nation is going down the wrong path as far as spending money is concerned. At least I want to hope they believe that, because if these people are only putting on a show that show is doing a lot of damage. This group of people, for reasons only they fully understand, are attaching all of their anger at how the government spends money to the Affordable Care Act (ACA - and yes, I'm calling it by its legal name).

This group of people also believe that it is how our entitlement programs are funded, or how much they are funded, which is at the base of our government's spending problems. Their ideology is that smaller government intrusion/assistance is the answer to a well-run and perfectly-budgeted United States.

On the other hand are a group of people who believe that we honestly live in a society in which people cannot take care of themselves, no matter how hard they try. The jobs available to these people are minimum-wage and part-time at best. This group's understanding of government's role is to assist those for whom it has become impossible to provide for one's self, let alone a family, with the limited resources available to them.

For this group of people the answer is to raise more funds from those in our society who can afford it, close any loopholes which allow corporations in the United States to bypass paying a little higher taxes, and continue to help those who need the help. For this group of people the ACA is an example of exactly what is needed in our country.

This may seem like a cop-out, but I think they're both right. I also don't think how things are currently being handled is the answer. I listened to a group of very smart economists yesterday as they gave statements to the Senate Banking Committee. One of the people testifying said that by the year 2040 the United States will be borrowing 108% of GDP in order to pay it's bills. In other words, the only way to keep our government running is to borrow more than twice of the monies we produce as a country.

Spending needs to be brought under control. However, as anyone who runs a company or a household can tell you, lowering costs is only half the answer to being debt-free. There must also be a way to raise the amount of money we bring in. I know of many families who get stuck in the cycle of debt, who eventually owe more than they have. These families end up taking out loans, getting part-time jobs, or doing what they can to bring in more money. It seems to me that our government needs to do the same.

Instead of focusing on what is a deeply-divided issue, instead of putting all their energies into funding or defunding one single program, which honestly is a good thing for Americans who need it, our elected officials should sit down in a room, be willing to let go of their steadfast ideologies, and do what is best for all. To use a simple scientific explanation, two magnets can only attach if the opposite sides come together.

As of today it would seem that the beginnings of a conversation are taking place. I see this as a positive move in the right direction. Personally, I'm not as interested in the outcome of this conversation as much as I'm encouraged by the fact that this conversation is taking place. It's only through the conversations that the necessary relationships can be made in order to move our country along its path towards greater equality and justice for all.

As it says in the Gospel according to Matthew, "Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." (18:19-20 NRSV) The point being made in this story is that there will always be differences in how people think and act, what is more important is that we do things and make decisions in such a way as to not hurt others.If the decisions made, the words spoken, or the actions done do hurt people, then we need to find a way to resolve those issues.

Our country, and to an extent our world, is hurting. The societies within our world need healing. What this country, and the world in general, needs is more conversation and a willingness to accept other's ideologies as their truth and to find a way to work together in those truths to find a place all people can live with in the peace God intends for us. What we need is more listening, more compromise, more acceptance, and more love of others.