It's hard to know where to start today.
The indefensible, apparently right wing, Defence Minister, Dr Fox who has confused his verities with his werrities.
The shocking figures showing the number of jobs lost in the public sector.
The equally scandalous reports that child poverty is in fact increasing in the UK.
The economist who forecast the recession who is apparently suggesting that it would be better as some have recomended, for debts to be written off and money given to individuals who will spend it to greater benefit.
Quoted in today's Guardian Professor Steve Keen suggests that: the key to averting or curtailing a second Great Depression is to reduce the levels of private debt, through a unilateral write-off, or jubilee.
So it might in fact be worth starting with two quotes from the Bible.
From the prophet Micah: do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.
And, from the Book Leviticus Chapter 25 vv 39-41:
‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves. 40 They are to be treated as hired workers or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. 41 Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors.
Theology will not convince everyone. Not every one is religious or believes in God. But every one does have a theory to live by and which supports their views and opinions.
Sometimes an individuals ethical framework will be based on a humanist world view.
Politicians of right and left will have a theory which is shaped by their own individual value system.
Whatever drives a persons view there will always be an outcome in terms of policies, actions and moral behaviour.
Micah predicted the downfall of Jerusalem. He stated flatly that the city was doomed because its regeneration was financed by dishonest business practices. These business practices impoverished the city’s citizens.
Some bells ringing there?
The idea of a Jubilee is written into the text of the Jewish Scripture, it appears to have been placed there for two main reasons, the first, because the theology states that nobody 'OWNS' anything, because the land belongs to God, it is the land of God's promise, we live in it by God's grace.
The second because, human nature being what it is, some will prosper and some will fall back, so, in order to ensure that the land holdings of each of the tribes of Israel is secured, every fifty years, each man's patrinomy will be returned to him.
An idealistic but powerful vision which appeals to the poor more than millionaires or billionaires or trillionaires.
It seems that not only the UK, but the entire western world, has lost its way.
The con-dem Government has decided that reducing the national debt is the only way forward, so with what are proving to be weasel words, it is driving its policies forward and the poor are paying an ever higher price.
There will be no Jubilee that is certain, but perhaps a little justice and mercy wouldn't go amiss?
The indefensible, apparently right wing, Defence Minister, Dr Fox who has confused his verities with his werrities.
The shocking figures showing the number of jobs lost in the public sector.
The equally scandalous reports that child poverty is in fact increasing in the UK.
The economist who forecast the recession who is apparently suggesting that it would be better as some have recomended, for debts to be written off and money given to individuals who will spend it to greater benefit.
Quoted in today's Guardian Professor Steve Keen suggests that: the key to averting or curtailing a second Great Depression is to reduce the levels of private debt, through a unilateral write-off, or jubilee.
So it might in fact be worth starting with two quotes from the Bible.
From the prophet Micah: do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.
And, from the Book Leviticus Chapter 25 vv 39-41:
‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves. 40 They are to be treated as hired workers or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. 41 Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors.
Theology will not convince everyone. Not every one is religious or believes in God. But every one does have a theory to live by and which supports their views and opinions.
Sometimes an individuals ethical framework will be based on a humanist world view.
Politicians of right and left will have a theory which is shaped by their own individual value system.
Whatever drives a persons view there will always be an outcome in terms of policies, actions and moral behaviour.
Micah predicted the downfall of Jerusalem. He stated flatly that the city was doomed because its regeneration was financed by dishonest business practices. These business practices impoverished the city’s citizens.
Some bells ringing there?
The idea of a Jubilee is written into the text of the Jewish Scripture, it appears to have been placed there for two main reasons, the first, because the theology states that nobody 'OWNS' anything, because the land belongs to God, it is the land of God's promise, we live in it by God's grace.
The second because, human nature being what it is, some will prosper and some will fall back, so, in order to ensure that the land holdings of each of the tribes of Israel is secured, every fifty years, each man's patrinomy will be returned to him.
An idealistic but powerful vision which appeals to the poor more than millionaires or billionaires or trillionaires.
It seems that not only the UK, but the entire western world, has lost its way.
The con-dem Government has decided that reducing the national debt is the only way forward, so with what are proving to be weasel words, it is driving its policies forward and the poor are paying an ever higher price.
There will be no Jubilee that is certain, but perhaps a little justice and mercy wouldn't go amiss?
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