{{2010_01_26_t1.jpg}} {{2010_01_26_t2.jpg}} {{2010_01_26_t3.jpg}} [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/doku.php/jn_de_2010_01_26|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]] [[topics_collection_ii|| Topics Collection ii ]] ======Politics II - Economics ...====== Tuesday, Jan 26, 2010. Where does politics touch our life? That depends, of course, on our age, our job, our family status, our interests and activities. But we all - regardless of age - life together in a society which is determined by our political system and by the political decisions which have been made by our fathers and mothers and which are made today. One key point of politics (among many other key points) is the question how to organize our economy. What rules do we need to guarantee just and fair business? How do we deal with the risk of the business process - with people who are successful and earn a lot and with those who fail and do not earn anything? How do we deal with the different talents given to people. Some can do great things, others will be employees and just earn enough to make their living. There will be richer and poorer people - in every society. How do we take care of public services, how many taxes should people pay to the community to build streets, to carry out the services which serve everyone? {{2010_01_26.jpg }} The bible, in many of its parts, deals with questions of economy. Mostly, it does not formulate rules how to organize the details. But it formulates general principles which should guide our behaviour. In the 5th book of Moses we read: 7 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. 8 Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. [ ... ] 10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. {{ 2010_01_26_2.jpg}} **11 There will always be poor people in the land.** Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. (Deuteronomy 15: 7-11) It is important to take care of the needs of poor people. Usually, they cannot help themselves. That is one of the key characteristics of their situation: they do not have the power or the background to pull themselves out of their situation. They are stuck there and this keeps them poor. Society has a responsibility to care for them and God asks us to do this with an open heart. There are some countries, where elaborate social systems take care of the odds of life. In Germany, for example, the social benefit is quite a considerable support which is given to millions of people. Clearly, it is still tight to live on this money - it does not pull the poor out of their situation. But it serves the basic needs. There is even a sincere conflict between social aid and the low wages jobs, since for example for a family of three or four you get more money from the state by social aid than you would do for working full-time in a very low-paid job. Social benefit can also cause heavy political discussions. Economic responsibility does not stop at the border or our country. There is a social responsibility which is global - and the problems which we face on a global scale are just enormous. Here, economics interacts strongly with military politics, with questions of freedom and democracy, with questions of ownership and power, of justice and with the history of our states and countries. Politics is a fascinating area and the role of politics in the economy is as well. Let us touch it and go ahead in the spirit of the Lord! [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/doku.php/topics_collection_ii|... more texts]]