Our Brother’s Keeper

Hungry child (1900), Author Bain News Service, Source Library of Congress (Catalog https://lccn.loc.gov/2014713460) (PD-old-70-1923)

“Now Cain talked with Abel his brother:  and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.  Then the LORD said to Cain, ‘Where is Abel your brother?’  He said, ‘I do not know.  Am I my brother’s keeper?’  And He said, ‘What have you done?  The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground’ ”  (Gen. 4: 8-10).

Many Christians have come to view political conservatism as synonymous with morality.  By contrast, they view political liberalism as synonymous with unnecessary largesse, leading to (or rewarding) immoral behavior [1].   This is, at best, an over-simplification; at worst, a serious error.

Self-Righteousness

The single mother sins by having sex outside marriage.  Never mind that many Christians do the same.  No regard is taken of what may be her tender age, her destitute circumstances, her lack of education and employable skills, or the many factors influencing her – for instance, the desperate desire for love.

She then has the effrontery to raise the resulting child herself.  Never mind that her partner may be long gone by that point.  Never mind that Christians oppose abortion.  The child should bear the stigma of this sin for life.  His mother has chosen to bring him into a hopeless situation.  It is up to her to deal with the consequences, however dire they may be for him.

Is that really what we think?  Do these conclusions not smack of self-righteousness?

Or does our imagination run to even darker imagery?  Is this mother, in our minds, a strumpet, who thinks of nothing but momentary carnal pleasure?  Do we imagine that she is content to remain in her grim circumstances, relying on god-fearing taxpayers to pay for her mistakes?

Self-Sufficiency v. Child Hunger

Politicians calling themselves “conservative” frequently complain about the cost of safety net programs, arguing that assistance in any form weakens character.  But the safety net comprised of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps (SNAP), and public housing is not an unfair and unnecessary burden on taxpayers.  For the vast majority of recipients, it is a lifeline [2].

It may be true that we are raising an entitlement generation.  We should teach our children self-sufficiency and the value of work.  First, however, we must make sure they have enough to eat.

Dismantling the Safety Net

Is the so called “welfare state” responsible for the disintegration of the family?  Should we dismantle it, in the name of Christ?

HUD Secretary Ben Carson is proposing to triple the rent for the 5 million low-income households dependent on federal housing subsidies [3][4].  These include veterans, the elderly, the disabled, and impoverished children [5].

Meanwhile, another proposal would raise from age 50 to 62 the requirement that Food Stamp applicants work, and make it more difficult for states to exempt individuals at special risk for food insecurity, for example, those residing in high unemployment areas [6].  Unfortunately, the change would hurt the working poor, and eliminate critical food assistance to the unemployed.

Food Stamp applicants are already limited to 3 months’ assistance every 3 years, unless actively employed or enrolled in employment training.

Long Term Impact of Assistance

A recent study suggests that more than half of every dollar spent on Medicaid is later returned in the form of tax receipts [7][8].  With improved health due to good nutrition and reliable medical care, children actually grow up to become wage-earning, tax-paying adults.

Not so surprising, since Carson – the son of a divorced mother who utilized Food Stamps – managed to find gainful employment as an adult [9].  More than that, of course, Carson achieved great success in the medical profession.  Isn’t that what we want for our children…rich or poor?

Government can be a dangerous weapon.  It is not now, nor will it ever be, a substitute for Christ.  Dependent on who is wielding it, however, government can, also, be an effective tool.

The difference is not a matter of labels.  For many, it is a matter of life and death.

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[1]  Liberal and conservative politics should not be confused with the liberal and conservative interpretation of Scripture.  Liberal scriptural interpretation sets aside the authority of the Bible (and correctness of church doctrine based upon it), relying instead on modern philosophic views and current scientific assumptions.  From the perspective of liberal scriptural interpretation, the Bible is not God-inspired.  Rather, it is merely a collection of human thoughts and feelings about God.  Liberal theologians tend to view as allegorical what conservative theologians view as literal.

[2]  Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Policymakers Often Overstate Marginal Tax Rates for Lower-Income Workers and Gloss Over Tough Trade-Offs in Reducing Them” by Sharon Parrot and Robert Greenstein, 12/3/14, https://www.cbpp.org/research/policymakers-often-overstate-marginal-tax-rates-for-lower-income-workers-and-gloss-over.

[3]  Washington Post, “HUD Secretary Ben Carson to propose raising rent for low-income Americans receiving federal housing subsidies” by Tracy Jan, Caitlin Dewey, and Jeff Stein, 4/25/18, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/04/25/hud-secretary-ben-carson-to-propose-raising-rent-for-low-income-americans-receiving-federal-housing-subsidies/?utm_term=.4393a95eb23d.

[4]  Washington Post, “HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s proposal to triple rents for poorest households would hurt single mothers the most” by Tracy Jan, 4/27/18, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/04/27/hud-secretary-ben-carsons-proposal-to-triple-rents-for-poorest-households-would-hurt-single-mothers-the-most/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.3b2636819294.

[5]  Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “National and State Housing and Fact Sheets & Data”, 8/9/17, https://www.cbpp.org/research/housing/national-and-state-housing-fact-sheets-data.

[6]  The low wage jobs available in the marketplace are mostly part-time and/or temporary.  Gaps in employment are common.  Training in high-demand jobs is what moves people toward permanent, full-time employment.  See, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Making SNAP Work Requirements Harsher Will Not Improve Outcomes for Low-Income People” by Stacy Dean, Ed Bolen, and Brynne Keith-Jennings, 3/1/18, https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/making-snap-work-requirements-harsher-will-not-improve-outcomes-for-low.

[7]  NY Times, “How Medicaid for Children Partly Pays for Itself” by Margot Sanger-Katz, 1/12/15,  https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/13/upshot/how-medicaid-for-children-recoups-much-of-its-cost-in-the-long-run.html.

[8]  Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), “Understanding the Intersection of Medicaid and Work” by Rachel Garfield, Robin Rudowitz, and Anthony Damico, 1/5/18, https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/understanding-the-intersection-of-medicaid-and-work/.

[9]  Snopes, “Doctor Skew”, 10/29/15 (updated 11/13/15), https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ben-carson-welfare-meme/.

READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse  https://avoicereclaimed.com