TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMICS

During his presidency, Ronald Reagan convinced the Democrat controlled House of Representatives to reduce the income taxes on those in the highest tax bracket from seventy percent to twenty-eight percent. The theory was that the richest people in our nation would more readily use their wealth to create jobs and to increase charitable contributions.

While the theory seems credible, it, like Communism, is predicated upon the false assumption that man is generally good and benevolent. There is one main flaw in these approaches to the distribution of wealth: man is not good (Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10). "Greed" is a synonym in the Bible for "covetousness," and both words appear a total of twenty-nine times. "He (the slothful man - v. 25) coveteth greedily all the day long, but the righteous giveth and spareth not" (Prov. 21:26). So, since man is slothful and greedy, it is impossible for trickle-down economics or Communism to work.

Jews and Christians are supposed to follow the example of God, being gracious and merciful. Grace is giving to the undeserving what is needed, and mercy is forgiving those who do not deserve forgiveness. The concept of giving alms to the poor is presented throughout the Bible (Lev. 25:35; Deut. 15:7-11; Isa. 58:6-7; Matt. 19:21; Rom. 12:8; Gal. 2:10; Heb. 13:16; 1 Jn. 3:17; etc.). Giving to others is the opposite of stealing; therefore, charity is the opposite of greed. "Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Eph. 4:28).

So, in theory, in a "Christian" nation, trickle-down economics should work. But there is no such thing as a Christian nation. While about eighty percent of Americans claim to be Christian, it is obvious from the "fruit" of most of them, they have little desire to be like Jesus. The vast majority of those attending church do not even tithe, let alone give offerings in excess of ten percent. Ironically, it is those very people who, when asked for financial help, refer the needy person to the church. If Christians were obedient, there would be no need for government welfare!

In nations that are Communist, there is no chance of trickle-down economics to work. Communists are by definition atheists, and have no moral imperative to provide to anyone other than themselves. Nor is there a spiritual mandate to work hard, as can be seen by observing their leadership methods: fear and intimidation. They adhere to the theory of evolution which teaches the survival of the fittest. Instead of giving, their focus is upon gaining wealth and power. It is not a stretch to see the same methods and philosophies in our country. The closer we get to eliminating God from our culture, to redistributing wealth, to adhering to atheistic evolution, and to governmental control of business, the more closely we become like our enemies. If we intend to correct our country's self-destructive slide, we need the eighty percent to start living the Christian way of life!