Black and White, Part 2
I’ve read that former US President FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt), was a well-regarded man by most. And he was believed - by a significant number of economists - to have lengthened and made the Great Depression worse by his New Deal actions. In fact, there is an even larger number of economists who believe his actions had no significant impact on the Great Depression. Surprised?
FDR was the only president who was elected to office 4 times. This fact was regarded as the biggest influence for the establishment of a constitutional amendment, limiting the office of president to two terms.
FDR has retained his popularity because he did something in the eyes of the public at a time of great economic distress. It is less important how effective or valuable those actions were to people that were economically hurting back then.
When the President addresses Congress and the American people, one of the rumors floating is that there is a group from his opposing party that will be bringing empty egg cartons to the address as a silent protests of inflation.
This got me thinking - what is it we want the President to do? Let’s assume for a minute that he has dictatorial and absolute power. Do we want him to order chicken farmers to sell eggs for less than it costs them? Or do we want to force grocers to sell eggs for less than what they bought them for? Or do we want him to create some kind of egg subsidy that we’d have to pay for through higher taxes? It seems that there is no easy fix to egg prices and the only thing that can be done is to work on some of the regulatory structure imposed on the parties and let the free market adjust.
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” - 1 Timothy 2:1-6 ESV
I believe people desire to find and punish a bad guy for every unfortunate outcome. Sometimes, the details behind the story don’t matter. I just read that a mayor of some large city was expressing her sorrow to the family of a slain guy who tried to kill a police officer. Sympathy is great but the police officer was protecting himself.
The mainstream media uses that desire to raise passion (and their ratings) by how they report just enough of a story to get you worked up without giving you enough details to make an informed assessment. As you are exposed to any situation by someone else, I suggest you use your discernment to evaluate:
1). Who is speaking and what might their motivation is
2). Is there additional information that might make it more grey rather than black and white
3). Is there an existing legal process to deal with it. If so, does your opinion matter?
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” - Philippians 1:9-11
If there is one thing I’ve learned as I’ve matured is that there is hardly ever an easy to figure out situation. I’d love to find the bad guy that caused the cost of a dozen eggs to increase but I’m afraid I may see my own reflection in the mirror (either through my own actions or those that we’ve chosen to govern us).
