When we look for the root motivation behind anything political, be careful. The whitewash of names or half-truths used to justify political actions can cover up hidden motives. At the national level, any bill or law should:
Benefit all Americans in equivalent ways Minimize the drain on the resources of all Americans relative to their individual resources Motivate all Americans to contribute to the needs of America according to their ability to do so Encourage a unified purpose in the minds of all Americans.
With the above basic factors in mind, let’s evaluate the Jobs for America Plan.
Benefit All Americans
When we have financial layers in America, any bill to benefit all Americans can’t use a financial means to solve a problem. Instead, the problem should be solved by improving each individual’s opportunity and responsibility to contribute according to their ability to do so. The Jobs for America Plan does the following:
The cost of the plan is financed primarily with increased taxes on a sub-group of Americans. The collected funds are dispersed to primarily benefit certain sub-groups of Americans The plan increases the National Debt in a short period with only a promise of paying the cost over a much longer period. Similar plans in the past resulted in our current level of National Debt. This essentially benefits present sub-groups to the detriment of younger Americans or future American children.
The Jobs for America Plan fails item one.
Minimize the Drain on Resources
Many government responsibilities increase individual resources by pooling the responsibility. Examples would be:
National, local, and some personal security Utilities – including trash, energy, etc. Roads, etc. Similar pooling of responsibility
The entire list above removes the responsibility from the individual and pools the responsibility into a shared, more efficient method that serves the members of the pool. The result is that each individual receives the service at a lower expense than it would cost him or her to do it alone. This kind of pooled responsibility keeps extra resources for each to use for the greater good of all.
The Jobs for America Plan does the following:
Everyone doesn’t contribute to the cost of the plan. Therefore, those who may have extra resources to create jobs are forced to give the extra resources to the government in all or in part. Those resources are primarily given to a sub-group of America
The Jobs for America Plan fails item two.
Motivate All Americans
Human nature is rather predictable. The survival instinct encourages individuals to maintain their life as a minimum. Example: If a man or woman needs a fish a day to survive, give him or her a fish each day; and they are likely to not learn to fish. They end up having less ability than they are capable. Additionally, his or her fish must come from someone who learned to fish effectively. Take enough of their fish, and they will find little value in fishing anymore.
The Jobs for America Plan does the following:
Lessens the motivation of those from which resources are taken by law Doesn’t encourage those receiving the resources to learn how to increase their resources because they receive without effort.
The Jobs for America Plan fails item three.
Encourage a Unified Purpose
Human nature tends to pursue self-serving ends. Knowing this, government should pass laws and bills that encourage all Americans to serve the common good. Self-serving ends are divisive. Unity of purpose requires a focus on the common good. Since self-interest is likely to always be present, it should be used in a way to focus it on the common good.
The Jobs for America Plan does the following:
Violates one or more sub-group’s self-interest while supporting one or more other sub-group’s self interest. It is highly divisive.
The Jobs for America Plan fails item four.
Unfortunately, history is full of many political plans like the Jobs for America Plan. Those kinds of plans have helped put American into its current dire situation.
High National Debt High unemployment Divisive politics Do little political environment And many more
Changes in government must begin with changes in the individual. We must get away from desiring political representatives that help us at the expense of others. We must change our focus to the common good. When we vote, we should at least elect politicians that are “the least of the evils” relative to the common good. If enough of us change over time, politicians in the future will share our values and views to a higher degree. The social momentum will have reversed.
To Know Truth, It Is Necessary To By-Pass Our Self-Interest Filter
The concepts presented in this opinion are defined in the Bible Message Explained E-Book located at bibleseek.com.