Pope Francis and President Obama

While Gandhi, King and Mandela were remarkably successful in gaining freedom and reconciliation, nonviolently, for their people, they did not have the same success in achieving economic justice for their poor.  But today God is raising up two persons to provide leadership in attacking economic inequality (systems of economic oppression that excessively reward the rich and exploit the poor).  Pope Francis and President Obama are these leaders.  Both have given recent speeches/teachings on this defining issue of our times.

But they cannot achieve economic justice alone; citizens, pulpits and pews must also become fully engaged.  Here are some of my proposals; what are yours?

1.  Increase the minimum wage into a living wage of around $15.00 an hour; predistribution (living wage) is much better than redistribution (welfare type programs).

2.  In the financial sector, sharply cut back on Wall Street by expanding community banks, state banks and credit unions.

3.  In the production sector, tightly regulate corporations such as we now do with utilities.  Reduce CEO salaries, heavily tax the 1 percent.  Greatly expand Mondragon style cooperatives.  Sharply cut subsidies to Big Oil and corporate agriculture.  Instead, assist family farms and small businesses.

4.  At the college and university level, create a salary cap for coaches at $100,000.  Reduce staff numbers by half.  Prioritize teacher education department by increasing their salaries, resources and prestige.

5.  Create a NT theology of society addressing such social evils as ethnocentrism and oppression and solutions such as justice and reconciliation.

6.  What are your proposals?  What are you willing to commit to?

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