President Bush has given Social Security “reform” the starring role in his domestic policy this year. He has a long road ahead of him to gain the needed support from his own party, let alone across the aisle. The President has crisscrossed the country pitching his plan for reforming the half-century old socialist hand out, all the while insisting that central to any long term reform would be partial privatization.
All the talk about Social Security leaves out one major part of the discussion. Should the government be controlling my retirement? Should this be included in the scope of government’s jurisdiction? Do you think our Founding Fathers had in mind a government so involved in the private lives of Americans that they demand we put aside money for retirement, in a government run “trust” account no less? Even the Federalist founders, such as Adams and Hamilton, that did have a broader idea of a stronger, federal government than did Washington, Jefferson and Monroe, had no thought a government as far reaching as FDR’s massive social programs that forever redefined the role of the American government, not the least of which was Social Security.
I don’t think it was in the scope of the God’s design for human government either. Romans 13.1-5 outlines some specific responsibilities of a God ordained government.
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.” (ESV)
This passage outlines only two responsibilities of a government. A God-ordained civil government (and they all are, no matter how evil – see verse 1 above), is called to encourage good and punish evil. That’s it! Verse 3 says that when we do good, we will receive the government's approval. When we do evil, we should be very afraid, for the government is given the responsibility to carry out the wrath of God with the “sword.” Earlier in this context (12.17-19) we are told not to take revenge on behalf of ourselves, trusting God to mete out His own vengeance. The means God uses to carry out that vengeance is civil government (13.4).
So in this limited scope of governmental responsibilities, where do we find a call to manage my mandatory retirement account? Is there a call for the government to craft a society that experiences parity in social status by taxing at a much higher percentage those who make more money and giving it out in social programs to those who make less? Is that the God ordained role of government? Is that even the role of government as designed by our Founding Fathers? Then again, there are gone and we know God’s will is not on the reference list for today’s politicians. So this is all irrelevant!
One final thought before I beg for your comments. If President Bush really believes that privatization is the savior of the social security program, why no go all the way? Why is he only proposing to “allow” us to personally invest 4% of our income? Notice the fancy language? It is as though we are getting some special privilege. We are still going to be forced by Uncle Sam (or should I say, Big Brother) to invest 4% of our income into a retirement plan and put an addition 8% or so into the big government pot so they can redistribute the wealth.
Don’t misunderstand me. I think it is wise, biblical stewardship for all of us to be saving, for emergencies now and life in the future. It is common sense, Christian living principles that should drive us to be good stewards of what we have. Joseph gave us a good example in saving during the seven fat years to survive during the seven lean years. But is it the role of the government to force me to do and then actually (poorly) manage those required accounts.
I would appreciate your comments. It is very important for us to have a biblical worldview that allows us to accurately interpret the news of the day.
Grace to you!
1 comment:
Dave I like that you pointed out that the question is not what to do about social security but whether we should have it all.
I for one definately think it needs to be scapped. I don't think people realize how it is taking money from one person and just giving it to another. Its seems pretty Communistic. I definately do not think its the government's job to get to look after me. Whether I want to invest and plan for the future or shoot myself in the foot and not plan its not the government's business to tell me what to do. Its definately not Biblical nor does it make much logical sense in a Secular Worldveiw. Part of our freedom as Americans is the freedom to hurt or help ourselves. The Government should not be allowed to mandate us to plan or how to plan for our life when we get older.
I also definately object to the idea of the Government taking my money without my consent and giving it to someone else. Social Security just plain doesn't make sense. Especially since it requires population growth to make it work. We just simply don't have that type of growth to make it work. Nor should we desire it. Its a good thing when we have stable population growth. Anyway theres my venting for the day about Social Security.
Anyway Dave thanks for asking the question whether its the government's job. I think people just take it for granted and don't even question the status quo and think about whether it should even be that way to begin with.
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