Spreading the Wealth Around

The McCain campaign has being making a big deal of Barack Obama's remark to Joe the Plumber : “I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody,” implying that Obama is advocating socialism, or even communism. As a Christian, I think it is very, very important to "spread the wealth around." As a church secretary, my salary is paid by the contributions of hard-working, dedicated, loving people. As a result, I feel compelled to spend my money in a way that respects those who pay me and honors God. As Matthew 19:24 says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

Someone much more articulate than I am, Jim Wallis, has enumerated his "personal faith priorities" for this election on his God's Politics blog.

Wallis writes,
"In 2008, the kingdom of God is not on the ballot in any of the 50 states as far as I can see. So we can’t vote for that this year. But there are important choices in this year’s election — very important choices — which will dramatically impact what many in the religious community and outside of it call “the common good,” and the outcome could be very important, perhaps even more so than in many recent electoral contests."

Here is a condensed list of Wallis' priorities:

1. fight poverty
2. turn swords into plow shares
3. consistent ethic of life
4. protect the environment
5. protect human rights and dignity
6. strengthen families

In his blog, Wallis encourges each of us to develop our own list of "faith priorities." My "1st draft" list looks like this:

1. universal health care
2. eliminate hunger at home, then abroad
3. education - not just of children but adults as well - everyone needs to have higher level thinking skills, especially criticial thinking and analysis
4. media reform - control of the mainstream media does NOT belong in the hands of 6 companies.
5. promulgation of peaceful and diplomatic solutions worldwide