Normally, when in arguments with those who support protectionism (use of tariffs, quotas, and other programs that supposedly save "American" jobs), I rely on a few arguments. First of all, the costs of these programs often destroy jobs in other sectors; i.e. a sugar quota kills the American candy industry. Secondly, I say that the outsourcing of jobs provides a less expensive product for American consumers, freeing up money to be spent in other sectors, and creating more jobs.

 

However, I've been pondering a new perspective. I got back from a mission trip to El Salvador and saw real poverty. What I have come to realize is that, in addition to the terrible effects of protectionism at home, it destroys lives overseas- people literally starve to death. And to be honest, as a Christian, I have a responsibility to care for the poor- Jesus said, "Whatsoever you do to the least of my bretheren, you do unto me."

 

So dare I say it, but I literally don't care about American unemployment. The social services in this country provide exponentially better lives than the lives of the middle class of half the world's country.

 

Why should I care about the American so-called poor as opposed to those living in 3rd-world countries? Am I a terrible American for saying these things? Do we have a Christian responsibility to take care of the poorest of the poor, rather than just those at our doorstep?

 

Was Joan of Arc unpatriotic? Was Mother Theresa? Keep fighting the fight my man.

Normally, when in arguments with those who support protectionism (use of tariffs, quotas, and other programs that supposedly save "American" jobs), I rely on a few arguments. First of all, the costs of these programs often destroy jobs in other sectors; i.e. a sugar quota kills the American candy industry. Secondly, I say that the outsourcing of jobs provides a less expensive product for American consumers, freeing up money to be spent in other sectors, and creating more jobs.

 

However, I've been pondering a new perspective. I got back from a mission trip to El Salvador and saw real poverty. What I have come to realize is that, in addition to the terrible effects of protectionism at home, it destroys lives overseas- people literally starve to death. And to be honest, as a Christian, I have a responsibility to care for the poor- Jesus said, "Whatsoever you do to the least of my bretheren, you do unto me."

 

So dare I say it, but I literally don't care about American unemployment. The social services in this country provide exponentially better lives than the lives of the middle class of half the world's country.

 

Why should I care about the American so-called poor as opposed to those living in 3rd-world countries? Am I a terrible American for saying these things? Do we have a Christian responsibility to take care of the poorest of the poor, rather than just those at our doorstep?

 

No, you're not a terrible American, nor are you unpatriotic.

 

I don't think the comparison between "American unemployed" or "American so-called poor" and the impoverished of El Salvador is a good one. I'm sure there were some people over there in real bad shape. I'm almost sure there is someone in your own county that's in the same boat. I commend you for your mission work and hope you continue. We just need to make sure we don't trip over our neighbor (in need) while heading to the airport. Understand?

No, you're not a terrible American, nor are you unpatriotic.

 

I don't think the comparison between "American unemployed" or "American so-called poor" and the impoverished of El Salvador is a good one. I'm sure there were some people over there in real bad shape. I'm almost sure there is someone in your own county that's in the same boat. I commend you for your mission work and hope you continue. We just need to make sure we don't trip over our neighbor (in need) while heading to the airport. Understand?

 

We may not agree a heck of a lot, but I'm with you here.

 

When my son was in undergraduate school, he participated in three "alternative spring breaks" (he was in Leeds, England one year). Helped remodel a school building on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, in what I believe is the poorest per-capita county in the United States. Worked with the Forestry Service doing trail maintenance in the Gila National Forest in New Mexico (this led to a summer job fighting fires there); and worked in a homeless shelter in Portland, Oregon.

 

His idea, and I am so glad that he chose these activities over some of the more "traditional" spring break excursions. Heck, we can go to the beach just about any time.

Charity begins at home .

 

Way I've always felt. We as a country cannot truely help others until we fix ourselves.

 

I agree with you to an extent cch. The so called "poor" people in America are the most well off poor people in the world. Heck, in most countries they'd be considered middle class at worst.

 

However, to me, taking care of oneself and ones immediate family trumps all else. Once you have secured a comfortable living for yourself, then I feel you should feel free to do with the "excess" wealth what you will. If that means helping the poor in the US, or those around the globe, or doing neither, then so be it. It's all looked at the same IMO.

 

Very good post.

 

Normally, when in arguments with those who support protectionism (use of tariffs, quotas, and other programs that supposedly save "American" jobs), I rely on a few arguments. First of all, the costs of these programs often destroy jobs in other sectors; i.e. a sugar quota kills the American candy industry. Secondly, I say that the outsourcing of jobs provides a less expensive product for American consumers, freeing up money to be spent in other sectors, and creating more jobs.

 

However, I've been pondering a new perspective. I got back from a mission trip to El Salvador and saw real poverty. What I have come to realize is that, in addition to the terrible effects of protectionism at home, it destroys lives overseas- people literally starve to death. And to be honest, as a Christian, I have a responsibility to care for the poor- Jesus said, "Whatsoever you do to the least of my bretheren, you do unto me."

 

So dare I say it, but I literally don't care about American unemployment. The social services in this country provide exponentially better lives than the lives of the middle class of half the world's country.

 

Why should I care about the American so-called poor as opposed to those living in 3rd-world countries? Am I a terrible American for saying these things? Do we have a Christian responsibility to take care of the poorest of the poor, rather than just those at our doorstep?

 

Not unpatriotic at all. To each his own. I feel that you have to do what is right. Who is anyone to tell you that you are unpatriotic, especially in regards to helping people...:thumb:

Thanks for the reassurances that I'm not a bad person, but to be frank, I didn't care about your compliments- I want reasons why I should care for those at home- from the standpoint of a Christian.

 

As a Christian, why do I have an allegiance to my fellow countrymen? Should I support systems that (despite the fact that they rarely help the American worker anyways) destroy the lives of those overseas? Why should I not help the least of my bretheren in favor of the person who is geographically closer to me?

 

Essentially I am saying that I understand why not to support protectionist policies as an American- they don't work; they hurt the economy; they hurt U.S. workers anyways. But often times protectionist policies are coupled with the argument "we need to help the poor" or "we need to shrink the gap between the wealthy and poor." I'm saying that if the goal is really to help the poor, why do we focus only on the poor at home, who happen to be relatively wealthy?

 

So, to those who indicated that we have a duty to help those at home- oldonetechniquie, KyTmcNcc, mcpapa, and perhaps even Skinpig, Mr. Network, and CatsCatsCats- why? If the needy neighbor that I trip over on the way to the airport has social services that can normally provide with a place to stay, free food, and sometimes that neighbor owns a color TV and a microwave, whereas the person on the other side of that short flight lives in a 2-bedroom house with 6 people and no floors, no windows, and the only water being 2 miles down a mountain, why should I care?

 

I do not mean to call anyone out or seem unreasonably harsh to my own neighbors. I'm just looking for the philosophy behind it- if I am to care for the poor, it should be the poorest people, not those who have plenty already.

If you fall who will help you get up? Will it be a local organization or someone from South America, Africa, etc…?

 

From a Christian perspective the Bible says “love thy neighbor”. Love in the New Testament has been translated from agape, eros, and philos. Agape is also a word for charity. My point is, depending on your interpretation, love thy neighbor could imply give charity to your neighbor.

 

I’m not saying your unpatriotic because you have the freedom to give your money and time to whatever charity you wish, but IMO we should help our neighbors first since they will be the ones to help us.

If you fall who will help you get up? Will it be a local organization or someone from South America, Africa, etc…?

 

From a Christian perspective the Bible says “love thy neighbor”. Love in the New Testament has been translated from agape, eros, and philos. Agape is also a word for charity. My point is, depending on your interpretation, love thy neighbor could imply give charity to your neighbor.

 

I’m not saying your unpatriotic because you have the freedom to give your money and time to whatever charity you wish, but IMO we should help our neighbors first since they will be the ones to help us.

Thanks for the response. From what I gather, there are two different reasons in your post to consider.

 

The first reason is that if you fall on hard times, it will be those who are geographically closer to you. While this may seem as a more practical reason to help locally, did Christ intend for us to give what we have simply as a means to receiving assistance if we need it?

 

The second reason is that neighbor, when used by Christ, means those who are geograhically close. I'm not sure that I agree with this- I think neighbor means any of our fellow man. Would Christ have recommended that the Good Samaritan save his money for a man of his country? No, the best option is to help those in need.

 

FWIW, I'm not criticizing anyone who helps locally rather than abroad. I'm just saying that it is worth considering that the poverty in America is nothing compared to the poverty abroad, and I don't think that, in the spirit of helping the poor, the fact that someone was born in America entitles them to our charity when there are others who need it more.

I think what your saying is more along the lines of cosmopolitanism verses patriotism. So the belief that you should help those who need it the most without regard to nationality would be considered un-patriotic. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, simply a contradiction between communitarian beliefs and Universalist beliefs. Since Christianity is not based around a single nation or society, but instead applies to all humankind it would be more compatible with Universalist beliefs then patriotic beliefs.

 

I don’t think that is to say you can’t be a Christian and be patriotic, but in this case the two contradict each other.