Principles for Ethical
Budget Decisions
We, of the
Christian tradition believe it is of
utmost importance to consider the moral
basis of decisions we make. Our holy
writings call us to care for those
society neglects and to be daring in our
interactions with institutions that
stray from the doing of justice.
Budgets are
moral documents that reflect a society’s
values. Our government is responsible
for protecting the least of its citizens
and providing for its most vulnerable
members. Addressing basic human needs
is a fundamental responsibility of our
government.
In the give
and take of political debate moral
principles are crucial. Without such
principles firmly grounding
deliberations, so-called “solutions”
often endanger the vulnerable while
benefiting the comfortable. We
suggest addressing the budget crisis
based on what kind of society we want to
live in and submit the following
principles as guidelines for how the
state raises and spends money:
1) Every human
being has dignity and worth by their
very personhood.
2) The common
good needs to be considered in all
deliberations and policy decisions.
3) Providing
for basic human needs benefits all of
society.
4) Education
is necessary to equip children to face
the challenges of the future. In this
society only a strong public education
system can ensure this opportunity for
all children.
5) All persons
have a right to basic preventative,
primary and long-term health care
services
6) Work is
important to human well-being. One of
the major tasks of today's society is to
seek ways for all who are able to work
to find meaningful employment at a
livable wage.
7) As the
economy worsens, reliable jobs with
decent wages disappear, and the gap
between the "haves" and "have-nots"
widens. Fairness and balance need to
guide decisions affecting profit-makers
and workers.
8) Our criminal justice system needs
to be structured in ways that contribute
to the wholeness of victims, offenders
and the community. Issues of class and
race which unevenly affect arrests,
sentencing, treatment while
incarcerated, parole and the use of the
death penalty need to be addressed.
9) Decisions
of a society need to take into account
the health of land, forests, air,
streams and seas as well as profits and
jobs. We believe the essential needs
of all people can be met while
preserving a viable habitat for future
generations.
We commend
these principles to decision-makers as a
touchstone to guide their work as they
seek to resolve present and future
economic problems of our state. We
pledge to work with them toward public
policies that reflect these shared
values.
The Council just learned it has received
a grant from ELCA World Hunger Fund via
Lutheran Statewide Advocacy to bring
together those providing front line
ministries – soup kitchens, food pantries,
homeless shelters and other congregational
and community based ministries directly
serving those in need – to build solidarity
among providers and to address social needs
collectively.
Since the Front Line Ministry Forum will be
the first of a kind event, the planning team
will be trying to identify as many of these
ministries as possible. If you are a part
of (or know of) a front line ministry in
your area, please let us know so they can be
included.
The Forum will be a Friday-Saturday event
to be held in May at the Comfort Inn and
Suites in Albany. Details will be coming
soon. You are encouraged to fill out (or
have the contact from the front line
ministry fill out) the contact interest form
on our web site. Click
here for the form:
Thanks to the grant, the only cost to
participants will be their transportation to
and from Albany.
