More on the Pitfalls of Prosperity
P.J.'s comment about alternatives to the market having an even worse track record with regard to temptations and distractions are well stated. Although, there are clearly some markets that are so full of temptation -- e.g. pornography -- that many (myself included) have a hard time accepting the libertarian position.
The verses he quotes from Deuteronomy echo my deeper concerns. There is an optimal amount of prosperity. Has the market economy given us too much? I know that there's no clear answer to this question, but it's important to wrestle with anyway. I'm beginning to lean in the direction of thinking that in many places we now have too much prosperity and value the thoughts of the others on this blog on this topic.
I quote Proverbs 30: 8-9 in class when we discuss this issue -- "give me neither poverty nor riches; (provide me only with the food I need); Lest, being full, I deny you, saying, "Who is the LORD?" Or, being in want, I steal, and profane the name of my God."
The verses he quotes from Deuteronomy echo my deeper concerns. There is an optimal amount of prosperity. Has the market economy given us too much? I know that there's no clear answer to this question, but it's important to wrestle with anyway. I'm beginning to lean in the direction of thinking that in many places we now have too much prosperity and value the thoughts of the others on this blog on this topic.
I quote Proverbs 30: 8-9 in class when we discuss this issue -- "give me neither poverty nor riches; (provide me only with the food I need); Lest, being full, I deny you, saying, "Who is the LORD?" Or, being in want, I steal, and profane the name of my God."
Posted by Robert Whaples on
Wednesday September 28, 2005 at 2:38pm