Our Federal Budget Reflects Our Nation’s Morality

By the Rev. Fred Kammer, S.J.

The drama of competing federal budgets and the game of “chicken” about shutting down government is red meat for the pundits, the media, and ambitious politicians. But it ignores one basic truth: government budgets are not about economics; they are about national morality. Such morality is now on the line in Washington.

Many people may question talk about morality when “we all know” that what is going on is either (pick one or more): just politics or doing what the most vocal voters want or what the lobbyists are well paid for.

Consider this common scenario: a legislator helps to give a large tax refund or tax cut to the wealthiest of citizens. A few months later, he or she has to pay for that tax break and does so by cutting food for the hungry or shelter for the homeless—any morality in that?

Read full article>