RE: [asa] The ASA and the Soft Sciences (ASA focus for the future- Christian economics)

Rich said:
"During the campaign season I got a flyer from FotF concerning the Colorado senatorial race. "Family" issues included lowering taxes and offshore oil drilling!"

But isn't it obvious that Focus on the Family is saying that it is their position of best advice, but it is not a moral issue?

For example- wouldn't they say it is immoral to be pro-choice? In the same way, would they say it is immoral to ban offshore drilling? Killing babies could be a moral issue, but drilling or not is not a moral issue. Don't we all agree on that? Same with taxes- no tax system is immoral (they are just reasonable, equitable, stupid, etc.). For example, there is no moral superiority of a flat tax over a progressive tax or vice-versa, etc.

If you subscribe to ACLJ, you'll also get updates (I used to) to support the Logan show (the son of Jay Sekulow). Just because they send out these others things doesn't mean they are moral issues.

...Bernie

- - - - - -
- From: Rich Blinne [mailto:rich.blinne@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 10:36 AM
To: Blinne Rich; David Opderbeck
Cc: Dehler, Bernie; asa
Subject: Re: [asa] The ASA and the Soft Sciences (ASA focus for the future- Christian economics)

On Jan 3, 2009, at 11:06 AM, Rich Blinne wrote:

On Jan 3, 2009, at 10:51 AM, Dehler, Bernie wrote:

My claim is that economics is amoral. That is why "Focus on the Family," for example, doesn't harp on the issue, as they do for stem cell research and abortion.

But they do. When they argue about global warming it's because of their belief that the market shouldn't be regulated. See also this piece by Chuck Colson arguing the markets should not be regulated whilst railing against "relativism".

During the campaign season I got a flyer from FotF concerning the Colorado senatorial race. "Family" issues included lowering taxes and offshore oil drilling!

On Jan 3, 2009, at 11:29 AM, dopderbeck@gmail.com<mailto:dopderbeck@gmail.com> wrote:
Sigh. By mentioning "regulation" you presuppose a certain framework drawn from neoclassical economics. I might suggest the core issues relate to subsidiarity and virtues such as prudence and then we'd be talking Catholic social treaching. Btw adam smith was writing "moral philosophy" not "economics".

Exactly. My discussion with respect to regulation should be in the context of being an application of deeper moral principles such as mentioned by David above. Other principles include fighting oppression and the proper relationship between the rich and the poor.

Rich Blinne
Member ASA

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Received on Mon Jan 5 00:15:51 2009