The Problem with Waste

The irony surrounding the S-Chip controversy seems to be the issue of waste. President Bush does not want to appear to be throwing money at a problem that in reality his agenda (the war agenda primarily) has exacerbated. The “problem” here is poverty, the biggest waste in terms of loss of potential, productivity and social and cultural renewal. His veto of this health program, aimed at covering poor children, comes as a surprise when he has demonstrated again and again that his Administration’s policies are based on the principles of waste. This is not to say the program is a waste of time or money. In fact, it is quite the contrary. We actually have an opportunity to prevent some waste, to give families some relief, some peace of mind, but mostly to share the love of Christ, which Mr. Bush supposedly knows so much about.

I admit to not knowing (who does?) how this program would turn out but I bet that it would not end up costing as much as the war in Iraq and I am certain that with brilliant minds and compassionate hearts some things could be tweaked to make it a model for the world.

I’m deeply disappointed with his decision. I am sad not for liberals or for those conservatives who dare to speak for the underrepresented, but for Christians who are getting a bad rap. I am sad that we have a President who claims to love God but all we do is war with poorer nations and deny hard working families the opportunities to succeed. Can it really only be about not wanting to pay for a few extra children? Would that be so horrible? So costly? So threatening to capitalism?

Maybe the super wealthy of this country simply don’t want to share the space at the top. Maybe they truly believe that they accomplished everything, every victory in their lives on their own and that the government has no place in our lives except to help corporations thrive and “defend” the country from nameless, faceless terrorists. This is selective governing that benefits only a few. Perhaps they just don’t care because they will have departed from this life in a decade or two and every man, woman and child must fend for him and herself. To hell with the future generations. The truth of the matter is that this will cost all of us at some time.

Now, what excuse do the “Value Voter” Christians have for not pouring into the streets to protest his veto? As writer Marilynne Robinson inquired, did Jesus tout laissez faire capitalism? One would expect to hear from the Value Voters Summit in Washington this weekend about the waste, and not only about the lives they pray, cry and stand in line for at health clinics. What about the wasted potential in America’s youth, the waste in war, the waste in efforts and spirit to fight the love between two grown adults who happen to be the same sex and the wasted joy and vitality of those children who, by chance because they are lumped together with a smaller group of kids not “entitled” to this program, will not make it on a list to receive the health care so many of us take for granted. Jesus gave us a social gospel bound to the individual gospel of salvation as a guide for our lives. Are we listening to his call? Are measuring up to our Savior's expectations? I believe we are squandering God’s grace and eternal love for us. That is the greatest waste of all.

Amen.