cutting off our noses to save our children's faces

in yet another example of burning the village to save the village a new regulation is about to go into effect that will put makers of handmade toys out of business, along with independent makers of children's clothes and many thrift stores.

Kristi alerted me a couple of days ago upon seeing it on the blog of a crafts person friend of hers that will be going out of business because she cannot afford an Independent person to test the quality of her child related clothing.

So China puts out crap that can hurt our children and small American businesses pay the price and could go out of business. So the greatest polluter in the world has no environmental regulation and puts that stuff in our toys and clothing that should be in thrift stores goes into landfills.

Crunchy Con reports on it here.

here is the link to do something about this high level governmental idiocy.

Again, this is why I hate knee jerk reactions to anything, whether it is banking, the car industry, toys from China, right wing hate speech or sick cows. Do your research. Think through unintended consequences and listen to those around you.

The consequences of Big 3 failure

Now I am not an Economist and I certainly don't like bailouts. I am not a total free market guy (as you know) and have no personal love for the American car industry. Heck, the last time I bought an American car was 1992 ( I was done with that car in 1999) and I only bought American because we had good friends that owned dealerships. My only connection is through lifelong relationships to many in all areas of the car industry.

However, when looking at this $25 billion bailout for the auto industry I don't think everything is black and white and I wish everyone, including Detroit, the Senate and Americans that like to complain about everything would step back and allow people to seriously discuss this, do some number crunching and see if it is in America's best interest for these companies to fail or restructure. 

While the numbers could be inflated, some say there is a potential for up to 3 million jobs to be lost if companies fail. While not that high, there will be huge job losses if any merge or go into bankruptcy. Now, I can be a callous free market guy and just say that is the price of doing poor business, letting costs rise faster than revenues, letting unions have their way, building cars no one wants, poor strategy or tell you we need to let the market readjust. And yes, all of those would be somewhat correct. 

However, I am supposed to be a compassionate person, not beholden to any man made ideology (and yes, free market Capitalism is not a Biblical concept- just deal with this). So, I cannot think in such black white terms. Also, we need to hear people doing the dirty work to find out the potential cost to the American people and the government coffers if these industries fail. Sadly, I am seeing little serious analysis of the potential costs on both sides, just ideologically based analysis, which is not analysis.

As one that has experience with unemployment, I know it has many costs for society. There is the cost for unemployment benefits (which will be overwhelmed by the job loss), potential welfare, state funded insurance, job retaining government entities, etc. If 3 million people lose their jobs and are on unemployment for 6 months at a benefit of $250 p/w (max benefits run between $205 and $450 per state- and many of these people would be max) that cost alone is $18 billion (yes I know the benefits come from states, not federal government and are supposedly insured). I am just throwing that number out there to show some of the costs associated with extreme job loss that are not being talked about.

Churches and charities will take huge hits, especially since car dealers and manufactures have been good to many communities, realizing that being an active participant in community functions and charitable giving benefits their business' bottom line. There will be a great opportunity for churches and charities to step into some voids by providing food, shelter, job training, etc. However, they will be doing this with less money and less volunteers.

Now, I offer no suggestions for those making decisions.  I only offer these as food for thought for individuals: 

1. Let us be patient
2. Let us pray for wisdom for all decision makers
3. Let us get past ideology and partisan thinking (it accomplishes nothing)
4. Let us be compassionate
5. Let us not make assumptions
6. Let us get beyond simplistic, reductionist thinking on the issues
7. Let us realize pragmatism is not always bad
8. Let us think through unintendended consequences on the front end
9. Let us not throw around terms like socialism, New Deal, etc. (they aren't helpful)
10. Let us realize we are not economists

Actually I think I would offer that advice for most issues on the table right now.

A Sustainable Faith

If you live within a few hundred miles, don't forget to attend the Sustainable Faith Event (snappy title, huh) this weekend in St. Pete. I am the emcee, which is the best thing about the conference I am sure. However, for only $25 you get more than just my wonderfully snide sense of humor on display (plus wardrobe changes, oh yes)...

Shane Claiborne will be leading 2 plenaries, while Tim Keel and Frank Viola will lead others. A panel discussion will have such luminaries as Danielle Shroyer, Chris Haw, Tim, Frank and Troy Bronsink. Breakout sessions will be lead by everyone previously mentioned and other local legends. Oh, and the one-and-only Spencer Burke will be our guest teaching everyone how to publish their books.

There will be great music, great fellowship, a Super bowl Party, lots of promotion of great sustainable ideas for your church, life, shopping and faith, as well as time to spend in St. Pete getting in touch with their vibe and eating their great food.

Bead for Life Party

Last night Kristi hosted a Bead for Life Party at our home. Over 20 women attended and bought around $800 worth of beads. Unlike your conventional Pampered Chef Party (or whatever is popular among women), there is no money to be made by a host or staff member.

Bead for Life is a non profit organization supporting women in Uganda. The proceeds from the beads (which are quite beautiful and made from discarded magazines) are split between the home office, craftswomen and development (including micro-enterprise).

You can buy directly from the online store or host an event or party for neighbors, friends or your church. It is a great way to help others and get to know your neighbors (acting missionally). Plus, they will think you are very cool for doing this and getting nothing in return.

It is very easy (you get the beads in the mail, along with African recipes, music and a DVD to show).

report from D.C.

I am sure you are dying to hear about my trip to Washington, D.C. last weekend. As you sat on pins and needles wondering what in the world I was up to, I ventured to D.C. for the 3rd time in 9 months, each trip surrounding Bread for the World.

I wanted to liveblog, but was unable to. Apparently, American University (where the event was held) has something against P.C. users.

Anyway, a few highlights include...

• spending most waking minutes with Will Samson and Lilly Lewin, 2 EV friends. Lilly does cool prayer rooms and leads prayer and worship experiences, while Will writes books I want to read and lives in community while getting his PhD at UK.
• seeing a former student from my youth group in Virginia (and Intern and fellow laborer in Boston) speak to the entire Gathering event about justice issues (he has led something called Boston Faith and Justice Network and just accepted a position at Sojourners).
• having drinks with Brian McLaren and Will Samson before a gathering of people interested in Emergent Village.
• the Brickskeller in DuPont Circle (2X).
• reconnecting with Chris Haw, who leads an amazing community living experiment in Camden, NJ. Meeting new friends from around the nation (some pastors, some working with Bread, some part of One Campaign, one helping immigrants cross the border in Arizona).
• having dinner with good friend Joel Vestal of ServLife fame at a great Arab owned and operated restaurant (knowing a bit of seemingly any language Joel can bring smiles to most faces). We inadvertently stumbled into the D.C. Pride event's favorite block for food leading an amusing set of text messages between my wife and I.
• helping lead an "emergent" worship service on Sunday morning with Lilly and Will, along with Tim and Saranelle Hartman.
• hanging out with one of my former students on Friday night.
• seeing that very cute Panda Cub at the zoo, along with other cool animals.
• staying blocks away from a Whole Foods, after living in Whole Foods Exile in Tampa.
• meeting Kennedy, a Zambian student for the priesthood living in San Antonio.
• listening to Senator Chuck Hagel explain why he thinks poverty relief is so important.
• understanding why the buzz was so large for Harold Ford, Jr. when he ran for Senate in 2006. Although he lost, his upside is huge (and his opponents ran a very dirty/ slightly racist ad). If he becomes Tennessee's governor, he could be the first black man to win the presidency (he is a better speaker than Obama and more charismatic- and much younger). His speech was somewhere between sermon and stump speech (very Clinton-esque). He also has a bit of a downside, but also has a very interesting, and moderate voting record.
• finding out more details on the Farm Bill and how it needs to change to help local individual farmers (instead of corporations that do not need subsidies) and our international friends.
  
• learning more about how Evangelicals and Mainliners can come together to support the Micah Challenge which works with churches in developing nations to relieve extreme poverty and make people's lives much better.
  

ECHO

My family is heading on vacation in April to the wonderful shell filled Island of Sanibel about 3 hours south of Tampa. While I get a little frustrated by my city and state, I am usually glad to be a Floridian around vacation time, since I can find great deals to wonderful places.

While in Sanibel, I hope to visit this interesting place. it is a Global Village specializing in sustainable agriculture for the poor areas of the world, headed up by a group of Christians hoping to help indigenous poor with their own community development.

I am such a geek and I am sure no one else in the family will want to go with me.

Check out ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization).

The limits on making more money, being happy and other ideas from Capitalism

This is a new article from Mother Jones getting some play in a number of places. I feel it is very timely and important for anyone in the ministry or following economic theories, especially those that bow down to the god of the free market.

The contention of the article is that making money will only make us so happy, as individuals and as a society. He believes that we must have other measures for a successful economy due to the fact that we have taken free market capitalism as far as we can. It is and has been a good thing, but could only take us so far.

the writer believes we must realize that more money will not make a society or individuals happy, beyond meeting our needs. We must focus upon social networks for our happiness and the happiness of our nations.

Interesting... reminds me of a certain passage in Proverbs, and another in the Gospels... oh, and another in Ecclesiastes.

While you may agree and think this is obvious, it is not, especially in economist circles.

Link to Article