Judaism and Democratic Socialism
by: Dave Belden on June 27th, 2009 | 6 Comments »
We have just posted a thorough analysis and presentation of the argument that Jewish social values require economic democracy, also known as Democratic Socialism. Dr. Richard Schwartz writes,
With the United States and most of the world suffering from a very severe recession, with rapidly rising unemployment, falling home and stock prices and a sharp decrease in confidence for many people about their economic future, it is timely to consider which economic system and conditions are most compatible with basic Jewish values.
Judaism does not recommend one type of economic system for all times and places. However, its principles of social conduct are clear. The Torah is opposed to all types of exploitation and to concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, with the resultant impoverishment of the many. The Torah desires that all people should work and enjoy the fruits of their labor.
The article, “Economic Democracy – Which Economic System Is Most Consistent With Judaism?” is on our home page under Current Thinking, and will be permanently here. Richard Schwartz is well known as a prolific writer and activist for vegetarianism and the human treatment of animals, but he also writes on Judaism and other major global and ethical issues: see his bibliography here.
Does the Torah really oppose the concentration of wealth when it espouses the institution of the Cohanim (priesthood) whith their city’s of refuge and fundraising (tithes through temple offerings)? And what about the construction of the First and Second Temples that were maintained by this priesthood? Kingship was permitted and the corruption of that institution resulted not from the agglomeration of capital off the labor of its subjects but the abandonment of monotheism for idolatry. And kingship entailed the vast accumulation of wealth as indicated under Solomon’s rule who is revered in the Torah as a great and wise ruler.
Jews, including sometimes the best and wisest, do not always live up to Torah ideals. For example, while there is abundant evidence that the production and consumption of meat and other animal products violate basic Jewish mandates to preserve human health, treat animals with compassion, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, help hungry people and pursue peace, most Jews, including most rabbis are not vegetarians.
In “the Ethics of the Fathers” (4:1), it is asked, “Who is rich?” The response: “the person who is happy with his or her portion. Certainly, there are many Jewish scholars and others who lived according to this teaching.
Judaism is compatible with a pure free market, and since a free markets generates the greatest prosperity, a case can be made that Judaism requires a pure free market. I must say “pure” because today’s economies have been falsely labelled “free market,” What is required for justice is an equal sharing of natural benefits, but individual ownership of one’s own labor and the products of labor. “Thou shalt not steal” implies private property and a truly free market. “The land shall not be sold” (Leviticus) and “The profit of the earth is for all” (Ecclesiastes) imply that natural benefits be shared.
Just one thought about the system that creates the greatest prosperity: it all depends by what one means by “prosperity.” The system we have is so astonishingly good at creating an abundance of material goods, and so unable to slow down its own growth, that it is now actually destroying our ecosystem and with it will go our prosperity. We have been publishing a lot about this central issue in Tikkun, but let me just refer to one pretty interesting exchange on green capitalism. Pro: http://www.tikkun.org/article.php/may_jun_09_weiss
Anti: http://www.tikkun.org/article.php/may_jun_09_sanreply
I certainly agree with David Belden’s comments above. And writing on a day when many US state governments are unable to come up with a balanced budget, it certainly appears that something has gone wrong.
Also, a system that requires ever-increasing consumption in a world of increasing scarcity is unsustainable. Hence the world is heading toward an unprecedented catastrophe from global warming and other environmental threats, while many industries are still promoting the policies that are so dangerous.
Government by the People, for the People.
As patriotic Americans, it is our duty to follow in the footsteps laid down by the founding fathers of America. By the grace of God, we each shoulder the responsibility to protect and preserve our great Nation. Therein, we each proudly rise up and Pledge our Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
On the other hand, many of us see the Democratic and Republican Parties abandoning the principals as set forth by the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States. At the very least, most of us already know the Democratic and Republican Parties no longer place much value on the “Will of the People”. Not to mention, these two political parties have recently given us Presidential advisors referred to as Czars; an ever increasing and nearly insurmountable debt; two active Wars, and they are moving more rapidly than ever into a socialist form of government.
The Democratic and Republican parties have clearly set their own agendas over the “Will of the People”. More importantly, they collaborate together forever increasing power over the people. An example, they, by and large, pick the candidates they want us to vote for in Federal Elections as evidenced by the national debates that do not allow “third-party” candidates a voice in our election process. The two parties are one and the same, the Republican Party was started 78 years after the birth of our great Nation and later split into what is now the Democratic Party. This is a power our founding fathers never condoned or wanted for themselves, our Nation, and the American people. Again by the grace of God, our founding fathers left us the means to form our own political parties to counter vent and restore our government back to the people.
As a family man, a father of two and a grandfather of two with another grandchild on the way, I must admit I’ve hardly ever voted in my life, and I never will like politics. Nevertheless, I foresee the eventual downfall of this Nation unless something is done in the very near future. The only hope is another political party built on the values and principals this great Nation was founded on. Not being overly surprised, I couldn’t find such a political party to join and give my support. This realization happened about the same time one of my daughters told me I was going to be a grandfather again, so I reluctantly decided to begin forming the Democratic Reform Party. The date was on or about August 28, 2009, and since then I’ve learned I can use all the advice and help in forming this political party into what our founding fathers would be proud of.
In short, I pray you will join in building this new political party. Together, despite the perception that Washington cannot be changed, we can restore our Nation back to a, “Government by the People, for the People”.
Thank you, and God Bless America.
Eric C. Pearson
Web site: http://www.democraticreformparty.com
Email: EPearson@DemocraticReformParty.com