Some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world.
This is really an ignorant statement. Economic growth, encouraged by a free market, most certainly does bring about greater justice and inclusiveness. It does this because economic growth lifts people out of poverty, and doing this always brings greater justice and inclusiveness to people. Always. This statement, whether it is Marxist, Peronist, Socialist, or whatever-ist, is dumb.
The truth, and this is uncomfortable when viewed alongside some of the statements of this pontiff, is that these economic systems he attacks have done more to lift people out of poverty, put food on people's tables, and give them dignity in work than any church has ever done in history. And that includes the Catholic Church.
The Pope is expected to be an expert in spiritual matters, and to have authority to lead and guide in that field. It saddens me that so often they choose to preach not about the Gospel, but about economic policies that they so obviously don't understand. It would be analogous to the chairman of the Federal Reserve publishing a document on how surgeons should use anaesthesia.
**Some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world.**
This phrase was mis-translated. Talk with markomalley.
Some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world.
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Incorrect translation. Should be:
Some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will BY ITSELF succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world.
Pope was showing that an economic policy by itself will not cause the necessary change because there IS a spiritual dimension that is often avoided.
Perhaps it's even worse. His exhortation is causing an uproar in part because of its lack of balance, and seems to reveal a bias on his part. Had he specifically pointed out the evils inherent in systems where deprivation of freedom has led to poverty and death, his warning regarding the risk of greed and excess becoming paramount in a free market system might have been more well received.
Unfortunately, by attacking "unfettered captalism" - a boogeyman because it doesn't exist - he has provided the enemies of the Church (such as obama) with a fresh opportunity to promote their marxist agenda, this time replete with papal quotes.