April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
EDITORIAL
Cutting and saving
That's what happened in Ger-many, where an economic resurgence has stalled. A balanced budget makes sense, but timing is critical. Prudence, reason and civil debate - all Christian values - should be deployed in tackling deficits.
An equally pressing caution is to remember our brothers and sisters who are poor. Congress has recommended dramatic cuts in foreign and domestic programs for the poor.
In a letter to Congress he co-wrote for the U.S. bishops, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard protested "disproportionate cuts in programs that serve the most vulnerable," which he termed "life-threatening."
We're not hearing much about poor Americans, either. Ser-vices for them, such as food stamps and home heating assistance, face drastic reductions while generous tax breaks continue for the well-to-do.
In New York, it is bizarre that Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to drop a surtax on rich households while cutting most welfare programs.
Odder yet is the silence from most politicians. (It echoes the quiet consensus in Washington that Bush tax cuts had to be preserved.)
Two proposals make sense. First, cuts in spending should affect all Americans, but progressively.
Spread the pain among those who can bear it best, instead of hitting the down and out most of all. A middle- or upper-income household can endure a modest tax hike much more easily than a poor family can endure even a small cut in food stamps or health care.
Second, those of us who object to cuts should suggest alternatives. The New York bishops, for instance, have suggested we save $45 million by ending state funding of abortions.
While that's unlikely, offering alternative ways to balance the budget acknowledges the state's dilemma and gives us credibility.
[[In-content Ad]]
MORE NEWS STORIES
SOCIAL MEDIA
OSV NEWS
- Experts: Catholic media witness to truth, Gospel and are at ‘kairos moment’ in church
- Shrine celebrates 350 years since Jesus showed his heart to French nun as symbol of love
- Noem ends TPS protection for half a million Haitians, placing them at risk of deportation
- Washington Roundup: Supreme Court concludes term, Senate weighs ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
- Carol Zimmermann, NCR news editor, wins St. Francis de Sales Award
- Archbishop arrested, second cleric sought, amid Armenian government crackdown on opposition
- Israel-Iran war, Supreme Court decisions, pope message to priests | Week in Review
- Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
- Novel puts Joan of Arc’s heroic struggle into modern context
- Supreme Court upholds online age verification laws to protect kids
Comments:
You must login to comment.