The Pope Strikes Again

The Pope's critique is wrong, both Biblically and empirically.

by Rod D. Martin
November 27, 2013

In yesterday's Washington Post, Pope Francis denounces "trickle-down" economics.  Which raises the question:  does he personally know of anyone who's ever been hired by someone poorer than themselves?

You can't redistribute wealth that doesn't exist.  And wealth is created by producers, people who risk what they have to create more than there is.  In doing so, they create jobs, because their vision is bigger than any one person can make real.

The Bible encourages this behavior in the Parables of the Talents and the Minas, and with ironclad laws such as "Thou Shalt Not Steal" and "Thou Shalt Not Covet" (a fancy way of saying "thou shalt not even think about stealing").  The Bible demands charity but never once suggests government redistribution.  The one time an Israelite king -- Ahab -- nationalizes a private business -- Naboth's vineyard -- he is judged for it.  Harshly.

But the Pope need not read the Bible to understand what's wrong with his critique:  …