Texas Faith: How do we create the common
good in Texas?
Published in Dallas Morning News on
01/09/2012
Charity does not have to be Godly, noble or a drag on the
well to do, but it certainly insures everyone in the society to function
effectively. Pulling people up from ditches on to a level playing field can be
viewed as an act of charity or an act of responsible investment in human
capital. Governor Perry needs to move on with the affordable care act or move
away from being a hindrance to the public good.
Texas Faith is a weekly column at Dallas Morning News
moderated by Bill McKenzie and Wayne Slater. At least ten panelists contribute
each week including Mike Ghouse.
Continue - http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/01/texas-faith-how-do-we-create-common.html
So,
as we start 2013, and the Texas Legislature begins its every-other-year session,
let’s discuss that topic. More specifically: How do you think the state can
create a greater sense of the common good?
For some, this will mean
greater attention to poverty issues or those left behind. Texas often ranks high
among states when it comes to providing various social services, such as mental
health care. And high doesn’t mean good. It means we rank 45th, 46th, 47th, etc.
in a comparison of states when it comes to spending for a social
service.
At the same time, Texas’ economy is in a better place than that
of most states. A recent survey of CEOs ranked Texas as the best place to do
business. The result of the business-friendly attitude for workers is that Texas
has shown a good ability to create jobs. Because we have a fairly robust
economy, jobless figures here are better than those of most states.
So,
there are two sides to the Texas question. And with those two parts in mind, I’d
like to hear how you think Texas can create a greater sense of the common
good.
MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism,
Dallas
Pulling people up from ditches onto a
level playing field can be viewed as an act of charity or an act of responsible
investment in human capital. The reality is, it adds to the common good in
broadening a consumer base that will propel economic growth, and uplift everyone
in the process. Charity does not have to be godly, noble or a drag on the
well-to-do, but certainly insures every one in the society can function
effectively.
The mother of all good is a good economy.
This can be better understood by the housing industry, a barometer of economic
health of a nation. There was a time when people could not purchase a home
unless they had the cash. All of that changed with the creation of Federal
Housing Administration in 1934. With less than 5% down, you could buy your home.
Indeed, 20 homes were bought for the same money in place of cash for
one.
Everything multiplies with it; the
economists call it a multiplier effect. Building 400 homes instead of twenty
homes creates jobs, rolls the lumber off the mills, appliances are manufactured,
brick runs through the kilns, and masons, carpenters, plumbers, roofers,
electricians and others get to work. Add to that the services it generates, such
as gas companies, public schools and grocery stores. All those services generate
additional tax revenues.
Indeed, our common good was created out
of thin air, and we can do more of it in Texas by encouraging and uplifting
small businesses through insured loans to otherwise unqualified borrowers but
great entrepreneurs. Bangladesh is a story of success through micro-loans, and
we can replicate that model. The more people we can have on a level playing
field, the better off all of us would be.
We need both short and long term
solutions. President Obama has articulated the long term goals as an investment
in producing outstanding students in science, math, engineering and medicine to
continue to have a lead in innovation to improve our quality of
life.
The short term goals include re-training
the unemployed and under-employed. Once they get the skills, they can support
the services the state needs.
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, a good
investment in a healthy America will keep Texans working and producing with the
least loss of sickness. That will add to the GDP and the state’s revenues.
Governor Perry needs to move on with the program or move away from being a
hindrance to the public good.
The answer has got to be a comprehensive
approach to feeling good about ourselves and those around us. We need to build a
society where no Texan – whether that person is a woman, an African- American,
gay or lesbian, atheist, Muslim, Jew, Sikh, Hindu or an immigrant — feels
threatened in the pursuit of his or her happiness.
Our well-being is nurtured by the
well-being of what surrounds us, namely people and the
environment.
For other contributions, please visit -
http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/2013/01/texas-faith-how-do-we-create-the-common-good-in-texas.html/
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Mike Ghouse is a
speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place and
standing up for others as an activist. He is committed to
building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on
issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. Mike has a presence on national and
local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on
national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at
Dallas
Morning News,
fortnightly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across
the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes everything you want to know
about him.
