king solomon and king noah, two peas in a pod: 'neoliberalism' and the redistribution of wealth

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Today’s homily is an admittedly longer and somewhat awkward homily. Some might rather call it a study or essay. But, as my skills, such as they are, are more inclined to homily than to dense scholarly examination, we will stick to homily. In addition, there is always a ministerial aspect to what I do. I aim to touch the human heart as well as inform the human mind; influence attitudes and behaviors more than thoughts and opinions.
 
There is much discussion from time to time about the “distribution,” or “redistribution” of wealth. Many Americans—perhaps most, I do not know—consider the notion despicable, often painting it in the darkest hues of black wickedness or the deepest reds of communism. This is, of course, impure bull-pucky. Christians, in particular, ought to know better, what with their Bible shouting the praises of just redistribution of wealth from their bedside nightstands. Unfortunately, this gospel too often gets drowned out by their pulpit thumping pastors, who often teach another idolatrous and whorish gospel by the name “prosperity.”
 
So, let’s just be clear. All governments, I repeat, ALL governments from ancient Sumer to the classical Han dynasty to Democratic Greece; from the Roman republic and then empire, to Medieval France; from Colonial America to modern America; all have redistributed financial resources. When it comes to economic affairs, this redistribution of wealth is one of the primary and most common activities in which governments engage. The question is not, then, does or will a government, any government, our government redistribute wealth? They do and will! Our government has and does and will. This is a certainty. The only question is, HOW will it redistribute wealth?
 
In looking at our own U.S. history, we can observe that redistribution of wealth policies and practices have swung wildly back and forth. Whether we were always true to our convictions and wise in our practices, from the 1930’s through 1970’s there was a “progressive” attempt—halfhearted sometimes, but present nonetheless—to maintain a level of economic equity through the modest redistribution of wealth. This was a modest redistribution of wealth from the top (wealthiest) down (to the poor).
 
I would argue that this American experiment created one of the greatest and most equitable economies in world history—falling far short, it is true, of the more perfect redistributive economic systems established by an Enoch or that found in 4th Nephi. I would argue, in addition, that such redistribution was in complete harmony with the word and desires of God. A large part of what made the U.S. progressive economy great was its focus, at least theoretical if not always practiced as strenuously as one would wish, on individuals, and raising everyone—except, alas, African Americans, who can count on nothing if not being left out in the cold. “Economy,” after all, is not about how well Wall Street’s gamblers are doing in the Stock Market/Casino. “Economy” is about people, and should be about securing every citizen in the basic human necessities of food, shelter, healthcare, education, etc.
 
Anyway, America’s great progressive experiment came to a screeching halt with the 1980 election. Since the election of the venerable Ronald Reagan there has been a concerted and highly, if shamefully successful effort to redistribute wealth in the opposite direction: from the bottom up. This was and has been attempted and accomplished, in large part, through the impressive sounding theories of “Neoliberalism,” which, with all its pseudo-science, was and is nothing more than a conservative reaction to the progressive economic attitudes and activities of the previous generation.
 
This anything-but-liberal movement, as all conservative movements do, has worked tirelessly to see that wealth is sent gushing upward like a geyser to the wealthiest Americans—in this case about the top 1-10%. While doing so, the conservative proponents of Neoliberalism have assured us—with a straight face and as if we should be grateful—that a few precious drops would trickle back down to the rest of us. Why no one has focused on and rebelled against that word, that concept, “trickle,” is one of the great mysteries of our time. One cannot live on a trickle of economic benefits any more than one can live on a trickle of water. This is not “economy,” it is highway robbery and oppression. We see it every day in the suffering and want of America’s class of serfs.
 
We can look all over the globe and back into the past and see the same battles waged over the direction that the distribution of wealth will take. One example of this struggle can be found in the Hebrew Bible’s narrative reporting on the reign of Israel’s third king, Solomon. Another can be found in the pages of the Book of Mormon and its chronicling of wicked King Noah.
 
Both kings sought to transform society. The struggles depicted in these two narratives are dramatic and informative. The kings themselves and the economic evils that they perpetrated against their own nations have much in common. The inspired texts that report the battles that raged over who and what kind of people the two nations, Judah and Nephite, would be have implications for our own day and what kind of nation we are or can be. We can hear and learn from the inspired writers, and thus avoid much suffering,  or we can close our ears, our minds, and our hearts, learn nothing from the nations’ experiences, and suffer the same fate that those corrupt and corrupted nations suffered—civil war and finally complete annihilation.
 
Now, to be clear, as I have said repeatedly in the past, I do not expect America to observe Biblical law. I do not maintain, as many do, that America is or should be a fundamentally Christian nation. I do maintain, however, that in the Bible’s ideals and customs, we find principles that are applicable to every people and every nation, Christian or not. The application and observance of these basic principles can make for a more peaceful and secure nation. The rejection of them leads to conflict, chaos and collapse.

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