Trickle or Full Flow

Image from covenantkeepsinc.org

Last summer I was watering some newly planted bushes and flowers. As I went along the length of the plantings the flow of water from the hose went from a steady flow to a small trickle. I wondered if somebody were playing a joke and had turned off the water. Nobody else was outside. I then began to follow the hose back toward the faucet. About half way I found a tight kink in the hose. It had failed to uncoil and folded upon itself. The flow of water was cut off from the source to the nozzle. Unbending the kink allowed the water to flow freely through the hose.

As I thought about that I began to think about it in terms of economics, not a subject in which I am proficient. For years I have heard of trickle down economics. As I understand it, trickle down theory posits that as the wealthy become wealthier their wealth will trickle down through the socio-economic strata finally reaching those at the lowest levels. Yes, it definitely favors those at the top. It reminds me of the story of rich man and Lazarus story in the Gospel of Luke (16:19-31). There was a wondrous feast on the table and poor Lazarus had to survive on the crumbs which fell from the table.

As I thought of it even more while hearing of the drought in the western states. Water is captured in vast lakes held back by dams. The pooled water is release through gates to increase or decrease the flow downstream. If at various points new dams are constructed it provides a new point for controlling the flow. Finally, at the furthest point downstream at best a minuscule trickle is available. Each dam becomes a kink in the flow. Is not this same way trickledown economics works?

It seems to me, God is not into trickle down economics. How does trickledown theory match up with passages such as Amos 5:22-25?

Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Image from:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo3OM5sPUPM

Justice and righteousness are not just ethereal concepts. Justice and righteousness are directly related to personal and national economics. I am constantly challenged by that. Yes, I have a savings account. Is that savings like my having built a dam, a kink, in the flow of resources to others? Compared to others more upstream in the economic strata, I am not rich. However, compared to those more downstream, I am quite wealthy. Do I give to groups and causes which seek to improve the lot of those with fewer resources? Absolutely! What I have to wrestle with is that I am complicit in trickledown economics, like it or not.

This year, in the United States, elections will be held for local, state and national lawmakers and for president. A question we must ask in considering for which candidates we will cast our votes is “are they more or less into trickledown economics?” Do they believe that the bigger the pool of resources at the top needs to grow larger? Do they believe greater resources need to flow from the dams upstream and that kinks in the flow need to be straightened out so the resources can flow more freely? Just like my own situation each of the candidates is more or less complicit in trickledown economics. How does our understanding of Scripture and the theology it informs, guide our decisions in the voting booth?

If we want to witness to God's overflowing grace and mercy, if we want to be followers of Jesus, how much do we want to participate in trickledown economics and how much do we want our government to participate in it? My understanding is, God speaking through the Prophet Amos, would have fewer resources held back in the pools at the top and calls us to increase the flow all along the way. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.