ROOT CAUSES

Why is the Canadian government (and other governments for that matter) increasing in debt? Leaving aside fiscal mismanagement, costly short-sited decisions, corruption, excessive salaries and interest on existing debt, the problem is that the government’s focus is on symptoms and consequences and not on root causes. Our problems are systemic and generational but our government is only dealing with immediate and present symptoms and the consequences of our problems. They do not ask why things are like this or what brought us to this crisis. They do not examine inflated expectations, a growing demand for personal rights and other underlying factors. They do not look back at the dominos of causes which have led us to the present circumstances. They just keep attacking a growing mountain of symptoms with more borrowed money.

The reasons for this approach are multi-fold. First of all the government seems to be blind to the systemic and generational causes of our present problems. Second if the government does see these systemic and generational causes they are afraid to point them out and remedy them knowing what an uproar and backlash that would cause. In short they are afraid and unwilling to do what is needed. Those would not be politically correct decisions. Finally, any remedy dealing with systemic and generational causes would require a radical worldview change. I think that apart from a wholesale revival in our land we have gone beyond the possibility of dealing with systemic and generational problems. Secularism, materialism and human rights now dominate our thinking, and our culture is sufficiently blinded by false worldviews that it will no longer deal with the problems which are the result of our throwing off the ways of God for the sophisticated and advanced ways of man. Greed, my rights, having my problems solved by the government, comfort, security, a free share of the wealth, all work against any true and lasting solutions.

Politicians are not ready to provide those kind of answers and face the consequences. Their solution is to keep pouring cash toward those symptoms and consequences, knowing that in the end costs will increase and no true and lasting remedies will be achieved. Unfortunately these increased costs are always transferred to the citizens in the form of ever increasing taxes on products, services and income at all levels of government.

Enter Donald Trump. Why is he so popular? I believe one of the reasons is his willingness to openly address what he believes to be some of the systemic and generational causes of the problems in the United States. He is the focus for people who are fed up with being laden with government debt to meet symptoms that do not deal with causes. I am not saying I agree with Trump’s policies nor to I believe he is addressing the most fundamental problems but he is not leading a populous movement for no reason.  There is at least the appearance of dealing with causes. Implementing answers that deal with systemic and generational causes will not be as easy as Trump implies and he has only addressed economic and security needs and not root causes.

 National change will only result from a revival. Politicians cannot change hearts, only policies. As believers we can see individuals changed through the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that is what is most important at this time. We are to continue to give to Caesar what Caesar demands even if we do not like it but we must give to God what God demands with praise and joy. Governments are bankrupt with regard to lasting solutions. Our culture no longer has a conscience while it focuses on pleasure and finding happiness on its own terms. But in Jesus Christ eternal life is still offered and will be received by those whom God has called out of this evil world and into the kingdom of His Son.