
We have now experienced great moral and ethical challenges fromthe policies that we now face:
Rwanda forcible repatriation.
Tax cuts benefiting the rich.
Cuts in welfare spending.
Curtailment of protesting tights.
Challenges to freedom of speech.
Huge external borrowing to control energy price raises.
Excess profits of energy companies.
Rich people not paying their fair share of taxes
Profits and funds hidden in tax havens
Increases in poverty and inequality.
All these are ethical and moral issues not just economic problems.
The Abrahamic religions can contribute to rhis debate in a real way.
Jewish, Islamic and Christian scholars cannot remain silent here!!
There is a moral dimension whichis crucial here!
What is a just price/surplus?
The market needs goods and services
Suppliers will only supply at a reward to themselves
But there is a moral dimension here!
Profits should never be excessive because avarice is sinful
No deception should be involved in setting the price of goods and services.
Profits must exist but should not be excessive.
The buyer should freely accept the price that is offered by the seller.
The economy should function for the benefit of the many not the few.
More equal societies are usually more just.
No man should sell anything to another for more than it is worth.
Prices charged should be just as should profits.
Just prices and profits should be fair and decent but not excessive.
The poor should not benefit disproportionately from economic growth.
All these points need to be taken into account when judging the fairness of policies we face as a Society.
It is difficult to judge what is a just banker's bonus or minimum wage but that doesn't mean that such judgements cannot be made.
It is a duty for all of us to do this.
We need to make moral and ethical judgements about policies not just economic judgements.
Such judgements can only increase the resilience of our Society.
Difficult but necessary to do.
St. Thomas Aquinas would be proud of our stance!
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