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Parable of the market
Why did Jesus speak so often in parables? One reason, perhaps, is that the people He addressed had never seen the Kingdom of Heaven. Hearing a good parable is the next best thing to understanding through personal experience. Of course, people need to open their hearts and minds to be willing to listen and perceive.
I can’t take my kids with me back in time to observe and learn from all the ugliness of real-life socialism. Sharing some of my actual experiences leads to confusion—attitudes and actions that were the norm at the time don’t always make sense for those who have grown up in a very different environment. Thus, to save time, I often resort to allegorical tools. While analyzing market vs. government failures with my students, I found a little inspiration from P.J. O’Rourke to share my personal experiences as a swimmer living on Long Island, N.Y.
What shall we say the market is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? The free market is a dangerous place. It’s full of jellyfish, sharks, and rip currents. It’s like going to Gilgo Beach when the summer is over. No appointed experts to save you from drowning—you enter it at your own risk. No signs to tell you how to swim. Or breathe.
The unfree market is just as dangerous. It’s also full of jellyfish, sharks, and rip currents. But you have Big Brother taking care of you. It’s like going to Jones Beach. There’s a big sign that says, “Swimming Prohibited.” There’s a police car patrolling the beach ready to arrest the unruly, irresponsible, under-informed, stupid tourists who dare to get wet above their ankles.Big Brother never sleeps. He watches after those naive ci
tizens who have developed the unhealthy idea that they should be in charge of their own lives. Big Brother is there to discipline the troublemakers who believe that they should be responsible for their own actions. And if you refuse to pay taxes to keep Big Brother’s police car driving along the deserted beaches, they cuff you with the cuffs you bought for the murderers and rapists and put you in a cell they built with your money for the thieves and false witnesses.
back to top19 Comments to “Parable of the market”
You mean like Obama’s health care reform bill where Big Brother plans to fine and/or jail you for not buying insurance?
You mean like when the revenue from the sales tax goes down and they raise the fees elsewhere to make up for it rather than buckling down and use the money they do get?
That sort of thing?
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Alex, you are right that parables are a good teaching tool. But Jesus explained more specifically why he spoke in parables. It was to reveal truths to his disciples while withholding them from his detractors as a judgment and as a fulfillment of prophecy.
“The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah …” Matt 13:10-13
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In your analogy Alex, Big Brother doesn’t sound so bad. Lifeguards and police patrols are a good thing. What you are missing is that government often does more harm than good. Unintended consequences often cause precisely the opposite effect.
In your analogy, government would be more like a lifeguard who actually drowns people. Affirmative Action tries to solve racism by causing racism. Needle programs encourage drug use. Condom programs encourage more sex which puts kids at higher risk. Subprime mortgage programs cause the collapse of the mortgage industry. Cash for clunkers actually did more harm to the environment than keeping your clunker. It was only a temporary boost to sales followed by a huge drop and debt we will pay for for years.
Public health care intended to provide more access for less cost will in the end provide rationing for a higher cost. It will kill innovation from drug companies and medical instrument companies. As fewer services are provided more people will die. That is a lifeguard you don’t want.
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Jesus also took the time to talk about the parables
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Jesus also took the time to talk about the parables
???
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Random Name 11.17.09 AT 1:35 PM
Jesus also took the time to talk about the parables
???
—
Ok, Jesus spoke in parables, then he took time to explain the parables.
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But only for those interested enough to be His followers…
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wmoore9 11.17.09 AT 5:09 PM
But only for those interested enough to be His followers…
–
why do you thing that was the case?
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I thought he only explained one parable – the parable of the sower.
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Xion # 2
I think the author agrees with you when he says: “Of course, people need to open their hearts and minds to be willing to listen and perceive.”
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“Big Brother doesn’t sound so bad. Lifeguards and police patrols are a good thing.”
I don’t see an argument against lifeguards or police here. It seems to be against the improper use of police force against swimmers in the absence of lifeguards
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Reader, I think this is the difficulty with the parable: we can easily imagine an intermediate condition, in which known dangers are mitigated and perhaps even warned against.
In much of the economic discussion (as in politics), the views are pushed to two extremes, leaving otherwise rational observers at a loss. We know that mediating danger does not mean agreeing to that danger, or to its alternative.
Here in Michigan, when the waves run high on the lake, we tell people to get off the piers; when the temperature drops, we say stay out of the water. We take precautions, we create structures (like piers, lifeguard stations and so forth) so that we might properly enjoy the water.
Now to extend the parable in the direction of nanny statism: there are those who get concerned about water, who keep the children close to shore, or refuse to venture out, or insist on wearing their life jacket as they wade. But what’s the fun of water, if you can’t actually get out on it? Feel its power, take it in? Besides, if you want to fish, you’re going to have to go deep and long.
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#11 You might be right Reader. My interpretation was that Jones Beach is a very dangerous place, i.e. full of jellyfish, sharks, and rip currents.
The police presence would sound a bit heavy handed even in that case, but kids aren’t always too bright and the police are responsible for public safety.
If on the other hand, Jones Beach is a perfectly safe place to swim and the town closes it because there are no lifeguards, then that would Big Brotherish, i.e. the unintended consequences of liberal laws and lawyers.
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The biggest problem with the free market is that it is not really free. I lean libertarian, but I think the government plays a proper role as a referee. But governments prefer to play in and manipulate the game until they make a mess of things, at which point they blame the game itself or the players or the fans.
The problem with the financial markets is that governments are not content to play a regulatory role to keep things fair. Governments like to manipulate the markets for political ends. It was politically motivated manipulation from the government that drove lending policies that caused the financial collapse.
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Harris,
I think the intermediate solution is obvious even if it’s not spelled out in the commentary. Why not post a sign – no lifeguards, swim at your own risk. Then let the police car chase after real criminals instead of harassing swimmers
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“kids aren’t always too bright and the police are responsible for public safety”
if it’s kids, parents probably care for them more than any policeman
but the article complains about Big Brother preventing adults from making choices when and where to swim in the ocean
and that may be a bit outside of the scope of government as intended by the Founders, no
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Xion: “…the government plays a proper role as a referee. But governments prefer to play in and manipulate the game until they make a mess of things, at which point they blame the game itself or the players or the fans.”
beautifully said
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#16 Yes I agree with that, Reader. #17 Thanks.
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Parables.
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