Are We Becoming a Socialist Country?

April 23, 2009
By

While watching NBC news tonight, they are covering a story of a family whose credit card rates got increased when they had made payments on time and always been responsible. One day, they got a message from their credit card company stating that they doubled their interest rates. While I can understand their frustration, and can realize that during a time when many people don’t have money to spare, is it really OK for the government to mandate the way credit card companies do business? If you are having problems with finances, I recommend Faith Based Finances: Let go of worry and grow in Confidence by Tyndale.

Doesn’t that sound a lot like socialism? Where is the line if the government can tell businesses how much they should charge customers.

Now I realize that I definitely am the minority view on this topic as people see the big executives in companies like this and all of the money that they are making, and think that it is greedy for them to raise the rates like this. However, these companies are not making money. Part of the reason they have to raise rates like this, is because they were too loose in their lending practices, so when people lost their jobs and filed for bankruptcy, the credit card companies were stuck with the bill.

Now I think that it is pretty bad if companies, without warning, raise interest rates for people with high balances, as they put money on that card under the impression that they would be charged a certain interest rate on the balance. So therefore, I think there could be mandates on how interest rates are implemented, but in no way do I think that the government should say you can only have a rate as high as X percent. Perhaps they could simply raise interest rates on all future purchases, or for new accounts. It would even be feasible for credit card companies to say that after 6 months, the rates will go up. All is better than instantly raising the rates to unexpected consumers.

I know this doesn’t fit the Christian posting of this site, but I feel that as a Christian, you should be involved in the world around you to best make decisions and be informed to be able to communicate and dialog with others.

If you don’t know much about personal finances, Christian business, government, or other social issues for Christians, I encourage you to check out some books on the subject. Many Christian small groups and adult Bible study/Sunday school classes are starting to use Christian financial small group curriculum as well, such as the Good Sense Financial Christian Curriculum, The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, or MoneyLife Basic

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  • Patti

    our church tonight is live feeding Dave Ramsey’s Town Hall for hope. Its a nation-wide town hall meeting and he is going to address the issue of the economy, how we got here, and where we’re going. Plus he will be answering questions…The live online feed is at 8 this evening. I hope he addresses some of the issues that you have mentioned here. Also these books you have suggested sounds like food for thought.

    I agree that as Christian we should be involved in the world around s so that we can make the best decisions and be informed.

  • http://www.christianbooksbibles.com Heather

    We absolutely DO need to get back to grass roots and stop allowing the government to to be soooooo in our business! I am hearing this more and more since the last big election and I think a real change is happening right now. The Christian life is very exciting, especially when we pair it with being an American with a brain, not a government puppet!

  • stormylane

    As much as I don’t believe in socialism… (i want to spit when I hear the word) But I do find it rather exciting to see this shift in our government.
    Not because I WANT a socialist government, but I am looking forward to watching the Lord at work.
    We are on a downward spiral here in our land. But the Lord is right there with us.. keeping us & strengthening us as sold out believers.

    What is sad is watching so many Christians fall for the life of ease lie. They (some) actually feel socialism is God’s way of taking care of us.

    What a very informative article.

  • http://houston-climate-justice.groups.local.1sky.org/en/summary/ Paul Suckow

    We merely human beings apparently now have the power to destroy or safeguard creation simply by a subtle tipping of the atmosphere. When it comes to protecting the creation, there is no substitute for mutually cooerced good behavior. Try as we might, voluntary measures have not succeeded in lowering greenhouse gas emissions to date. We’re at the 50/50 point, and the end result is all or nothing for the future of humanity. It is time to apply the strength of the law…law that we the people must consider, discuss, guide and ultimately make.

    Markey-Waxman energy/climate legislation is becoming a discussion draft next week, and is expected to emerge from committee by Memorial Day. Precious little time is left to engage in public participation… We in Houston are joining the Houston Climate Justice website to help inform ourselves and discuss alternatives to the end of life on Earth as we know it. The “new heavens” are arriving ever more swiftly as greenhouse gasses are being unlocked from deep-freeze. Will the “new Earth” that follows be one we are proud to leave to our grandchildren?

    Carbon caps and green jobs begin to address the three big U.S. public issues of our time…climate change/safeguarding creation, economic siezure/clean energy economy, and war/reduced conflict over fossil fuels, food and water. It can’t be socialism if all participate democratically! This is our one chance in this lifetime to bring America back to a moral high ground and lead the world toward meaningful creation-protection. More sharing and less killing were basic things we know Jesus cared about. Green jobs and a new clean energy economy are basic to our American future. If you are in the Gulf Coast area, I invite you to Houston Climate Justice, a new online community to join together across all the lines and try to leave a better world for those yet to be born.

    If you care about what’s happening with climate change, you are welcome to join the action with 1sky. Thanks always for caring and sharing!





About the author:

I am the owner of Christianbooksbibles.com, an online retailer of Christian books, Bibles, Sunday school curriculum, Bible study materials, music, and more. I really enjoy exploring my own faith through writing some of the content for this blog. I'm a stong believer that God speaks to us through the pursuit of exploring your faith. Explore your faith.

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