Economic Wisdom

The current controversy over same sex “marriage” and the increasing level of social acceptance of a variety of other socially destructive behaviors and entertainments should be alarming to all of us, especially in view of the fact that the past has been prologue, and is likely to be so in the future. Each of us is a sinner, of course, no exceptions; the problem is acceptance of our destructive behaviors as harmless when, in reality, they’re sins precisely because they’re destructive.

Here’s a telling observation by a nineteenth century French economist, Frederic Bastiat: “When misguided public opinion honors what is despicable and despises what is honorable, punishes virtue and rewards vice, encourages what is harmful and discourages what is useful, applauds falsehood and smothers truth under indifference or insult, a nation turns its back on progress, and can be restored only by the terrible lessons of catastrophe.”

Wouldn’t it benefit everyone to take note, and maybe take action, even if politically incorrect, to avoid the “terrible lessons of catastrophe”?

R. E. Hurley, M.D.