 
Budgets, Taxes and Tax Cuts: A Question of Faith?
Michael Polanyi (November 15, 2004)
As predictably as the leaves have been falling, business groups
are once again calling for another round of federal tax cuts.
Unions, charities, think tanks, aboriginal organizations and environmental
groups are also in Ottawa this month urging program spending and
other measures as the Federal Government determines its 2005 Budget.
One perspective largely absent from the debate is that of religious
or faith groups.
Given that 85% of Canadians consider themselves to have a “religious
affiliation,” and 65% of Canadians “definitely”
believe in God, what, if anything, do churches and religious organizations
have to contribute to budget discussions?
Not much, if one sees budget-making as a technical exercise to
maximize economic growth, or if one sees religion as offering up
God-given “truths”, which cut off, rather than encourage,
inquiry and common understanding.
But perhaps something, if one recognizes that both budgets and
religion, at core, are about reflecting on and coming to a shared
sense of what is important to us as individuals and members of communities.
For isn’t taxation, really, about asking each of us what
we owe one another? And doesn’t our answer to this depend
on an even deeper philosophical – and religious - question:
what does it mean to be fully human?
Many people, including our elected representatives, are likely
somewhat conflicted about this. On one hand we are inundated, overtly
and covertly, with the message that human fulfillment is about seeking
and securing comfort, excitement, recognition and success for ourselves
and our immediate families. This is not totally misguided –
for it is a message that invokes the worthy principles and practices
of hard work and responsibility.
But it is incomplete. Most of us realize that to be human is something
much more. This is the core message of our world’s religions:
that we become fully human not by getting, but by giving; that we
most truly realize ourselves by going outside of ourselves –
creating, relating, loving, sharing.
If this is true, then surely the ultimate mission of budgets –
and government more generally - is to create conditions under which
citizens can fully develop into beings of the giving kind, not just
the taking kind.
This is a tall order in a society that is predicated on ever rising
consumption, and is rife with economic insecurity and post 9-11
personal insecurity. If one has money, it is easier (though not
necessarily effective) to try to protect oneself from the world
– through missile shields, security systems, private schools,
private health care, and private water – than it is to work
toward collective solutions.
Could government create conditions that bring out the best in us
– generosity and compassion – rather than give in to
our fears and selfishness?
I think it could, by recognizing that conditions of economic insecurity
and societal unfairness bring out the worst in adults, as in children
(withdrawal, self-interest, contempt and even violence) and that
conditions of true security and justice, instead, are the basis
of full human development.
The Government of Canada has a unique opportunity to take steps
towards achieving true security and justice in the upcoming budget.
It has the financial means, the potential support of opposition
parties with a commitment to social values, and, if communicated
effectively, it could have the support of the vast majority of Canadians.
Three things need to be communicated to Canadians. First, the growing
gap between rich and poor - the richest 10% of Canadians now control
50% of wealth - is both unfair and harmful to the health of our
economy, our communities and our democratic system. Second, the
very wealthy in Canada are not paying their fair share of taxes
(even the recent Chamber of Commerce points out the unfairness that
lower wage earners face higher marginal tax rates than the wealthiest,
and this does not even take into account skyrocketing rates of tax
evasion). Thirdly, in a country of such vast wealth, it is morally
unacceptable - as well as socially destructive – that basics
needs go unmet. Ending poverty, homelessness, and hunger –
and fear of these - should be the 2005 Budget’s top priority.
Recent Budgets have focused on building the economy, investing
in health care, or improving Canada’s influence in the world.
Surely these are not ends, but means to some higher end –
the creation of a just society (and world), in which people feel
secure, basic needs are met, resources are fairly distributed, and
people develop and give meaningfully of themselves as human beings.
By focusing on improving economic equality, tax fairness and security
of basic needs in the upcoming budget, the federal Government can
tap into and encourage what is best in Canadians – the compassion
and generosity that exists in our hearts.
Michael Polanyi coordinates the Canadian social development program
of KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives.
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