Being ‘better off’ includes more than finances

Published October 17, 2012, 12:00 AM

Once again, President Ronald Reagan’s “are you better off now than before” query appears in a current presidential campaign. Recently it surfaced on MSNBC show “Morning Joe.” The better-off debate seems to center on the purely financial: more money. I do not denigrate this point of view; everyone wants and needs financial security. But this single perspective is narrow in scope. We can enlarge it by responding to the question from a different outlook, one that speaks to our hearts and minds as well as to our bank accounts — in other words a response involving the whole person.
By: Diane M. Kessler, Duluth News Tribune

Once again, President Ronald Reagan’s “are you better off now than before” query appears in a current presidential campaign. Recently it surfaced on MSNBC show “Morning Joe.” The better-off debate seems to center on the purely financial: more money. I do not denigrate this point of view; everyone wants and needs financial security. But this single perspective is narrow in scope. We can enlarge it by responding to the question from a different outlook, one that speaks to our hearts and minds as well as to our bank accounts — in other words a response involving the whole person.

In my Catholic education, we memorized the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. It is the corporal works that I reference. There are seven of them: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, harbor the harborless, visit the sick, ransom the captive and bury the dead. These activities have provided the template for responsible, Christian behavior over many centuries and speak to specific needs of those times.
In regard to the “are-you-better-off” query, we could model our present-day response in light of those works of mercy. For example, I would say:
I am better off when spouses, children, parents and siblings return safely home from military duty.
I am better off when all children born with genetic defects are provided with affordable health care.
I am better off when immigrants, legal and otherwise, are welcomed as current and future responsible, hard-working citizens.
And I am better off when every day there are fewer people going to bed hungry.
What makes you feel better off?
Diane M. Kessler
Duluth
As far as the economic efforts under President Obama are compared:
Four more years of our Presidents efforts (lowest inflation rates ever for 100% of the population, record stock market increaes that impact over 54% of the population, going from losing 800,000 jobs per month to increasing 120,000 jobs per month, continued improvement of healthcare for 95%+, record business profits, dividends that are off the charts, federal budgets that have the lowest increases in decades) sounds pretty good compared to returning to Bush area economics and continued tax breaks for the very, very wealthy. And, I think it can be even better than the past 4 years!