By ORAN P. SMITH - Guest Columnist
Published in The State, Columbus, South Carolina.
Jun. 24, 2008
Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives took a huge step in the fight against global poverty by passing the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation, a plan to lift the burden of debt from desperately poor countries, especially in Africa.
The idea of “Jubilee” comes from Leviticus 25, where Moses periodically proclaimed a “Jubilee Year” in which debts were forgiven and slaves were freed. Clearly, debt cancellation has roots in faith, but it is a fiscal and national security matter as well as a moral one. We seek cancellation of illegitimate debt, the tab racked up by past corrupt regimes to line their own pockets and inherited by legitimate governments. This is one of the most efficient methods of foreign assistance. In Tanzania, debt relief led to a 50 percent increase in primary school enrollment, and in Burkina Faso and Mozambique freed funds are being used to support millions who are struggling with HIV/AIDS.
Then, because the dual scourges of terrorism and extremism thrive in an atmosphere of despair and want, it is in the national security interest of the United States to do what it can to break the cycle of extreme poverty and indebtedness.
As the richest and most powerful nation in the world, the United States has the moral responsibility that comes with the mandate “to those whom much has been given much shall be required” (Luke 12). Christian evangelical organizations who lead in giving back have called on Americans to support the Jubilee Act, stating that it is their brothers and sisters in the churches of Africa and Asia, ministering to the poor, who are calling most loudly for freedom from the devastating burden of debt.
Debt cancellation has a remarkable track record of success, yet too many of the world's poor children needlessly starve or go without education as impoverished nations must channel scarce resources to lenders instead of paying for needs at home.
Consider the African country of Lesotho, where 40 percent of the population cannot afford basic food supplies and 15 percent of the population is infected with HIV. In Lesotho, debt repayments totaled $54.2 million in 2005 while health, water and private-sector initiatives came in at about the same ($60.4 million on average). Even worse, because the nation’s spending on debt repayment is roughly equal to its entire national education budget, more than a third of Lesotho’s children aren’t enrolled in primary school.
The expanded debt cancellation called for in the Jubilee Act and other efforts such as Bono’s ONE campaign is also essential to ensure the continued effectiveness of private, faith-based anti-poverty programs that are on the front lines in impoverished countries. These organizations are supported through the prayer and financial resources of massive numbers of American churches that are compelled by Christ’s command to care for “the least of these.” Yet the frustrating reality is that the compassionate and charitable efforts of people here in South Carolina, and all over the country, are undermined as scarce foreign currency flows right back out of the impoverished countries in the form of debt repayments.
Our faith and the biblical call to Jubilee tell us that we need not accept inefficiency and want. Through debt cancellation, increased aid and greater economic opportunity for the world’s poor countries, we have the chance to end extreme poverty in our lifetime. This is why we join with millions across the United States to support the Jubilee Act and urge Sens. Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham to do the same. With Jubilee, we can help ensure that the world’s poorest countries are free to use their own resources for economic development and basic human services such as health, education and welfare in such abundance here in America.
Dr. Smith is president of Palmetto Family Council, a faith-based public policy research organization based in Columbia. Contact him at oran@palmettofamily.org
Comments