Justice, Compassion, and Generosity
Free enterprise capitalism has the potential to generate substantial wealth, but it also has significant flaws that need our attention. It fosters a relentless drive for more, which can lead to greed and create vast inequalities. Capitalism stimulates and thrives on our human desire to possess more, a desire that instinctively gravitates toward greed, which tends to create disparities that make some rich, while leaving many impoverished. While profit is not inherently wrong, the pursuit of profit can overshadow our responsibility to care for one another, especially those who suffer.
No nation can fully trust free enterprise to act justly without guidance. To achieve public justice, free enterprise, like the urge to consume, needs to be tamed and guided. Governments must step in to ensure that the system serves the common good, recognizing that the success of an economy does not solely depend on its growth but on the equitable distribution of its benefits. Public education is a powerful example of this principle, leveling the playing field for all citizens and enriching the workforce, ultimately benefiting everyone, including businesses.
As we make economic decisions, we should actively reflect on how Gospel values like justice, compassion, and generosity shape our choices. These values should guide our priorities, encouraging us to support businesses that promote fair wages, invest in communities, and foster sustainability. Those with means must remember their obligation to advocate for the vulnerable. With greater affluence comes corresponding responsibility to make sure that a system that has been generous to oneself is also generous to others. The challenge lies in integrating values like justice and generosity into our economic choices, ensuring that our decisions reflect a commitment to creating opportunities for all, not just ourselves.