A Moral Stimulus Package

In the aftermath of the $700 billion bailout package approved by the U.S.
House and Senate, we, the members of The Progressive Christian Alliance decided to also do a little math.

We found that if you divide the cost of the economic bailout ($700,000,000,000.00) by the number of U.S. Citizens (which, according to the U.S. Census Bureau at 4:00pm today is 305,764,049), every many, woman and child would receive a $2,289.30 check.

We find that in the book of Jeremiah in the Hebrew Bible that God's message for all of us is to attend to the matters of justice.  To make things right between others.  To save victims from those who exploit them.  And to never take advantage of the weak, the poor, the orphan, or the widow (Jer. 22:3).

By awarding $700 billion to those who have exploited the American people and have helped to create poverty and homelessness, you have ignored the needs of the most vulnerable in our society and turned a blind eye to the desires that God has for this world.  And what have we, the American people, received in return?  This corrupt economy has still collapsed.  The Poor and the Middle-Class are losing their jobs and homes.  Small businesses are sinking.  And the businesses that you "bailed out" have squandered the money that you have given them and laughed in both of our collective faces by taking not one - but two luxury vacations.

By writing a free check to the tune of $700,000,000,000.00 with no stipulations, you have not only taken money away from those who are in need - you have also created a greater debt that will be paid off in the form of several thousand dollars worth of extra taxes to paid by every hard working man, woman, and child.

We demand an Economic Stimulus Package that will help lift those in our society whose needs have been overlooked by pandering to the "needs" of Big Business.  The Poor and the Middle-Class need a way out.  The Moral Stimulus Package of $700 billion that we are proposing should include:

- A Moratorium on all Foreclosures

- Additional funds for the Emergency Food Assistance Program

- Additional funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

- Additional funds for Senior Meals Programs

- A 12-Week extension in Unemployment Benefits

- Additional funding and expansion of the eligibility of Unemployment Insurance

- Additional funds for Medicaid and Medicare

- Expansion of Government-assisted Childcare

Using the money to provide additional funding in these areas from the $700 billion stimulus package we are proposing would help those who are having to make the choice on whether to put food on their table, pay for their prescription drugs, or put gas in their tank.

You owe this to those who helped to vote you into office.  You owe it to the marginalized you overlooked when bailing out Big Business.  You owe it to yourselves as your moral responsibility to care for all those in need.