Friday, March 20, 2009

Where was Joseph when we needed him?

My eight-year old daughter's class just put on a play about Joseph (the one with the many-colored coat). I had never heard the story before (I was raised by devout atheists). It was fascinating. Lots to think about and discuss.

But one thing seemed particularly relevant. Joseph could interpret dreams, and he saw that the Pharaoh's dreams signified seven years of plenty followed by seven years of drought, and he convinced the Pharaoh to put aside one fifth of the harvest every year during the years of plenty, and in this way the Pharaoh was able to feed not only his people but the Hebrews as well.

Arnold Scharzenneger is currently proposing a spending cap, taking it to the ballot this summer. The idea is that, even in years of plenty, the state only spends so much money. Any surplus is kept in a "rainy day fund" and can be used in years of drought. Sounds familiar...

I wish we had had more prudence during our last phase of plenty, perhaps we wouldn't be in such a mess as we are now...

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