A Torah Perspective of the Current Political Environment; 

a Call for Action

Mordy Oberstein

We live in one of the most politically tumultuous times in recent history, though many of us don’t even know it. Contrary to many previous political climates the environment today is not aloof or uninvolved from people at the individual level. As is apparent regarding the current administration’s relationship to Israel, our government has taken bold new steps to move the country in a vastly different direction. I feel that it is our duty to understand the maneuvers that are going on, not only as citizens of the United States, but also as Jews who have a long and struggled relationship with governments throughout history. That is, there is no other people who truly understand the dangers and tragedies of indulging governmental interference in the every day lives of its citizens. I sincerely believe we are obligated to understand the current political issues, the ever growing role of government and its moral effects, so that we can stand up to corruption in the name of justice. The promotion of social justice is part in parcel of who we are as a nation of God.

There are essentially two approaches to government, involved vs. uninvolved, limited vs. unlimited. That is, there are forms of government that take a very hands-on approach to managing and running the people it governs. Conversely, there are those forms of government that take a more laissez faire approach to governing its people. It is not surprising that, like most things of this nature, there is a deep philosophical debate between these two positions. The machlokes essentially centers around two different views of man. Supporters of active government see man as omniscient knower of reality, and subsequently, society. The other side has a more humble concept of man and his ability to have such a large breadth of understanding. Thomas Jefferson, in his 1^st inaugural address said, “A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement…this is the sum of good government”. The founding fathers of this country held that man is not capable of supreme knowledge or the ultimate state in which man should exist. While they did recognize mankind has a certain nature that must be allowed to take its natural course, it is not within man’s realm to conceive of an ultimate system in which man must reside (or force upon another). To the contrary, the country was established on the middle path that each individual is responsible to find the correct way of living, but it is not the place of government to make such a determination as it inherently lacks such a capability. “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty” (Thomas Jefferson).  This statement reveals a deeper message (whether intentional or not), that a regulatory system which obliges man to perform in a very specified decorum (i.e. Halacha) must be of divine origin, and any such attempt by man to act as the Creator is tyranny. 

With this, I wish to analyze the current political environment in order to reveal in which of the two above directions the country is moving. If we observe the current way our politicians conduct their business as legislators and executives, it is obvious that we have become a system of intense regulation and government involvement on a micro level. Such involvement implies that those who create the laws (forcing us to conduct our lives in a specific manner) are of an elite status who partake of a superior knowledge, which justifies their micromanaging others’ lives. Rep. Eric Massa said on Aug 18 regarding health care reform, “I will vote adamantly against the interest of my district if I actually think what I’m doing is going to help.” 

If this were not the case, and government left the people free to use their own intelligence and bechira in their daily activities, then such intricate regulation would not only be unnecessary, but counter productive. 

I believe from this point, the creation of laws and policy that highly regulate and dictate our lives, we can glean some insight into how our government views us. Rabbi Soloveitchik (see Halachick Man) has often talked about man as a “creator of worlds”, who has the power to mold the clay that is his life and personality into a product that befits his status as a human being. It is man’s responsibility to grab hold of his life and shape it into something that has substance. The overly exertive force of obsessive regulation via law, policy and social programs, is a complete denial of man in this capacity. It is a position that shirks the responsibility of each person to mold his or her own self into a dignified life and has placed it under the thumb of governmental authority. Here we can see the inherent corruption that comes about when man acts as God in the creating of an ultimate system by which man must live. It is only within a divine system, such as Torah, that the balance between guiding man towards the development of the self and leaving it to his own bechirah can be achieved. Once man enters this framework, of creating his own system, corruption of that line is imminent.

The egotism in governmental control of the individual’s life, due to an overestimation of the self, is in fact the cause of the current social welfare (of the people as a whole not just the needy) type policy. It is an attempt by man to thwart the natural system of justice and consequences by re-determining who is deserving of what goods based on the whim of lawmakers. God has created a natural system in which, if effort is put in, results are achieved, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat bread.”  If effort is put into the pursuit, then results in the pursuit will be evident and proportionate to such efforts. Further, it again removes responsibility from each person to ensure the welfare of his neighbor. No longer are individuals charged with a moral duty to have concern for their fellow people, or to act on their own volition in a charitable manner. The government has determined to whom we must be charitable and to what degree, via the collection of taxes and the rate at which they are collected. 

Such a system can only result in the people of the State becoming alarmingly dependent on its government for guidance on how to act and for sustenance in regards to their basic needs. If we combine this factor with our understanding that government intervention on a large scale results from the over estimation of their position in reality, it is clear what goal is sought after. The State that shows itself to act in an omniscient manner, and additionally that wants to be depended upon for basic needs, is the State that wishes to replace God. No longer is the individual forced to rely on the Creator for sustaining their existence, be it reliance on the obtainment of goods per se, or reliance on the qualities to succeed that have been embedded into our nature. In its stead is the development of the same exact reliance, but upon the government. Such a corruption is of the highest magnitude and it is ironic that this country was established to prevent such an occurrence.  

With the above, it is evident that the polices propagated by Washington are not just practical inconveniences etc. Programs such as government mandated healthcare and policies such as cap and trade (limiting how much energy we consume via a hike in taxation of energy services) are not isolated bureaucratic nonsense emanating from Washington. They are the particulars of a lively and dangerous philosophy that yields tremendous power into the hands of those who are most known for their corruption. They are a manifestation of the corruption and injustice that has become our current form of government. It is again no accident that our President has a clear agenda against Israel; the administration has made a move on to the territory of God. Is it any surprise that God and his nation should be under attack? It is our responsibility as a wise and discerning nation of God to oppose such a move towards the system of government mentioned here. We should pursue the struggle in the name of truth and justice, and do all that is within our power to oppose the audacity of our current government’s plans. Let us show the world that the Jewish nation is ready to stand up and speak out for truth and justice, let us show the world it is we who love justice.