{"id":1075,"date":"2011-07-08T22:10:02","date_gmt":"2011-07-09T02:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/godonomics\/?p=1075"},"modified":"2011-07-08T11:17:28","modified_gmt":"2011-07-08T15:17:28","slug":"gullivers-travels-god-government","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/godonomics\/2011\/07\/gullivers-travels-god-government.html","title":{"rendered":"Gulliver’s Travels, God, Government"},"content":{"rendered":"

Before Jack Black played the part, Ted Danson was Gulliver. The original tale was a parody showing the\u00a0ludicrousness\u00a0of current\u00a0government\u00a0and economic theory. \u00a0 In this clip from the TV special, Gulliver tries to defend the current economic theory to a Queen of a far off land. \u00a0 He tries to defend the corrupt government that rewards the politicians, denies fair trials to the poor, and inflates the currency. \u00a0It is a hilarious exchange that unveils a painful similarity to America today.<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_NSZ_UtktHM<\/a>\n

The Queen: “How can a kingdom spend more than it receives in taxes?”<\/p>\n

Gulliver: “Well, that’s simple. We just… Ur.. Um… We just borrow more from ourselves.”<\/p>\n

Queen: “Why are you always at war?”<\/p>\n

Gulliver: “We need to attack others before they attack us. Gaining the element of surprise”<\/p>\n

God warned his people long before Gulliver of the problems of a intrusive government. He told Samuel to show them the behavior of a king. He clearly laid out that a big government would take excessive percentages of the\u00a0population’s profits and funnel them into government luxuries, corruption, and “pet projects.” \u00a0He noted the insatiable appetites of kings for war -of which- he would use their sons as the “fuel” for the armies. 1 Samuel 8<\/p>\n

4<\/sup> Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah,\u00a05<\/sup> and said to him, \u201cLook, \u00a0make us a king to judge us like all the nations.\u201d <\/em> 6<\/sup> But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, \u201cGive us a king to judge us.\u201d So Samuel prayed to the LORD.\u00a07<\/sup> And the LORD said to Samuel, \u201cHowever, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king<\/strong> who will reign over them.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em>
\n11<\/sup> And he said, \u201cThis will be the behavior of the king<\/span> who will reign over you: He will take<\/strong> your sons and appoint\u00a0them for his own chariots and\u00a0to be his horsemen,<\/span> and\u00a0some will run before his chariots.\u00a012<\/sup> He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties,\u00a0will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and\u00a0some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.\u00a013<\/sup> He will take<\/strong> your daughters\u00a0to beperfumers, cooks, and bakers.\u00a014<\/sup> And he will take<\/strong> the best of your fields<\/span>, your vineyards<\/span>, and your olive groves<\/span>, and give\u00a0them to his servants<\/strong>.\u00a015<\/sup> He will take a tenth<\/span> of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants.\u00a016<\/sup> And he will take<\/span> your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men,\u00a0and your donkeys, and put\u00a0them to his work.\u00a017<\/sup> He will take a tenth<\/strong><\/span> of your sheep. <\/em><\/p>\n

And you will be his servants. <\/em>19<\/sup> Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information, check out www.godonomics.com<\/a> or watch this clip of me explaining this warning from God about spending and government from 1 Samuel<\/p>\n