Broken Society

Jeff Fry — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:20:00 GMT

As I come across more info on the "broken society" as coined by the Tory conservative party it is interesting what they cite - all the societal ills that they cite are moral ills that God has something to say about. Their web site states:

Not only this but right now, the tax system benefits those who are not married but raising children - the so-called "couples penalty" where parents living apart can be up to £5,000 better off than those who bring up their children together. It seems that the Tories are saying what God has said all along - that the family is to be made up of a male and female joined to gether in union that nobody should break. In this context, children should be raised. This makes for more healthy families and a more healthy society - when both Mom and Dad are encouraged to be at home raising the children together. The Conservative Social Justice Policy Group came out with a 671 page report which showed that put the cost of family breakdown at £102 billion a year.

On the other hand, their solution seems to be more financial and political than anything:

"Accusing the Government of "jigging the system" so that lone parents benefit while couples lose out on tax and benefits, he added: "We are alone, almost in Europe, and certainly amongst the major nations, in having no recognition of marriage in the tax system. We also happen to have the worst level of family breakdown and lone parenting, so it's about re-establishing the balance".

Another report moans, "despite a 50 per cent increase in spending under Gordon Brown, sadly little of the spending has affected the lowest educational achievers." Money isn't solving the problems because money isn't the problem.

In order to break this cycle of deprivation, the Social Justice Policy Group has defined the five key "paths to poverty" - family breakdown, serious personal debt, drug and alcohol addiction, failed education and worklessness.

Ian Duncan Smith writes,

"In recognising this, we must also recognise that family breakdown can and does occur when the family is in serious debt, when unemployed or when addicted to drugs and alcohol.

That is why our policies will be about strengthening the family and marriage, as well as reducing addiction, improving education, helping people get back into work without the Brown penalties and easing the debt burdens on the worst off."

I haven't read anyone has proposed that the societal breakdown coincides with the nation's rejection of God and its falling numbers in church attnedance. A nation who rejects God and walks away from its history of faith in God is one which will eventually breakdown.

Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.