Christian tradition demands basic sustenance for all as a human right. Yet the contemporary capitalist economy makes no such demands; and the free market is not designed to provide basic human sustenance. As Western Christians; how ought we to solve this conundrum? Kent Van Til maintains that the gulf between the two calls for an alternative system of distribution. In this constructively critical work Van Til takes a hard look at the realities of life in a free-market system; including illuminating examples from his own experience in Latin America. He considers how the contemporary capitalist economy guides the distribution of goods around the world; and he examines the inadequacies of this system. Drawing heavily on the ideas of political theorist Michael Walzer and nineteenth-century theologian-statesman Abraham Kuyper; Van Til proposes an alternative system of distributive justice; equalizing the claims to both burdens and benefits.
#86984 in Books Bailey; John 2005-11-29Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.30 x .76 x 5.50l; .71 #File Name: 080214229X288 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. SLAVE;FREE PERSON; SLAVE ?By casanneI set a personal record; 10 days to finish. Pre - Civil War America was one big mess of contradictions people acting less than human and using the legal system as a way to justify all of this craziness. Talk about litigious; OMG.John Bailey meticulously exposes an embarrassing side of America's young legal system. It was having obvious growing pains. He tells the story of a girl who was illegally bought by people victimizing immigrants and to get away she turned to the legal system. It follows her case as it slowly goes thru the legal system and the strange slave law of the day. It seemed to me that slave law kind of made itself up as it went along; always in favor of the slave holder - except in Sally Millers case. If she was not the real girl born in Germany; I think so what good for her that a smart woman can use a ridiculous legal system to her advantage. What she could do if she was living in today's world.Being a former legal secretary helped me with some of the legalese that would confront you while reading this book. The lengths some people will go to to hold on to their backward belief system any to keep their slaves their property is unsettling.7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Color and SlaveryBy CustomerThis book is one of the most interesting narratives of slavery I have ever read. It takes you through the extraordinary case of Sally Miller. Sally Miller (as she is known by the end of the book) is a female slave working in a New Orleans Cabaret in 1843 when she is found by an old German immigrant. The old woman recognizes Sally as a young girl she traveled to America with from Germany. Thereafter follows a series of events in which all New Orleans chooses a side in Sally's battle for freedom.However the most interesting part of this book isn't Sally; its New Orleans itself. In this book you learn this history of slave law in New Orleans and the customs which dictate its place in society. In New Orleans color did not necessarily guarantee slavery but neither did it ensure freedom. The mixture of races within New Orleans blurred the lines between slave and master. Here we find that indeed color truly is only skin deep and people are people.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. FascinatingBy Allen W. McdonnellThis is the story of a court case that made its way through the tangled legal system of Louisiana for over four years before both parties had exhausted their will or ability to continue. It covers not only the twists and turns of the case of Salome Mueller aka Sally Miller; it also reprises the significant legal statements that supported the decisions by different jurists over the several years of trials that finally resolved many of the issue brought up.I must say I found the book engaging and easy to understand; and the frustrations of all the parties at the speed and consequences of seeking redress of grievances in court were portrayed in a believable manner. Not until the last page of the book does the Author tell you what conclusion he came to about the validity of the case. While I disagree with his opinion the rest of the book lays out the case clearly enough that I understand why he came to that conclusion even though I myself reached a different one..
