Reader Contribution on Economic Justice

The Badi' Blog is open to contributions from readers. The following is by Jimbo, an old friend and easily the most steadfast Baha'i I have ever met. Considering who it is coming from, these are strong words indeed about the Baha'i understanding of economic justice. He writes, " I know that the Baha'i principles are a subject dear to your heart.  I ... thought that maybe now with the ruin of world economies this is a subject that needs to be revisited."

Hi John, 

The following quotation from 'Abdu'l-Baha' says to me that humanity needs to apply this remedy now more than ever.

"When we see poverty allowed to reach a condition of starvation it is a sure sign that somewhere we shall find tyranny."

This statement, taken from 'Abdu'l-Baha's "Paris Talks" is quite profound to me. Here is the full context, with bold added, since 'Abdu'l-Baha sounds so emphatic here about this divine principle.

"One of the most important principles of the Teaching of Bahá'u'lláh is:

The right of every human being to the daily bread whereby they exist, or the equalization of the means of livelihood.

The arrangements of the circumstances of the people must be such that poverty shall disappear, that everyone, as far as possible, according to his rank and position, shall share in comfort and well-being.

We see amongst us men who are overburdened with riches on the one hand, and on the other those unfortunate ones who starve with nothing; those who possess several stately palaces, and those who have not where to lay their head. Some we find with numerous courses of costly and dainty food; whilst others can scarce find sufficient crusts to keep them alive. Whilst some are clothed in velvets, furs and fine linen, others have insufficient, poor and thin garments with which to protect them from the cold.

This condition of affairs is wrong, and must be remedied. Now the remedy must be carefully undertaken. It cannot be done by bringing to pass absolute equality between men. 

Equality is a chimera! It is entirely impracticable! Even if equality could be achieved it could not continue -- and if its existence were possible, the whole order of the world would be destroyed. The law of order must always obtain in the world of humanity. Heaven has so decreed in the creation of man....

Certainly, some being enormously rich and others lamentably poor, an organization is necessary to control and improve this state of affairs. It is important to limit riches, as it is also of importance to limit poverty. Either extreme is not good. To be seated in the mean [1] is most desirable. If it be right for a capitalist to possess a large fortune, it is equally just that his workman should have a sufficient means of existence.
[1 'Give me neither poverty nor riches.' -- Prov. xxx., 8.]

A financier with colossal wealth should not exist whilst near him is a poor man in dire necessity. When we see poverty allowed to reach a condition of starvation it is a sure sign that somewhere we shall find tyranny. Men must bestir themselves in this matter, and no longer delay in altering conditions which bring the misery of grinding poverty to a very large number of the people. The rich must give of their abundance, they must soften their hearts and cultivate a compassionate intelligence, taking thought for those sad ones who are suffering from lack of the very necessities of life.

There must be special laws made, dealing with these extremes of riches and of want. The members of the Government should consider the laws of God when they are framing plans for the ruling of the people. The general rights of mankind must be guarded and preserved.

The government of the countries should conform to the Divine Law which gives equal justice to all. This is the only way in which the deplorable superfluity of great wealth and miserable, demoralizing, degrading poverty can be abolished. Not until this is done will the Law of God be obeyed.

 (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 151)