“Jesus Didn’t . . .

. . . have electricity either and he did just fine.”

The Orange One—President Donald Trump—promised extensive tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking.  For our allies, Canada and Mexico, the tariff is 25%; for our adversary China it is a 10% tariff.  Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, responded to this threat by saying Canada might cut off energy to the United States.  If you were not aware, Canada is the largest source of energy imports to the United States.  This “tit for tat” could significantly affect both countries’ economy.  Prices will go up despite the promises of lowering prices of the president when he was elected.

 

But don’t worry!  White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt tells us not to panic.  In reassuring words she proclaimed, “They want you to panic, but President Trump wants you to remember Jesus didn’t have electricity either and he did just fine.”  Whoa!  What a relief.  If Jesus could handle it . . . well, so can we.

 

I must have missed that class while in seminary . . . you know the one . . . Jesus and electricity.  I wonder why the writers of the Gospels never mentioned it.   It didn’t show up on my ordination exam.  It just never occurred to me that Jesus never had electricity and that he did just fine.

 

If Jesus could do without electricity so can all of us who claim to be his followers.  WWJD?  Suck it up and shut up.  At least that is what the Donald would like.

 

How profane . . . bordering on the blasphemous.  Of course, Jesus did without electricity.  There was no such thing in Jesus’ time.  Maybe a little static electricity, but no electricity.  I know this because I have seen a picture of Jesus and his buddies at a dinner party.  I think they call the picture the Last Supper.  There were no electric lights or lamps or devices anywhere in the picture . . . nada!  Nothing!  We have the picture.  Myth has it that the last words that Jesus said at the dinner were: “All you guys who want in the picture get on this side of the table.”  The president’s argument is baloney . . . a cheap trick to sway those who can’t see the ploy to manipulate the faithful with pious nonsense.

 

If you buy that nonsense, then you are giving the green light to the more damning issue . . . which is tariffs.  Tariffs that will do more harm than they will ever help.  People are going to get whammed.  Life will get tougher for a lot of folks.  It won’t just be a few, it will be for many.  With that Jesus would not be okay. 

 

Tariffs are taxes imposed by a government of a country on imports or exports of goods.  Trump is imposing these taxes on imports . . . stuff we bring into our country and buy.  That is his target.  They look good on paper and in theory, but realistically they cause more negative problems and issues than they solve.  For example, a trade war and rising prices.  The Orange One’s desire to pound Canada, China, and Mexico into submission is going to hurt the majority of Americans—you and me.  Prices are going to go up . . . up . . . and away.

 

Like your fresh vegetables and fruit?  Most are imported from Mexico—especially avocados . . . and tequila.  Gone will be the days of free-flowing Margaritas.  The price of gas will go up.  Some say by as much as 70 cents a gallon over the current rising prices.  Why?  Because we get 70% of our oil imports from Canada and Mexico.  Cheap car parts—Mexico.  Cheap electronics and technology—China.  The bigger issue is that it would be difficult for the nation to replace all these goods imported under tariffs with domestic production.  This would create rising prices significantly.  Throw in inflation . . . well it could end up being a fiscal apocalypse.  It won’t be pretty, nor will it be good.

 

Despite the Orange One’s assurance of having “common sense” and that Jesus survived life without electricity, this is not going to turn out well.  Maybe Trump knows something we don’t know, after all he has “common sense” which he constantly reminds us that “a lot of people don’t.”  He knows better than everyone else.

 

Come on . . . really?  Jesus and electricity?  Why do we allow the Orange One and his cronies to keep insulting our intelligence and common sense?  We are better and smarter than that.  I heard through the grapevine that Jesus just rolled his eyes and laughed when he caught wind of this silliness.  Even he knows when he is being fed a crock of baloney.  He knows it.  We should know it too.  Wish more Americans would get it because if they did, we would be fine . . . just like Jesus.