Greed, Poverty, Unfettered Capitalism, Pope Francis and Sarah Palin

Pope Francis has stunned the world, and shook up Sarah Palin, with his statements on homosexuality, abortion and birth control, but that ain't all.  The Pope has gone from being suspiciously liberal to outright radical with his views on "Unfettered Capitalism". 

I almost never even think about Sarah Palin, but she occasionally provides comic relief.  “He’s had some statements that to me sound kind of liberal, has taken me aback, has kind of surprised me,” Palin told CNN in a recent interview.

OK enough of the comic relief.  I also have probably spent less than an hour or two in my lifetime pondering the words of this, or any other Pope until today when Pope Francis released his "apostolic exhortation," a lengthy and detailed exposition of how the Catholic Church should focus its energies.  Pope Francis might just shake things up a lot.  Here is a summary of his words on greed, income inequality, poverty and unfettered capitalism.

Today everything comes under the laws of competition and the survival of the fittest, where the powerful feed upon the powerless. As a consequence, masses of people find themselves excluded and marginalized: without work, without possibilities, without any means of escape.  To all this we can add widespread corruption and self-serving tax evasion, which have taken on worldwide dimensions. The thirst for power and possessions knows no limits. In this system, which tends to devour everything which stands in the way of increased profits, whatever is fragile, like the environment, is defenseless before the interests of a deified market, which become the only rule.  I exhort you to generous solidarity and a return of economics and finance to an ethical approach which favors human beings.  Today in many places we hear a call for greater security. But until exclusion and inequality in society and between peoples is reversed, it will be impossible to eliminate violence. The poor and the poorer peoples are accused of violence, yet without equal opportunities the different forms of aggression and conflict will find a fertile terrain for growth and eventually explode.

The Washington Post did an excellent story assembling graphs to illustrate many points the Pope made, it is well worth reading.