Last year, Vishal Mangalwadi, an Indian scholar and outstanding speaker and writer, made some compelling remarks regarding the future of America. Here is an excerpt from an interview dated last summer: (the full interview can be found on examiner.com)

"How can you be so sure that America will turn into a third world country?"

Let me tell you this, how I can be so sure. Right now the FBI is investigating 52,000 wealthy Americans who are hiding 15 billion dollars in secret, safe accounts. America is a very rich country with lots of millionaires, and altogether they have 15 billion dollars in tax-evaded secret, safe accounts.

India is a poor country. How much money do you think Indians have in secret safe accounts? It’s 1500 billion, 1.5 trillion dollars that Indians have in secret accounts. We’re number one. Russia is number two; Russians have 350 billion.

Now, what does that tell you about America? It tells you that Americans pay taxes. Very few people cheat. They hire tax consultants; they save as much tax as they can legally. Very few of them take illegal means to save taxes.

Why do Americans pay taxes? Is there any reason for you to pay your tax if the government is going to take that money and give it to corrupt corporations that have made a mess of your economy by billions of dollars…trillions of dollars? 

While you are making money, they are messing up money. Why should you pay taxes to bail them out? The reason we pay taxes, is because the Bible said that you shouldn’t steal --that you should pay your taxes.  

- Vishal Mangalwadi 

Your retirement has been cut in half, your home’s value has dropped like a dirty rock, and you drive to work wondering if this will be “the day” you go home early with your stuff in a brown cardboard box. While this may be true, believe it or not, compared to others you are in an really great place!  Sometimes when I’m struggling, it’s because I have lost perspective. As a follower of Christ, I’m called to live globally, walking in Hebrews 13:3, “remember those in prison, as if you were a fellow prisoner, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”

So, want to feel better about your 401K? Check out the following brief list of facts from Dale Bourke’s “The Skeptic’s Guide to Global Poverty.”

·         Nearly half of the world’s population lives on less than $2 per day.