Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry recently appeared on evangelist James Robison's television program.  The discussion that ensued was pretty much what one would expect.  Perry apparently likes to talk about his religious beliefs, at least with certain audiences, and to be honest, I don't have a big problem with that.  If a candidate's political philosophy is strongly influenced by his personal faith, then I am glad that he is willing to discuss the tenants of that faith and explain how they color his policy agenda.  Think of it as a form of "full disclosure".

I was actually grateful, therefore, that  Perry was willing to discuss his religious interpretation of the current economic circumstances of the United States. What America is experiencing, Perry explained to his television host, is nothing other than a message from God:  "We're going through those difficult economic times for a purpose, to bring us back to those biblical principles."

Here is the video, and the quote above takes place at about 1:05 into the clip:

OK, in a way, what Perry is saying is not really all that radical.  Similar messages are delivered in churches all over America every week.  Everything that happens, happens for a reason.  The Christian god is a living, omnipotent presence, who is actively involved in events on Earth.  

But the implications of what Perry said are very far reaching, and may tarnish the message he hoped to deliver.  If our economic downturn has been ordained by God in order to bring Americans back to biblical principles, what is the corollary of that idea?  Does that mean economic prosperity is likewise given by God as a reward for following biblical principles?  One would assume that a loving God will do more than simply punish the sinful.  A loving God will reward the faithful.  If God will punish us as a nation with economic hardship, it seems obvious he will reward the country with economic prosperity when we do his will.

When, in recent times, has the United States been most prosperous?  Since our current economic downturn has been driven by the high unemployment rate, maybe the economic indicator of unemployment will be a good tool to determine when America has strayed from biblical principles, and when we have been better engaged in promoting God's will.

Using this unemployment chart as a guide, let's see how well America has adhered to biblical principles since the election of Ronald Reagan.

1981-84:  Reagan's first term:  Strayed from biblical principles

1985-90:  Reagan's 2nd, early Bush I:  Followed biblical principles

1890-93:  Bush I:  Strayed from biblical principles

1993-2001:  Clinton:  Followed biblical principles

2001-04:  Bush II first term:  Strayed from biblical principles

2004-07:  Bush II second term:  Followed biblical principles

2008:  Late Bush II:  Strayed from biblical principles

2009-2011:  Obama:  Date inconclusive

Now some notes on the data

1. Reagan's first term was centered on large-scale tax cuts for upper income brackets, and a more aggressive foreign policy toward the Soviet Union, including a large buildup of medium range missiles stationed in Europe.  Bad ideas, we strayed from biblical principles.

2.  Reagan's second term was dominated by the Iran-Contra scandal, when many Reagan officials were convicted of breaking the law and lying to Congress.  These things were good and followed biblical principles.

3.  Bush I:   Bush attacked Iraq after that country's invasion of Kuwait, and raised taxes to fight a growing budget deficit.  Bad ideas, strayed from biblical principles.

4.  Clinton years:  Steady reduction in unemployment, obviously the most godly years our nation has experienced in recent memory.

5.  Bush II, first term: Although Bush claimed to have read the Bible every morning, he must not have gotten the message.  Strayed from biblical principles with those tax cuts and military interventions.

6.  Bush II, second term:  God maybe had second thoughts about that first term.  Things improved from an employment standp0int.

7.  Bush II, late presidency, early Obama:  Hmm, God changed his mind again.  Maybe Obama should have rescinded those Bush tax cuts like he promised he would do during the 2008 campaign!

There is one important point that Rick Perry failed to mention.  If God ordains hard times on Americans for straying from biblical principles, wouldn't he do the same for other nations across the globe?  On the flip side, shouldn't America take notice of nations who have avoided the current economic downturn that has affected so many worldwide?  Perhaps, if we look overseas, we will find the nations that are adhering to God's will.

Over the past couple of years, as America, in the words of Gov. Perry, has "struggled through those tough economic times for a purpose, to bring us back to those biblical principles," China's economy has grown over 10% annually, and India's over 8%.  Holy cow!