An interesting essay by the economics writer Meghan McArdle in the Atlantic on the evangelical anti-debt preacher—guru? prophet? it’s hard to know just what to call him—named Dave Ramsey.
The essay is surprisingly short: If anything called out for long-form journalism, this seemed to be it. I wonder if constant blogging has injured the wonderful McArdle as a writer, or if the Atlantic feels it just can’t indulge long new-journalism essays anymore. Natural Penis Enlargement Techniques
Still, it’s a fine introduction to the strange world Ramsey inherits—and to McArdle’s embrace of that world. Even her obligatory (and quite perfunctory) dismissals of the religious component of Ramsey’s message are revealing.
November 18th, 2009 | 7:37 pm
Ramsey inherits or inhabits? Also, Ms. McCardle’s comments on the religious features of Dave Ramsey’s approach were a tad smart alecky, cliche and, like your comment states, revealing
November 19th, 2009 | 7:31 am
The religious edge in Ramsey’s teaching are offputting to those who don’t buy in to it, but it does allow him to harvest his paying customers from a church environment, which I’m sure is very profitable for him. When he starts offering his wares free of charge, we’ll know he has stopped making money off the financially struggling, and realized that he has his share. Then he’ll truly realize the basic Christian ethic. Until then, he’s merely running a profitable business inside the walls of churches.
November 19th, 2009 | 3:33 pm
John,
I’m having trouble remembering which Bible verses compels Christians to give their wares away free of charge. I can think of several that go the other way. Can you help me out?
November 19th, 2009 | 4:43 pm
TimC, you are right on. I used to advertise my legal services in a Christian directory. I stopped after one too many “Oh, you’re a Christian, so I can expect you to give your services to me for free” calls. I used to respond, “Wait a minute. Would you go to a Christian grocer’s store and just pull items off the shelf and walk off with them?”
“Uh . . . no.” — click –
November 19th, 2009 | 5:05 pm
John is obviously unemployed because of a lack of skills and training, hence the poor self esteem and the bitter swipe at Ramsey.
November 19th, 2009 | 5:18 pm
I have seen Ramsay on Fox & Friends and found what he says makes sense. I have put several credit cards in the deep freeze and trying to go cash as much as possible. I’m having some things done on my home, so am not totally so. I have money in the bank and have paid some of it upfront, but am loath to deplete my savings. Anyway, so far, it’s been nice having fewer bills show up and I probably wouldn’t have tried it as far as I have without hearing him on TV.
November 20th, 2009 | 12:28 pm
It is never easy to bridge worlds, and the distance between The Atlantic in Manhattan and Dave Ramsey’s company, The Lampo Group, Inc., in Nashville is not small. I read Meghan McArdle’s article and thought she made a real attempt to be honest with the material. It has been awhile since she’s cracked a Bible, true, but she put her budget on the line and saw a good result. How many journalists are willing to do that? Ramsey’s program is straightforward and informed, no snake oil here–and it works. One million families have been through his Financial University Program, and if the average family pays off $5,300 in debt and saves $2,700–that is no small amount. (Anecdotal evidence suggests these are conservative numbers.) This is why blue state audiences listen to what Ramsey has to say: people, no matter their political background, recognize utility and authenticity when they hear it. (And let’s not forget, credit cards companies are happy to charge hidden fees whether one is a Democrat or Republican.) Having lived in Boston and, now, in Nashville, the culture shock where religion is concerned can be intense. The local TV news in Nashville runs spots on religious events for example, a practice that would horrify the news editors at WHDH Channel 7 in Beantown. I can see how McArdle would have difficulty getting around religious language. Ramsey includes his faith because he fixes money problems firmly into the context of an evangelical anthropology, something competitors like Suze Orman never do. To most, financial choices are like any other choices: there is not a human nature underneath that must be addressed–much less a fallen one. Most listeners get stuck on Ramsey’s folksy language and miss the deeper foundations. McArdle certainly did, but, for many reasons, can she really be expected not to? Her courage in getting beyond the blue-state creep factor about religion and really giving Dave’s baby-step strategy a try should be applauded. And though she takes pains to assure her bosses that she’s still smart because religion is still dumb, she obviously had to reference a Bible for her article. Budget AND Bible–seems like Ramsey had a win-win on both counts.
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