Economy
If you are like me there is a huge question mark about the why we are in the current economic situation, but more than that a larger question mark over a way out. While this video does not offer practical solutions, it does highlight some obvious facts about wages and a large justice issue.
Agree or not, it does feel like the majority of us are fighting over scraps (as the video says). I don't recall when the economy was benefiting from the 90's web explosion, massive immigration laws passed (well known) in Arizona and (less known but stricter) in Alabama.
As Gandhi said "There is enough in the world for everyone's need; there is not enough for everyone's greed."
As another point of thinking about justice and distribution of wealth
Agree or not, it does feel like the majority of us are fighting over scraps (as the video says). I don't recall when the economy was benefiting from the 90's web explosion, massive immigration laws passed (well known) in Arizona and (less known but stricter) in Alabama.
As Gandhi said "There is enough in the world for everyone's need; there is not enough for everyone's greed."
As another point of thinking about justice and distribution of wealth
Why not see the market the way many see the homeless?
I agree giving money to a homeless person may not be the best way to help that person because that person now has cash, but no accountability to this new capital. Accountability is something America is founded upon, just look to the way the government is set up. Three branches each trying to hold one another accountable to the others. Congress makes laws, Presidents enforce laws, Courts interpret laws. No one branch can do it all.
And yet, when it comes to commerce in America we seem totally against any sort of accountability to the Market. It is as though the only thing holding the Market accountable is individuals. But this is only possible if individuals are rational.
People are not, I am not, always rational.
I appreciate the Libertarian movement, but I wonder who is holding the Market accountable?
This report from New York Times is a series of videos talking about the way Private Equity Deal makers take advantage of the market for gains for the investors but many times at the great expense of the long term health of the company and the employees.
How Private Equity Deal makers Can Win While Their Companies Lose
And yet, when it comes to commerce in America we seem totally against any sort of accountability to the Market. It is as though the only thing holding the Market accountable is individuals. But this is only possible if individuals are rational.
People are not, I am not, always rational.
I appreciate the Libertarian movement, but I wonder who is holding the Market accountable?
This report from New York Times is a series of videos talking about the way Private Equity Deal makers take advantage of the market for gains for the investors but many times at the great expense of the long term health of the company and the employees.
How Private Equity Deal makers Can Win While Their Companies Lose
Jim Wallis - The Call to Conversion
The betrayal of the biblical call to conversion has occurred across the theological spectrum. The gospel must be preached in the context. We live in one of the most self-centered cultures in history. Our economic system is the social rationalization of personal selfishness. Self-fulfillment and individual advancement have become our chief goals. The leading question of the times is, "How can I be happy and satisfied?" Not surprisingly, our self-centered culture has produced a self-centered religion. Preoccupation with self dominates the spirit of the age and shapes the character of religion. Modern evangelism has played right along with this central theme. The most common question in evangelism today is, "What can Jesus do for me?"
The gospel message has been molded to suit an increasingly narcissistic culture. Conversion is proclaimed as the road to self-realization. Whether through evangelical piety or liberal therapy, the role of religion is presented as a way to help us uncover out human potential - our potential for personal, social and business success, that is. We are told Jesus is here to help us to do better that which we are already doing. Jesus doesn't change our lives, he improves them. Conversion is just for ourselves, not the world. We ask how Jesus can fulfill our lives, not how we might serve the kingdom.
Italics were added as this is the line I deeply resonated with.
I do not know about you, but I desire a Jesus that changes my life. I desire a Jesus who calls me to turn everything I know upside down. I desire a Jesus to disrupt the status quo. I desire a Jesus to lead the world to an uncomfortable place, so we might discover the Kingdom.
I desire a Jesus whom I can work for and work with.
The gospel message has been molded to suit an increasingly narcissistic culture. Conversion is proclaimed as the road to self-realization. Whether through evangelical piety or liberal therapy, the role of religion is presented as a way to help us uncover out human potential - our potential for personal, social and business success, that is. We are told Jesus is here to help us to do better that which we are already doing. Jesus doesn't change our lives, he improves them. Conversion is just for ourselves, not the world. We ask how Jesus can fulfill our lives, not how we might serve the kingdom.
Italics were added as this is the line I deeply resonated with.
I do not know about you, but I desire a Jesus that changes my life. I desire a Jesus who calls me to turn everything I know upside down. I desire a Jesus to disrupt the status quo. I desire a Jesus to lead the world to an uncomfortable place, so we might discover the Kingdom.
I desire a Jesus whom I can work for and work with.
Be the change by Jason Valendy is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.