Tuesday reading

[Beth Rankin]

Tue, 11 March
In the desert, the people gathered the manna given by God. And when they measured it, they found that the one who had gathered a lot did not have too much and the one who had gathered a small amount did not have too little.
Ex 16:1-18

 

Sounds downright communistic!! How delightful. It tickles my funny bone to think that the concept of Marx, who said "religion is the opiate of the masses" has a basis in the old testament!

 

Seriously, I've always seen the appeal of this philosophy.  To help people who have next to nothing; to lessen the power felt by the people who have amassed so much --- these are powerful concepts to evening out the accumulations of THINGS.

 

What is not addressed is how to help attitudes.  Why do some people excel?  What is the drive behind their ability to gain wealth?  It certainly seems like the rich get richer.  I know at my most financially stressed, I had to buy a car and pay 25% interest because of the hit on my credit score.  How irritating it was to read advertisements for a Mercedes Benz with a similar monthly payment, because of 0% interest to "those that qualify."  I know a doctor, when he was fresh out of training and just starting his first job, who got a 100% mortgage at a rate that was at least 3 percentage points below what was being advertised at the time!

 

And why are so people so unable to break out of a cycle of poverty?  We know there have now been 3 and 4 generations of people who live in the projects or are on welfare.  All the social programs to improve education, housing, provide medical assistance and to fight drugs have not put much of a dent in the issue.  And yet, when I went, figuratively hat in hand, looking for assistance for a period of 6 months (I had been at home with baby Sam, the only time in my life I played Mommy full time, when my husband was diagnosed with brain cancer and had a stroke on the operating table.  It was apparent he would never be going back to work, and that we had 6 months of no income until social security disability kicked in. Hence my request to help feed the kids for a short time.) I was told there was no such program as long as we had our IRAs.  The system PREFERRED me to empoverish myself in the long run! 

 

So, if our society continues to reward the wealthy and punish the poor, there is no relief, eh? 

 

I realize I personalize all these musings and I hope it doesn't irritate anyone.  Perhaps this is a commonality...it certainly helps me try to understand the message behind the words.

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[Ed Dorsey]

I have so much to say and no time now to say it :o(
IMNSHO, everyone personalizes issues; that's why the celebrity/politician/addict that has been down to their bottom rung and risen (like the phoenix?) has such great appeal to so many - empathy.

As for getting out... I'm attending the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University course at St. John's right now... he has some wise counsel, and a game plan anyone can follow. I am EXCITED at the prospects!

more to come...  :o)

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Have a great day, unless you've made other plans!

[docv...@aol.com]

If you haven't, read the article on the community page about Michael Jones this morning.  His mother is a remarkable woman.  It seems that there must have been Manna present for her to have raised and supported her family.

 

The answers to your questions Beth, are a mystery.  I don't and never will understand why we have the working poor, who have to give up what they have for assistance. And, the longer I am in a health profession, I don't understand why people have to die because of a lack of adequate health care and closer to me, why young atrractive people suffer  from bad teeth which makes it difficult to obtain good jobs.  I give asway thousands of dollars of care because I can't say no.

And I agree, that Marx's statement speaks volumns.  We are our brother's keeper.  It seems that the only thing important is the value of stock portfolios when our lives would be so much richer if our neighbors had adequate housing and food and a decent job.

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[Ed Dorsey]

I got a new food book yesterday, by Edna Lewis, The Taste of Country Cooking. In it, she begins by describing the day-to-day life in Freetown, Virginia, a town founded by her grandfather and other emancipated slaves. A "simple" farming community, where folks helped one another with day-to-day life, where they lived according to God's blessings, in season, and where families taught one another about life as they lived life. As I was read aloud to Cyndi this marvelous passage, I was transported to this place and time... and spirit. I felt an urge to find this place, to live there. Perhaps the best I can do is to make where I live the place I want it to be.

Sorry if I have gone on a tangential course, but Tom's comments on out neighbors got me thinking of this. One challenge I have bumped into of late is the struggle between knowing many folks or know a few folks well.

[Beth Rankin]

Ed, I think you touch many people with your life.  I know we don't know each other very very well, but I already know that I can rely on you and trust you.  If that is only the extent to how far our friendship develops, I am richer for it already! 

Ed Dorsey <evdo...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Setz...@aol.com]

I guess I am looking at this very differently.  I'm big on motivational stuff, etc.  And whether it proves true or not, it seems to me that it might be saying we get what we expect.  The people who didn't have great need gathered just what they needed and those who wanted or needed more worked at it a little longer or harder.  I'm not sure that hard work always guarantees results, but I guess some can learn to be satisfied while some always want more.  All were able to gather what they saw as their need. Also, I assume no one else begrudged what the ones who gathered more had collected.  I recall Donald once pointing out that the Lord's Prayer asks for "daily bread"  not bread for the whole year.  I for one sometimes am happy with that and sometimes wake up more greedy.

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