The character of our nation is being invaded by vipers. I think Gandhi's SEVEN DEADLY SOCIAL SINS defines these vipers:
Politics without principle
Wealth without work
Commerce without morality
Pleasure without conscience
Education without character
Science without humanity
Worship without sacrifice
These poisons are draining the life out of America's soul. In his last editorial for the New York Times, March 26, 2011, Bob Herbert wrote: "Arthur Miller...liked to say that the essence of America was its promises. That was a long time ago. Limitless greed, unrestrained corporate power and a ferocious addiction to foreign oil have led us to an era of perpetual war and economic decline." The vipers strike!
Herbert goes on: "But like greedy children, the folks at the top are seizing virtually all the marbles. Income and wealth inequality in the U.S have reached stages that would make the Third World blush. As the Economic Policy Institute has reported, the richest 10% of Americans received an unconscionable 100% of the average income growth in the years 2000 to 2007, the most extended period of economic expansion....In 2009, the richest 5% claimed 63.5% of the nation's wealth. The overwhelming majority, the bottom 80%, collectively held just 12.8%." The vipers strike!
And General Electric, one of our largest corporations, didn't have to pay any taxes last year. The vipers strike!
Meanwhile, we are told we only have a debt problem, not a tax problem. Cut taxes and the wealth will flow to all, so we are told. I like what Leo Gerard of the United Steelworkers said: "If tax cuts for the wealthy created jobs, we would have full employment." The vipers strike!
Governors in the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and Florida pull a bait and switch to eliminate collective bargaining and destroy unions. The vipers strike!
Republican lawmakers, influenced by the Tea Party gang, attempt to cut and squeeze as much as possible out of 12% of our discretionary budget, included funding for child nutrition, Planned Parenthood, Pell Grants for education, and other programs supporting the most vulnerable. All this in the name of fiscal responsibility. Forget about the common good, life is all about survival of the fittest. The vipers strike!
Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize winning economist, writes: "...one...of the reasons we have so much inequality is that the top 1% want it that way." The vipers strike!
And now we are in War #3! The vipers strike!
Years ago, I recall a lecture by the great theologian, Helmut Thielecke, as he talked about the Fall in Genesis. He observed that when the serpent tempted humankind, the words used were not filled with fire and brimstone or vituperous hatred. No, instead, the serpent engaged in a theological conversation, asking essentially, "Wouldn't you like to be like God?" (Genesis 3:1-5). In short, brokenness happens because humanity chooses to break God's design. Stiglitz is correct. Tyler Cowen, Professor of Economics at George Mason would concur: "The root cause of income inequality...is extreme human ingenuity, albeit of a perverse kind." The vipers strike!
What is the way back? Remember John the Baptist: "Repent!" Remember Micah: "What does the Lord require but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God." Remember Amos: "Let justice roll down like water, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream!" Remember Jesus: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled."
I'm in!
Peace!
Ron
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