I’ve got an idea. Instead of shopping, why don’t you try SERVING — such as in going down to a local homeless shelter and serving the poor?Yes, that is a good alternative. I was thinking something similar when I read just how much money the Catholic Church spent in my state alone trying to enshrine discrimination in the state constitution.
We learned from the Congressional Research Service — if we hadn’t already picked it up from past failure in the 1880s, 1920s, 1980s, and 2008 — that lowering taxes on the wealthy and letting the wealth gap get too wide is actually BAD for the economy. No rich person ever created jobs out of AFTER TAX INCOME. The argument has never made any sense.
Orthodox Catholic’s suggestion the woman in the cartoon should do volunteer work instead of shopping is a good one. Volunteering for good causes, whether working at a shelter, becoming a “Big Brother/sister”, visiting shut ins, etc makes one feel better about one’s self while expanding one’s paradigm. Too many of our neighbors are insulated from poverty and helplessness of those who are homeless, hungry, or unable to afford basic necessities. They are like the boy in the movie “Dutch” who feels superior, entitled, and aloof until circumstances he created puts him in a homeless shelter. Jase99 points out the political actions of the Catholic bureaucracy, but his valid cynicism fails to recognize the many wonderful and idealistic Catholics who give generously of their time and money to assist those in need. And before one considers lashing out at people looking for handouts, some of the homeless are vets who returned from Iraq and Afghanistan and found a nation unable to help them properly reintegrate into society. I also liked ARodney’s comment about how wide disparities between rich and poor make things worse in America. I only would point out that in the 1880’s and I think around 1905, JP Morgan personally bailed out the federal government. with his families considerable wealth.J. Short makes me nervous tho. I read this morning about a woman who drove her SUV over her husband because he didn’t vote. There are also over a dozen states collecting petitions of seccession. One of my conservative friends told me recently that while people blow off steam in these comment forums, they didn’t think anyone would actually kill anyone or, by inaction, let them die because of politics.I fear my cynicism about how badly our politicians and media divides us grew a little as I read about the wife who put her husband in ICU and the people in states who actually believe that seceding from the other states in the union would improve their quality of life.I liked Orthodox’s post best of those above tho. Despite sharing some intense areas of disagreement, I totally believe in selfless service to others.Respectfully,C.
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/feb2009/gb20090210_949408.htm[]Back in 2009, Business Week compared the salaries of American, European, and Japanese CEOs.[]While Japanese CEOs do indeed earn a lot less than their American counterparts, it’s actually a bad thing because of the nature of the compensation packages.[]In Japan, roughly 66% of a CEO’s annual pay is in salary; they get paid regardless of how well their company is doing, something that has frequently led to CEOs becoming detached from the firms that they’re supposed to be running.[]In contrast, only about 20% of the average American CEO’s pay is salary; the rest comes from stock options and performance bonuses, meaning that American CEOs have direct incentive to ensure that the companies are successful.
“As an atheist, I never knew what to do with religious holidays like Thansgiving. Then I volunteered at the shelter. It gives meaning to what used to be a celebration of gluttony. I urge others to give of themselves. Plus, you meet some people with really interesting stories.”
I agree with you 100%, except that I don’t really consider “Thanksgiving” a religious holiday. I’ve secularized it for myself, more into “Appreciation” than “Thanks” (I don’t know who or what to thank, other than the farmers.) Rather than a celebration of “gluttony”, think of it as a celebration of “abundance.” Since an awful good way to be appreciative of what you have is to share it with those who have less, you’re clearly well on the way. :-)
ConserveGov over 11 years ago
Just wait until the Obamacare taxes start hitting people’s paychecks. She’ll be shopping at Goodwill.
Kingoswald Premium Member over 11 years ago
Who knows. Perhaps Bain Capital will get to her paycheck first?
J Short over 11 years ago
…for that AK-47 with the 50 clip.
Gypsy8 over 11 years ago
Save a litle cash for those higher taxes that need to come – the nation’s credit card is reaching maximum.
Jason Allen over 11 years ago
I’ve got an idea. Instead of shopping, why don’t you try SERVING — such as in going down to a local homeless shelter and serving the poor?Yes, that is a good alternative. I was thinking something similar when I read just how much money the Catholic Church spent in my state alone trying to enshrine discrimination in the state constitution.
Ironhold over 11 years ago
…at which point the nation collapses because the megarich are the ones running the companies that drive the country’s economy.
ARodney over 11 years ago
We learned from the Congressional Research Service — if we hadn’t already picked it up from past failure in the 1880s, 1920s, 1980s, and 2008 — that lowering taxes on the wealthy and letting the wealth gap get too wide is actually BAD for the economy. No rich person ever created jobs out of AFTER TAX INCOME. The argument has never made any sense.
chazandru over 11 years ago
Orthodox Catholic’s suggestion the woman in the cartoon should do volunteer work instead of shopping is a good one. Volunteering for good causes, whether working at a shelter, becoming a “Big Brother/sister”, visiting shut ins, etc makes one feel better about one’s self while expanding one’s paradigm. Too many of our neighbors are insulated from poverty and helplessness of those who are homeless, hungry, or unable to afford basic necessities. They are like the boy in the movie “Dutch” who feels superior, entitled, and aloof until circumstances he created puts him in a homeless shelter. Jase99 points out the political actions of the Catholic bureaucracy, but his valid cynicism fails to recognize the many wonderful and idealistic Catholics who give generously of their time and money to assist those in need. And before one considers lashing out at people looking for handouts, some of the homeless are vets who returned from Iraq and Afghanistan and found a nation unable to help them properly reintegrate into society. I also liked ARodney’s comment about how wide disparities between rich and poor make things worse in America. I only would point out that in the 1880’s and I think around 1905, JP Morgan personally bailed out the federal government. with his families considerable wealth.J. Short makes me nervous tho. I read this morning about a woman who drove her SUV over her husband because he didn’t vote. There are also over a dozen states collecting petitions of seccession. One of my conservative friends told me recently that while people blow off steam in these comment forums, they didn’t think anyone would actually kill anyone or, by inaction, let them die because of politics.I fear my cynicism about how badly our politicians and media divides us grew a little as I read about the wife who put her husband in ICU and the people in states who actually believe that seceding from the other states in the union would improve their quality of life.I liked Orthodox’s post best of those above tho. Despite sharing some intense areas of disagreement, I totally believe in selfless service to others.Respectfully,C.
Ironhold over 11 years ago
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/feb2009/gb20090210_949408.htm[]Back in 2009, Business Week compared the salaries of American, European, and Japanese CEOs.[]While Japanese CEOs do indeed earn a lot less than their American counterparts, it’s actually a bad thing because of the nature of the compensation packages.[]In Japan, roughly 66% of a CEO’s annual pay is in salary; they get paid regardless of how well their company is doing, something that has frequently led to CEOs becoming detached from the firms that they’re supposed to be running.[]In contrast, only about 20% of the average American CEO’s pay is salary; the rest comes from stock options and performance bonuses, meaning that American CEOs have direct incentive to ensure that the companies are successful.
fritzoid Premium Member over 11 years ago
“As an atheist, I never knew what to do with religious holidays like Thansgiving. Then I volunteered at the shelter. It gives meaning to what used to be a celebration of gluttony. I urge others to give of themselves. Plus, you meet some people with really interesting stories.”
I agree with you 100%, except that I don’t really consider “Thanksgiving” a religious holiday. I’ve secularized it for myself, more into “Appreciation” than “Thanks” (I don’t know who or what to thank, other than the farmers.) Rather than a celebration of “gluttony”, think of it as a celebration of “abundance.” Since an awful good way to be appreciative of what you have is to share it with those who have less, you’re clearly well on the way. :-)