Sunday, October 30, 2005
Analysis of Current Research
I found this cool website called CLUE.
Blurb from website: "The Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) is an interfaith association of over 400 religious leaders throughout Los Angeles County who come together to respond to the crisis of the working poor. According to a recent study by the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, over 30% of Los Angeles workers have incomes so low that they cannot provide their families with basic necessities without government assistance. Over 60% do not have employer-provided health insurance. When these workers receive government assistance, their employers are effectively subsidized by our taxes - the majority work for companies with over 500 employees. During the 1980's and 1990's, the United States underwent the largest "wealth transfer' in our history; the assets of the top 1% of our country rose 17% and the assets of the bottom 40% dropped 80%. In the words of the prophet Amos, the corporate and public policies of our nation have created a situation in which the wealthy "tread upon the poor" and "sell the needy for a pair of sandals.'"
I have so far been looking at in both class lectures, readings and research global and personal foci for the issue of economic justice. I found it interesting that this particular website was ecumenical and also local for the Los Angeles Area. I also found it interesting that in general when I looked at the board of directors for CLUE I found few churches I recognized, none from the caucasian suburbs nor any from conservative evangelicals with church bases in the Los Angeles Area. Why is economic justice in general such a split? It seems that the political divide in our political world of "liberal" and "conservative" is just as strong in this issue. In general conservatives that I have spoken with, most of whom are Christians and Republicans, see not much wrong with American Society in terms of economics. Most think that if you just pull yourself up by your bootstraps American helps you. You can make the American Dream a reality. People don't need a "hand out." Since they are financially well off and their parents made living in America work, even at times as immigrants, then anyone one can do it. Therefore people on welfare and who are poor must be lazy. I am not saying that people don't abuse the system of welfare. I am also not saying that the system of welfare that we created does even a remotely good job of dealing with the issue of poverty. However, if most evangelical Christians are not willing to see the problem then they are reluctant to particpate in a solution. If God is good and he rewards us, then maybe those without a "reward" just need to be better. I realize that is a blanket statement and a generalization. However, since I have begun researching this I have gotten into many discussions with Christians over the last few weeks. I think point one is to look at this issue of poverty as both a personal issue: ie, how do I spend the money God has given me? We also need to view this as a bigger problem: ie, why are people in a rich nation such as the U.S. without the ability to earn a decent living? We need to be willing to see how these both the microcosm and the macrocosm need to intersect in order to bring about change. It is this theological duality that needs to be eliminated. Jesus is not only Lord of my heart or my personal savior, He is also the savior of the world and redeemer of all the principalities and powers of this society.
Blurb from website: "The Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) is an interfaith association of over 400 religious leaders throughout Los Angeles County who come together to respond to the crisis of the working poor. According to a recent study by the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, over 30% of Los Angeles workers have incomes so low that they cannot provide their families with basic necessities without government assistance. Over 60% do not have employer-provided health insurance. When these workers receive government assistance, their employers are effectively subsidized by our taxes - the majority work for companies with over 500 employees. During the 1980's and 1990's, the United States underwent the largest "wealth transfer' in our history; the assets of the top 1% of our country rose 17% and the assets of the bottom 40% dropped 80%. In the words of the prophet Amos, the corporate and public policies of our nation have created a situation in which the wealthy "tread upon the poor" and "sell the needy for a pair of sandals.'"
I have so far been looking at in both class lectures, readings and research global and personal foci for the issue of economic justice. I found it interesting that this particular website was ecumenical and also local for the Los Angeles Area. I also found it interesting that in general when I looked at the board of directors for CLUE I found few churches I recognized, none from the caucasian suburbs nor any from conservative evangelicals with church bases in the Los Angeles Area. Why is economic justice in general such a split? It seems that the political divide in our political world of "liberal" and "conservative" is just as strong in this issue. In general conservatives that I have spoken with, most of whom are Christians and Republicans, see not much wrong with American Society in terms of economics. Most think that if you just pull yourself up by your bootstraps American helps you. You can make the American Dream a reality. People don't need a "hand out." Since they are financially well off and their parents made living in America work, even at times as immigrants, then anyone one can do it. Therefore people on welfare and who are poor must be lazy. I am not saying that people don't abuse the system of welfare. I am also not saying that the system of welfare that we created does even a remotely good job of dealing with the issue of poverty. However, if most evangelical Christians are not willing to see the problem then they are reluctant to particpate in a solution. If God is good and he rewards us, then maybe those without a "reward" just need to be better. I realize that is a blanket statement and a generalization. However, since I have begun researching this I have gotten into many discussions with Christians over the last few weeks. I think point one is to look at this issue of poverty as both a personal issue: ie, how do I spend the money God has given me? We also need to view this as a bigger problem: ie, why are people in a rich nation such as the U.S. without the ability to earn a decent living? We need to be willing to see how these both the microcosm and the macrocosm need to intersect in order to bring about change. It is this theological duality that needs to be eliminated. Jesus is not only Lord of my heart or my personal savior, He is also the savior of the world and redeemer of all the principalities and powers of this society.
# posted by ErinW @ 4:55 PM 
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