Plutocracy and Collapse
Wednesday, December 15, 2010 -- Week of 3 Advent, Year One
John Horden, Bishop and Missionary in Canada, 1893
Robert McDonald, Priest, 1913
To read about our daily commemorations, go to our Holy Women, Holy Men blog:
http://liturgyandmusic.wordpress.com/category/holy-women-holy-men/
Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p 938)
Psalms 119:45-72 (morning) 49, [53] (evening)
Isaiah 9:8-17
2 Peter 2:1-10a
Mark 1:1-8
Pulitzer Prize winner Jared Diamond's book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed is a study of how gross inequality can destroy civilizations. As an anthropologist, Diamond cites the common story of how governing elites throughout history isolate themselves from the rest of their society and delude themselves until their culture collapses, sometimes suddenly. Often the last sign of the end is environmental damage.
As Mayan commoners struggled with deforestation in the Yucatan peninsula when the soil eroded and water supply deteriorated, Mayan kings were comfortable and insulated from the effects in their royal palaces. Chronic warfare strained resources. The kings could see the forests and hills eroding. But they remained comfortable while the rest of the population declined. Only too late did they acknowledge the signs, and a great civilization of over 600 years collapsed. Diamond warns that nations where elites isolate themselves from the consequences of their decisions, separating themselves from the common life of the country, are nations that are primed for collapse.
Isaiah chronicles the collapse of Israel. Though the prophets had spoken God's word against the elites, the rulers and wealthy, "in pride and arrogance of heart they said: 'The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.' ...So the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, the palm branch and reed in one day -- elders and dignitaries are the head, and prophets who teach lies are the tail; for those who led this people led them astray, and those who were led by them were left in confusion."
Bill Moyers has served as a prophet and ethicist for our nation during his long career as a journalist. Last month he gave a major address charging that our nation's democratic traditions are under attack. His indictment -- we have become a Plutocracy -- the rule of the rich. He chronicles the remarkable systemic change that has occurred in our nation in the last thirty years. While all Americans participated in our economic growth during the thirty years between 1950 and 1980, only a fraction at the top have seen economic benefits since 1980. The average income of Americans increased only $303 dollars in 28 years. Since 1976, 58 percent of all income gains have accrued to the top 1 percent of US households. In 1974, 9 percent of the nation's income was earned by the wealthiest 1 percent. By 2007, they earned 23.5 percent.
It started with Reaganomics -- trickle down economics. But economic policies and strategies have been tilted to favor the wealthy and powerful by all administrations since Reagan.
Moyers describes how politicians are influenced by big money. He talks about how the wealthy are isolated from the economic suffering of an economy in which "more than half of all workers have experienced a spell of unemployment, taken a cut in pay or hours or been forced to go part-time." He exposes a political system that is corrupted by wealth and money. And he reminds us that our elites have showed little or no interest in the scientific community's warnings about a global environmental crisis. Unless we wake up, our nation is following a familiar path toward catastrophe. (Google Bill Moyers Welcome to the Plutocracy for video or printed versions of his speech.)
Those of us who know our Bible see parallels between our own history and that of eighth century Israel/Judah. The prophets Amos, Micah, Isaiah and Hosea spoke to the wealthy and powerful of the injustice of a nation that indulged in luxury while its people suffered. We live in a nation where extending billions of dollars of tax cuts to the wealthiest during a recession in the face of a massive deficit is a non-negotiable absolute priority for one political party. Amazing. I have no doubt what the prophets would say about that. Nor Jesus. The rich man was deaf to the pleas of Lazarus, until it was too late. Bill Moyers asks, is it too late for our nation?
John Horden, Bishop and Missionary in Canada, 1893
Robert McDonald, Priest, 1913
To read about our daily commemorations, go to our Holy Women, Holy Men blog:
http://liturgyandmusic.wordpress.com/category/holy-women-holy-men/
Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p 938)
Psalms 119:45-72 (morning) 49, [53] (evening)
Isaiah 9:8-17
2 Peter 2:1-10a
Mark 1:1-8
Pulitzer Prize winner Jared Diamond's book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed is a study of how gross inequality can destroy civilizations. As an anthropologist, Diamond cites the common story of how governing elites throughout history isolate themselves from the rest of their society and delude themselves until their culture collapses, sometimes suddenly. Often the last sign of the end is environmental damage.
As Mayan commoners struggled with deforestation in the Yucatan peninsula when the soil eroded and water supply deteriorated, Mayan kings were comfortable and insulated from the effects in their royal palaces. Chronic warfare strained resources. The kings could see the forests and hills eroding. But they remained comfortable while the rest of the population declined. Only too late did they acknowledge the signs, and a great civilization of over 600 years collapsed. Diamond warns that nations where elites isolate themselves from the consequences of their decisions, separating themselves from the common life of the country, are nations that are primed for collapse.
Isaiah chronicles the collapse of Israel. Though the prophets had spoken God's word against the elites, the rulers and wealthy, "in pride and arrogance of heart they said: 'The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.' ...So the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, the palm branch and reed in one day -- elders and dignitaries are the head, and prophets who teach lies are the tail; for those who led this people led them astray, and those who were led by them were left in confusion."
Bill Moyers has served as a prophet and ethicist for our nation during his long career as a journalist. Last month he gave a major address charging that our nation's democratic traditions are under attack. His indictment -- we have become a Plutocracy -- the rule of the rich. He chronicles the remarkable systemic change that has occurred in our nation in the last thirty years. While all Americans participated in our economic growth during the thirty years between 1950 and 1980, only a fraction at the top have seen economic benefits since 1980. The average income of Americans increased only $303 dollars in 28 years. Since 1976, 58 percent of all income gains have accrued to the top 1 percent of US households. In 1974, 9 percent of the nation's income was earned by the wealthiest 1 percent. By 2007, they earned 23.5 percent.
It started with Reaganomics -- trickle down economics. But economic policies and strategies have been tilted to favor the wealthy and powerful by all administrations since Reagan.
Moyers describes how politicians are influenced by big money. He talks about how the wealthy are isolated from the economic suffering of an economy in which "more than half of all workers have experienced a spell of unemployment, taken a cut in pay or hours or been forced to go part-time." He exposes a political system that is corrupted by wealth and money. And he reminds us that our elites have showed little or no interest in the scientific community's warnings about a global environmental crisis. Unless we wake up, our nation is following a familiar path toward catastrophe. (Google Bill Moyers Welcome to the Plutocracy for video or printed versions of his speech.)
Those of us who know our Bible see parallels between our own history and that of eighth century Israel/Judah. The prophets Amos, Micah, Isaiah and Hosea spoke to the wealthy and powerful of the injustice of a nation that indulged in luxury while its people suffered. We live in a nation where extending billions of dollars of tax cuts to the wealthiest during a recession in the face of a massive deficit is a non-negotiable absolute priority for one political party. Amazing. I have no doubt what the prophets would say about that. Nor Jesus. The rich man was deaf to the pleas of Lazarus, until it was too late. Bill Moyers asks, is it too late for our nation?
Lowell
__________________
| Audio podcast: Listen to an audio podcast of the most recent Morning Reflections from today and the past week. Click the following link: -- Morning Reflection Podcasts About Morning Reflections "Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church. Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer. Evening Prayer begins on p. 117 An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at missionstclare.com -- Click for online Daily Office Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html -- Click for Divine Hours Discussion Blog: To comment on today's reflection or readings, go to http://lowellsblog.blogspot.com, or click here for Lowell's blog find today's reading, click "comment" at the bottom of the reading, and post your thoughts. |
| The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is to explore and celebrate God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love. See our Web site at www.stpaulsfay.org Our Rule of Life: We aspire to... worship weekly pray daily learn constantly serve joyfully live generously. Lowell Grisham, Rector St. Paul's Episcopal Church Fayetteville, Arkansas |
posted by Lowell @ 7:50 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
And the further amazement is that most all of those who approve of the tax cuts would likely call themselves followers of Jesus. The inconsistency in that is so astounding as to be almost incomprehensible. The emperor has no clothes!
Peace, Janet
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