Posted on 08/07/2008 5:45:35 PM PDT by markomalley
America, though a wealthy nation, is nevertheless becoming socially stratified -- so much so that those at the fringes of life have lost touch with those at the top. The rich refer to the "poverty problem," and the poor, in turn, blame the rich for all their woes. This rift opens a door for the enemies of our shared values to exploit our differences, and thus weaken our nation.
Of course, social stratification isn't our only problem. Crime and illiteracy are found in every demographic, and in recent years, the quality of education in America has declined for everyone. Grade inflation and plagiarism are growing problems at America's top universities, and are creating a class of white-collar criminals and incompetents whose actions threatened to undermine industry and commerce. On the other end of the spectrum, lack of education, crime, and destructive behavior keeps an underclass permanently entrenched in poverty and despair.
Unfortunately, secular society fails to recognize that these problems all stem from the same root -- the loss of community, and the resulting decline in moral values. Consider this: The average citizen finds herself in a world her forefathers would not have recognized. Our systems and institutions have become increasingly impersonal. No one knows the owner of the retail outlet in his own neighborhood anymore, and no one knows who calls the shots at the multinational corporation that has replaced the community bank.
As our society grows in complexity and expands in bureaucracy, society's leaders become increasingly distant from the average citizen, which results in more bureaucracy. This is the new tyranny -- an oppressive bureaucracy, in which systems and models have replaced human tyrants. The result is the same, as the average citizen is constrained but unable to locate the exact source of the problem (always the case when dealing with a faceless bureaucracy). The appearance of a free society remains: We can still vote and expect to have our votes counted; the judicial system performs at least a ritual of fairness; and the public's exercise of the right of petition for redress of grievance seems to be fairly robust. All the bells and whistles are in place. And yet rich and poor alike continue to suffer under an oppressor as undeniable as it is elusive.
So in the age of impersonal corporations, imperial educational institutions, and impenetrable government bureaucracies, where can one find real connection and accountability? By returning to the lessons of the past. Decent and God-fearing souls must help rebuild American community by reclaiming the traditional values that built it -- faith, thrift, work, social justice, personal accountability, and enlightened compassion. Taken together, these elements make up the fertile soil out of which a vibrant community may grow.
Of course, the recovery of our national and individual values brings other benefits as well. In the tradition of Thomas Paine's Common Sense, revisiting our virtues is an excellent catalyst for new ideas and fresh thinking. And we could use a bit of both right about now.
Might be of interest for your lists
I didn't stick around for the punchline. Cheesy devices like this usually lead to a disappointing conclusion.
It's like the 5th grade feminist indoctrination we used to get. The rhetoric is just a vehicle to deliver it.
Oh horsefeathers, there is nothing wrong in any of that. Traitors walk among us openly advocating outright robbery, appeasing mortal enemies, running down our defenses and slandering heroic men, real tyrants abroad openly murder people and seek horrific means to destroy countless more lives and are allowed to get away with it, and ninnies like the writer of this piece try to pretend the problem is how impersonal an office building in Cincinnati seems. Give me a freaking break. Free men freely made all of it because it functions well and serves their needs, and they do not require your approval for a particle of it. There are real problems in the world, this is not one of them.
At first it didn’t read like a “Catholic” article, then I noticed it was written by Armstrong Williams, and I found this part both good, and not so good:
“..By returning to the lessons of the past. Decent and God-fearing souls must help rebuild American community by reclaiming the traditional values that built it — faith, thrift, work, social justice, personal accountability, and enlightened compassion. Taken together, these elements make up the fertile soil out of which a vibrant community may grow....”
Social Justice should be replaced with Education, and “enlightened compassion” should have desire to own one’s own property free from the tyranny of the majority or minority.
For me, I liked it.
It doesn't come from Big Government socialist programs from the federal government in Washington.
When, exactly, was America NOT socially stratified? Maybe I’m missing something. The author does make a few good points. There is a definite loss of community, accountability. Materialism has replaced a lot—and it is a poor substitute.
Given that this was published in a CAtholic journal, I would guess that the author might advocate some form of distributism rather than socialism per se.
The key principle would be subsidiarity. You would not have that in any kind of large, impersonal bureaucracy, whether an agency of the federal government or "impersonal corporations." The person directing subsidiarity would also have to be a Christian above the age of reason. You don't necessarily have that in socialist government programs or large, impersonal corporations. There has been a breakdown of values as well as the expansion of impersonal bureaucracies.
oblomov: Given that this was published in a CAtholic journal, I would guess that the author might advocate some form of distributism rather than socialism per se.
HM-BAGiven that this was published in a CAtholic journal, I would guess that the author might advocate some form of distributism rather than socialism per se.
FWIW, authentic Catholic social teaching advocates a strong element of personal responsibility of those who have to those who don't. Authentic Catholic social teaching gives grave cautions against what is called the "social assistance state." Authentic Catholic social teaching does condemn "unrestrained capitalism," true, but it condemns "socialism" outright. It warns against government interference except for the briefest amount possible during serious emergencies. (The type of assistance the government might provide refugees after a tsunami, for example)
Authentic Catholic social teaching includes a principle known as subsidiarity: matters ought to be handled by the smallest social unit possible -- the individual, the family, the neighborhood, the community, the province (or county),the region (or US state), and only then by the State. One other point: just because the unit that should do something isn't doing their part, doesn't mean that the responsibility should default to the next higher level. For example, if a city doesn't take its responsibility to provide a police force to protect its citizens, it doesn't automatically mean that the Feds should roll in and take over the place.
And one other thing is that it draws a clear distinction between the responsibilities of society (i.e., people) and the responsibilities of the State (i.e., government).
Unfortunately, you don't hear much of that from AMCHURCH® -- I don't mean to give a catechism class, but I wanted to clear up that AMCHURCH® doesn't always give the whole picture (especially when it comes to "social justice" issues).
Multinational banks, fast food corporations, and convenience store chains will not rebuild towns and neighborhoods either.
Kinda snuck in that one in the middle?
How about "justice", plain and simple, and leave the "social" nonsense out?
Trying to 'right' historical "wrongs" by wronging people today who had nothing to do with it does no one any justice.
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