Posted by
peripheral on Friday, November 06, 2009 6:30:15 AM
From My Perspective - - -
Being ignored, mistreated, disregarded, seen as inconsequential, or
treated in a non-sequitur manner – leaves one on the edge of
frustration, despair, hopelessness, and utter disenfranchisement. This
sense and experience can happen when the AARP sends out a letter
stating: “Over the last several months, AARP has fought hard for
crucial components of health reform that will improve the health and
lives of our members and their families. The House of Representatives
will vote on a final bill this week that includes key priorities for
older Americans. That's why we've chosen to support the legislation
about to be voted on by the House – AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR AMERICA ACT.
We believe it protects and strengthens Medicare, and ensures that your
care will never take a back seat to insurance companies' profits.”
Someone indignantly responded to the AARP with the following words:
“You DID NOT take a stand for me - you have misrepresented the Senior
Citizens of this nation! How dare YOU SAY that YOU represented me - YOU
have not listened to the Senior Citizens and do not care what they
think!” News Releases indicate that AARP and the American Medical
Association are both endorsing the Health Care For America Act.
The Dispassionate Disconnect occurs when the 53% who pay taxes do not
get a receptive audience, whereas the 43% who pay No Federal Tax become
the reference darlings of the Redistribution of Wealth Elected
Officials presently in Congress. There are many who have paid Federal
Taxes all of their adult lives who now observe a nation recklessly
increasing spending to a level that will produce a National Debt that
will be impossible to pay down or reduce. The United States Department
of the Treasury has an informative Web Site on The History of Taxation.
One of the many interesting paragraphs indicates: “By 1913, 36 States
had ratified the 16th Amendment to the Constitution. In October,
Congress passed a new Income Tax law with rates beginning at 1 percent
and rising to 7 percent for taxpayers with income in excess of
$500,000. Less than 1 percent of the population paid income tax at the
time. Form 1040 was introduced as the standard tax reporting form and,
though changed in many ways over the years, remains in use today.” The
Tax Policy Center (a joint venture of the Urban Institute and the
Brookings Institution) writes about the overall disparity in current
Tax Law: “…between 43% and 49% of the American population pays no
income tax and a substantial number actually receive negative income
tax federal payouts…In 2009 approximately 47% of single filers, 38% of
joint filers, and 72% of heads of households will pay no federal income
taxes.”
Some years ago, a clever saying was made into Jewelry (WWJD). The
saying asked about life’s situations and contacts: “What Would Jesus
Do?” We know what Jesus would do – and what he wants us to do - in
terms of the needy. MATTHEW 6:1-4
(NIV) – “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with
trumpets, as the hypocrites do…to be honored by men…when you give to
the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is
doing, so that your giving may be in secret…” This same passage from
The Message: “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so
that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater,
but God…won't be applauding. When you do something for someone else,
don't call attention to yourself. You've seen them in action –
playactors…acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing
to the crowds. They get applause…but that's all they get. When you help
someone out, don't think about how it looks. Just do it - quietly and
unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love,
working behind the scenes, helps you out.”
Words must be accompanied with Actions! In JAMES 2:15-16,
the question is asked: “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and
lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be
warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body,
what good is that?” While our Government is caught up in its rhetoric
and showing Dispassionate Disconnect, you can and should – as best you
can - fill the vacuum and void with Compassionate Connection. Have
wisdom and discernment as you distinguish between Need and Greed. Don’t
be biased or profile others! Run the Risk of helping those with needs!
Consider these things with me!