Posted by
peripheral on Monday, September 06, 2010 6:32:39 AM
From My Perspective - - -
Did you know? - - - Do you remember? Wikipedia states: “The first Labor
Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York
City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The
Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year
later, on September 5, 1883. In 1884 the first Monday in September was
selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor
Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example
of New York and celebrate a workingmen's holiday on that date. The idea
spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day
was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country. Through the
years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first
governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed
during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state
legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York
legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on
February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday
by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut,
Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states
had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that
year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of
each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the
territories.”
Newt Gingrich commented that rather than observe Labor Day today we
should observe Unemployment Day. Labor Pains are currently felt in
several sectors and entire industries have moved their primary
production to other countries. One of the greatest benefactors
currently is China. Meanwhile, unemployment in our nation has been
persistently higher than desirable – currently at 9.6% - with no
indication of significant change in the immediate economic predictions.
Richard Wolf, in USA Today for 8-30-10 wrote: “Government anti-poverty
programs that have grown to meet the needs of recession victims now
serve a record one in six Americans and are continuing to expand.
• More than 50 million Americans are on Medicaid…That's up at least 17%
since the recession began in December 2007. The program has grown even
before the new health care law adds about 16 million people, in 2014.
• More than 40 million people get food stamps, an increase of nearly 50% during the economic downturn.
• Close to 10 million receive unemployment insurance, nearly four times
the number from 2007. Benefits have been extended by Congress eight
times beyond the basic 26-week program, enabling the long-term
unemployed to get up to 99 weeks of benefits. Caseloads peaked at
nearly 12 million in January
• More than 4.4 million people are on welfare, an 18% increase.
As caseloads for all the programs have soared, so have costs.
• The federal price tag for Medicaid has jumped 36% in two years, to $273 billion.
• Jobless benefits have soared from $43 billion to $160 billion.
• The Food Stamps program has risen 80%, to $70 billion.
• Welfare is up 24%, to $22 billion.
Taken together, all of these Programs cost more than the total Medicare program.”
What is a Christian response at a time of recession and need – when
Labor Pains are a reality? Proverbs 28:27 (NLT) states: “Whoever gives
to the poor will lack nothing. But a curse will come upon those who
close their eyes to poverty.” An important principle is shared in II
Corinthians 8:13-15 (The Message), “This isn't so others can take it
easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them
all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus
matching your deficit. In the end you come out even. As it is written,
Nothing left over to the one with the most, Nothing lacking to the one
with the least.” We never should be blind to the needs of others nor
tone deaf to the cry for help. Giving money is not always prudent - but
anyone can share a meal, or an item of clothing, or provide
transportation, etc. It is basic sensitivity to need, as well as an
opportunity to share with others the love of Jesus Christ. Consider
these things with me!