Helping neighbors in need is harder these days

Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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In the past, people helped neighbors in need with barn-raisings and fund-raising community picnics and dances. Though people worked hard, they were not tied down to clock-punching as they are now. Their time was flexible. As time progressed, people's lives became more hectic; the burden of helping the needy shifted to private insurance.

As our present era approached, families required two and one half jobs to maintain their standard of living. Due to downsizing, many of the better-paying labor jobs went overseas. They were replaced with minimum wage jobs that no longer provided a living wage. More and more families fell through the economic cracks and needed financial help to get by.

We no longer raise barns to help these people. Our society's busy schedules will not allow it. Millions cannot afford insurance, due to unrealistically low wages. Instead, we raise taxes to support our less fortunate citizens.

Why did those in the past support their neighbor? Could it be that according to Christian tradition they followed the words of Christ, "Whatsoever you do unto the least of these, you do unto Me."?

So, apparently we have lost our more relaxed way of life. Have we also lost our alleged Christian compassion? Will we turn our backs on our Christian duty and accept TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights)? Or will we be the Christians we claim to be and say no to TABOR?

Peter P. Sirois

Madison

psmadme@beeline-online.net