PATHOLOGY OF DEPENDENCY

From My Perspective - - -

The Pathology of Dependency has a specific focus. Pathology means: “it is the study and diagnosis of a disease.” The word origin is: “Pathology is from Ancient Greek. Pathos means – feeling or suffering; and logia means – the study of.” The word has an application that “refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, such pathological gambling, or lying, or excessive alcohol consumption, etc.” A simple definition for Pathology is: “it is any deviation from a healthy, normal or efficient condition.” The broad question is: Have we as a nation arrived at a point where the Pathology Of Dependency is a growing and consuming reality within our Culture and Lifestyle? Will people willingly give up their Government Subsidies to be once again gainfully employed and becoming more self-sufficient?

While it is a given that in life there will be peaks and valleys, somehow there is a deficiency in grasping and grappling with the valley experiences as and when they occur. More than eighty years ago, the United States was in a valley called The Great Depression. Times were very difficult for multitudes of people. There were no handouts or government provisions to alleviate the challenging times in which people were trying to survive. In 1932, there was a political shift and the election of a new President who introduced some government subsidies. He energized the Works Progress Administration, which was renamed in 1939 as the WPA – Works Projects Administration. Historically, it is known as being the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency. According to Wikipedia, “it employed millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects. There was the construction of public buildings and roads. It fed children and provided food, clothing and housing for many families. Most communities in the country had a park, or bridge, or school constructed by the WPA.” The initial appropriation in 1935 was $4.9 Billion. However, the total expenditure in 1935 escalated to $13.4 Billion.

If we fast-forward to 2012, the nation finds itself in the midst of deep and persistent recession. There continues to be a high rate of unemployment and under-employment. There has been a high level of foreclosures and the writing of new mortgages is at a very low level. There has been the effort to “bail-out” corporations who were said to be “too large to fail” and billions of federal monies were borrowed and given to these corporations so they could avert bankruptcy and preserve employment. Large numbers of people in the nation are in a bracket where they no longer pay Federal Income Tax. Rather than being a giver, they have become a receiver. We are approaching 47% of the population who no longer pay Income Tax and who are receiving several different kinds of Federal and State Aid. It includes basics such as Health Care, Housing Subsidy, Food Stamps and some form of financial assistance through extended unemployment benefits or disability payments. Is this right and the best way for a nation and people to move out of a recession/depression and away from a Pathology Of Dependency?

Both the Old and New Testaments contain instruction in terms of a Biblical Worldview and Work Ethic. One of them is shared by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 (NIV), “I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.” Proverbs 12:24 states, “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.” Proverbs 13:4 indicates, “The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” There is an obvious choice that must be made by our nation and in our culture. If we continue on the current path, it means continued poverty, loss of industriousness, and ultimate enslavement. Additionally, continued borrowing by the nation will fuel Inflation and result in National Bankruptcy. Do we need to continue on that path? No! Change can be made and Commitment to become productive can occur. The choice – do you want to be part of the problem or part of the solution? Consider these things with me!