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Hope in An Age of Crisis. Student Network. SOUL. An Age of Crisis. Where We Are Today:. A Land Whose Leaders Have Turned Against the Will of God.
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Hope in An Age of Crisis Student Network SOUL
An Age of Crisis Where We Are Today:
A Land Whose Leaders Have Turned Against the Will of God [The land’s] officials … are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. Its prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the Lord says’—when the Lord has not spoken. The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice. I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. Ezekiel 22:27-30
Economic Crisis: The Poor & Working Class Are Under Attack
Cuts to Education & the Safety Net Cuts to Schools: $200 million cut in Illinois in 2012 $400 million cut threatened this year Other cuts: Mental health services, Medicaid, addiction prevention and counseling, youth programs, public transportation
Rising Income Inequality Source: http://www.cbpp.org/files/11-28-11pov.pdf
Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. James 5:4
Environmental Crisis: Endangering Our Planet & Our Communities
Predicted Impacts • Permanent Dust Bowl conditions over the U.S. Southwest, large parts of Africa, and other populous areas • Massive species loss on land and sea • More extreme weather, more frequently • Large Scale Food Insecurity – Affecting up to 4 billion people by the end of the next century • EXTREME POLITICAL INSTABILITY Source: http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2011/09/28/330109/science-of-global-warming-impacts/
Social Crisis: Structural Racism & Scapegoating
Political Crisis: Government Held Hostage
Unequivocal Public Support Source: PPP Poll, Dec. 18-19, 2012
Outcome: Killed by Democrats Michael J. Zalewski Frank J. Mautino Michael Madigan
A Brief History: Crisis & Social Change
IIRON’s Vision: Organizing For a New Movement
Naming Our Crisis Neo-liberalism (Reaganomics)
A War of Values • IIRON’s Values • Economic Justice • The Common Good • Protect Democracy • Living Wage & Workers’ Rights • Environmental Sustainability • Neoliberalism’s Values • Individualism • Structural Greed • Regressive Taxes • Deregulation of Banks & Businesses • Privatization of Public Services
Specific Issues • Enact Corporate Tax Disclosure • Close Corporate Loopholes • Protect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other Human Services • Force Banks to Reduce Loan Debt for Underwater Homeowners • Stop Corporatization of Schools
A Divine Promise If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong;and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters fail not.And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. Isaiah 58:9-12