Charity versus Justice: A Macro Look at Compassion Bob Wolensky Stevens Point, Wisconsin

1. Charity versus Justice:A Macro Look at CompassionBob WolenskyStevens Point, Wisconsin

2. Works of Mercy • To feed the hungry. • To give drink to the thirsty. • To shelter the homeless. • To clothe the naked. • To visit and ransom the captive, (prisoners). • To visit the sick. • To bury the dead.

3. Charity • All people of good will are obliged to show compassion, to help persons in need • Jesus’ two greatest commandments: “Do unto others. . . “ “Love your neighbor. . .” • Charity is one way we share our common humanity, between giver and receiver. • THEME TODAY: Charity is vitally important, but insufficient.

4. The Story of the Social Worker • Walking along the Mississippi River near Winona, Minnesota • Showing Compassion • Etc. • The Root of the Problem

5. Sociology and Social Structure • Three Levels of Analysis: micro, meso, macro • Micro Level—Individual level • Meso level—Small Group level • Macro level— Societal/ Cultural/Structural level

6. Macro level—Societal/Cultural/Structural level • Focus on Institutions—especiallythe two most important today: Economy & Government • Focus on Values—especially individualism, materialism, consumption, freedom • Focus on Inequality—Poverty, Wealth, Class • Focus on Power Relationships—above board (legislatures) and behind the scenes power (lobbying)

7. Charity • Charity takes place at the micro and mesolevels • We help individuals (micro example) • We help families (meso example) • But why are so many young children being thrown into the Mississippi? • And who (or what) is throwing them in? • If we can stop or lessen them from being thrown in, we get to the ROOTof the problem

8. Sociology and Structural Solutions • Structural Solutions Address ROOTcauses • Why so many poor? • Why so many homeless? • Why so much inequality? • Why so much child labor? • Who so much disease? • Why so much ignorance?

9. Social Justice • Seeks to change institutions, values, laws, power relationships, ideologies, etc. which form the root causes of problems. • Seeks to reformpolicies and traditions that form the root causes of problems. • Seeks to reorder relationships within society that form the root causes of problems.

10. EXAMPLE: Child Labor in 1912 ● ROOT Causes of the Problem: 1. Low Wages for working fathers (economy) 2. Families need child’s income survive (economy) 3. No law prohibiting child labor (government/power) 4. No compulsory education laws (government/power) 5. Children under-valued in society (values) • Micro Solution: Help an individual child (charity approach) • MesoSolution: Help a family (charity approach) • Macro Solution: Reform laws, raise taxes, build schools, train teachers, set standards (institutional changes)

11. Poverty and Inequality in the U.S.

12. Inequality in Western Countries

13. Poorer Poor & Richer Rich, 1975-2007

14. Income Gains, 1979-2007

16. Inequality and Social Mobility

17. The Distribution of Wealth: An Unjust Social Structure

18. Summary • Charity is important & necessary • Charity is founded, in large part, on compassion • However, justice also relates to compassion • One can show compassion for others by seeking structural changes in laws, policies, values, etc. • Compassion has a structural dimension

19. Summary • There is a need for both charity &justice • Compassion can be shown at three levels: Micro, Meso, and Macro • Individuals can act unjustly—and can change • Groups can act unjustly—and can change • Social structures can be unjust (apartheid, Jim Crow Laws)—and can be changed

20. Ideally, we would act compassionately at all three levels: • Micro—Work to help individuals • Meso—Work to help families, gangs etc. • Macro—Work to reform social structures

21. Thank You!