For thousands of years, a vocation has equaled contribution to society. Now the left views that as humiliating.
It always amazes me when blue collar hard working Americans put their faith into a politician that lacks the understanding of what it means to be productive in society. Usually the loudest voices claiming they’re for higher wages are the ones that have zero or extremely limited experience in the private sector. Sure Bernie Sanders had some odd jobs here and there while running for office, but since 1971, he has either been in the non profit world or in politics. He became a Mayor in 1981, and has received a taxpayer paycheck ever since. AOC, who did work as a bartender in college once said “Maybe this idea of idealizing this outcome of ‘Maybe one day you too can be a billionaire and earn more than millions of families combined’ is not an aspirational or good thing.”
Sanders and Cortez are on the same page. Neither believes in the idea of someone achieving unlimited success through perseverance, hard work, and creativity. Instead they advocate dependency on government, and fail to mention that when all means of production are turned over to politicians, they eventually became the only ones with an opportunity to succeed. For the college leftist who wears their Che Guevara shirt with pride, it’s amazing how unintelligent they come across in understanding it was billionaires who benefited most from Castro’s revolution, or that Soviet leaders lived very comfortable lives while the rest of Russia waited in bread lines. This is what happens when professors tell students what to think, instead of encouraging them to think about history and the repercussions of socialism.
.If this were the ideology of America in the late 1800’s, we wouldn’t have had the industrial revolution, advancements in medical care, or the technology to defeat the Nazi’s in World War 2. I am an unapologetic capitalist, and believe that anyone can succeed regardless of the circumstances they’re facing. It’s the spirit of American entrepreneurship, and who am I to assume one can’t achieve tremendous success through imagination and a strong work ethic.
Believing in capitalism doesn’t mean that you lack compassion, or an understanding that greed is prevalent in stifling economic advancement. Without question, those of us that can be productive should view ourselves as having a greater responsibility to those that are vulnerable, including the elderly, children and the disabled. It requires tremendous sacrifice for us to support those that are facing the most extreme of limitations, and an understanding of contribution to our community. For work is meaningful, even biblical, and regardless of what one does in the workforce, it adds value, no matter the vocation. The custodian who cleans the building for a fortune 500 company is just as valuable as the CEO, for without the custodian, the CEO cannot effectively perform their duties and responsibilities. A strong leader understands this, and will recognize the contribution all employees have made to the success of a company. It annoys the hell out of me when I see professionals demeaning entry level or labor positions, as if they are the only ones that have meaningful employment. It’s both arrogant and ignorant. Showing respect for another persons vocation is saying you understand the importance of what they do, and that makes them realize how valuable they are. In turn, this equals harmony in the workplace, and a sense of teamwork in which everyone is dignified. What a person is paid will always be debated, and there’s a reason why the CEO of a company makes more than the custodian. The CEO is taking greater risks, has more responsibility, and will take the fall if a business fails. Nonetheless, a successful company is determined by every role, not just one.
God provides us with unique skills, gifts and talents, and calls us to particular roles and activities. This is what many on the left don’t understand. They preach universal basic income, free college and medical care, cancelling rent, and an overall philosophy that life shouldn’t have either risk or reward. It’s mediocrity, and society would have never achieved so much in such little time had these ideas been implemented. Sadly, much of corporate America is adopting leftist measures, and we will all lose because of it. Work isn’t humiliating, but the idea that you should sit at home and receive an income is about as demeaning as you can get, especially when you are an able bodied human being. Let’s hope we move forward with a better understanding that our society benefits more when each of us offers a unique contribution to it.
Until next time
JPN