
 |
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon With its colorful cache of purples and oranges and reds, COLLARD GREEN SLAW is a marvelous mood booster --- not to mention just downright delish
April 18, 2014
Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Clarifying one of the greatest philosophical conundrums in theology
John Ericson: Trying hard to be 'positive' but never succeeding? Blame Your Brain
The Kosher Gourmet by Julie Rothman Almondy, flourless torta del re (Italian king's cake), has royal roots, is simple to make, . . . but devour it because it's simply delicious
April 14, 2014
Rabbi Dr Naftali Brawer: Passover frees us from the tyranny of time
Eric Schulzke: First degree: How America really recovered from a murder epidemic
Georgia Lee: When love is not enough: Teaching your kids about the realities of adult relationships
Gordon Pape: How you can tell if your financial adviser is setting you up for potential ruin
Dana Dovey: Up to 500,000 people die each year from hepatitis C-related liver disease. New Treatment Has Over 90% Success Rate
Justin Caba: Eating Watermelon Can Help Control High Blood Pressure
April 11, 2014
Rabbi Hillel Goldberg: Silence is much more than golden
Susan Swann: How to value a child for who he is, not just what he does
Susan Scutti: A Simple Blood Test Might Soon Diagnose Cancer
Chris Weller: Have A Slow Metabolism? Let Science Speed It Up For You
April 9, 2014
Jonathan Tobin: Why Did Kerry Lie About Israeli Blame?
Samuel G. Freedman: A resolution 70 years later for a father's unsettling legacy of ashes from Dachau
Jessica Ivins: A resolution 70 years later for a father's unsettling legacy of ashes from Dachau
Matthew Mientka: How Beans, Peas, And Chickpeas Cleanse Bad Cholesterol and Lowers Risk of Heart Disease
April 8, 2014
Dana Dovey: Coffee Drinkers Rejoice! Your Cup Of Joe Can Prevent Death From Liver Disease
Chris Weller: Electric 'Thinking Cap' Puts Your Brain Power Into High Gear
April 4, 2014
Amy Peterson: A life of love: How to build lasting relationships with your children
John Ericson: Older Women: Save Your Heart, Prevent Stroke Don't Drink Diet
John Ericson: Why 50 million Americans will still have spring allergies after taking meds
Sarah Boesveld: Teacher keeps promise to mail thousands of former students letters written by their past selves
April 2, 2014
Dan Barry: Should South Carolina Jews be forced to maintain this chimney built by Germans serving the Nazis?
Frank Clayton: Get happy: 20 scientifically proven happiness activities
Susan Scutti: It's Genetic! Obesity and the 'Carb Breakdown' Gene
|
| |
Jewish World Review
May 27, 2014 / 27 Iyar, 5774
The Rich List and the West's culture of envy
By
Cal Thomas
JewishWorldReview.com |
BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- In the 1970s, while working as a low-paid cub reporter in Houston, Texas, I always looked forward to the annual Christmas catalogs from Neiman-Marcus and Sakowitz, a local luxury department store. Both contained outrageously expensive things that only the super-rich could afford -- his and hers Thunderbirds stick in my memory. My wife and I couldn't wait to thumb through them and we frequently laughed at how much some of the items cost, wondering if even rich Texans would spend so extravagantly.
Another tribute to conspicuous wealth comes in the annual "Rich List," a guide to the 1,000 richest men and women in Britain, published in a special edition of The Sunday Times Magazine. A fat feline sits proudly on the cover with the symbol of a British pound (in gold) around its neck.
In addition to income rankings, the list is broken down by country and region. Most names will not be familiar to Americans, unless they read the business pages or engage in similar businesses or income-producing activities. One couple possibly familiar to many Americans -- number two among the wealthiest in Northern Ireland -- are the actress and co-producer of TV's "The Bible" and "Son of God," Roma Downey, who is Irish, and her reality TV husband, the British-born Mark Burnett.
Apart from the fun of reading how much people are worth, the Times story accompanying the list promises the rankings "will create a combination of envy, admiration and mild outrage." Still, it bears reading and can easily be applied to our modern Western culture of envy, greed and entitlement promoted by President Obama and Democrats.
| RECEIVE LIBERTY LOVING COLUMNISTS IN YOUR INBOX … FOR FREE! |
| Cal's and many, many more. Sign up for the daily update. It's free. Just click here. |
|
Titled "Don't beat the rich: just join them," the Times writes: "(the list) is a picture of self-made millionaires and billionaires, many of whom have overcome educational disadvantages and personal setbacks -- including poverty and the loss of a parent -- to succeed. Most eschewed cozy normality, taking risks and putting their livelihoods on the line in their determination to succeed."
With an estimated 47 million Americans on food stamps and others receiving other kinds of government assistance; with President Obama and his fellow liberal Democrats preaching a false financial gospel aimed at penalizing the wealthy and the successful, could it be, as another Times article asserts, "...western democracy is on its last legs, crushed under the weight of a bloated state"? The story suggests the West "look east, where the Asian model -- minimal welfare, restricted rights -- is producing the world's most successful societies."
What amazes me is that Western values and a work ethic that created so many rich and successful people, who did not settle for the circumstances into which they were born, have been ceded to the welfare state. In Asia, individuals and some nations -- notably Singapore -- have adopted the West's former standards, creating unprecedented prosperity.
In Britain and America, just a few generations ago, those who came by their wealth and success honestly and through hard work were idolized and emulated. The attitude shared by those who began life in modest circumstances, was, "if they can do it, so can I." Today, we appear to punish success and treat successful people and those independent of government as enemies who have stolen from what rightfully belongs to others.
The "Rich List" is fun to read, but the stories behind their wealth ought to be a lesson to people living in free societies. That lesson is that while not all can necessarily become as rich as these men and women, by adopting their work ethic they can improve their lives far beyond their current place on the economic ladder, to their benefit and to the benefit of their nation.
• Cal Thomas Archives
Please send us your feedback. It's appreciated
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
© 2014 Tribune Content Agency
|
|
Columnists
Toons
Lifestyles
|