I read this in the Free Press today. This is crazy.
According to a June 22 report by Wisconsin-based Runzheimer International, Detroit is the most expensive U.S. city in which to insure a vehicle, with an average yearly premium of $5,072. Philadelphia is a distant second, at $3,779.
Add to that the rising costs of gas and you can understand why it is difficult for the working poor in our country to get out of the danger zone of the cycle.
For many working poor (often single parents)--they are one accident, freak injury away from being completely powerless.
When I have spent time in places like Atlanta, Dallas, and The Bronx, I've learned that food in the city costs much more than food suburbanites buy in their grocery stores.
Injustice is a word that the writers of Torah and the New Testament care about. Perhaps some of us should too.
Please wait one moment . . .
About the Book (The Feast)
About Me
- Josh Graves
- Nashville, TN, United States
- I'm the best friend of Kara, father of Lucas, minister, author (The Feast), life-long Piston fan . . . I am the Preaching and Teaching Minister for the Otter Creek Church (Nashville) and I am working on a doctorate degree (second year) at Columbia Seminary studying the relationship of postmodernism and Christianity.
Some of Josh's Published Work (essays, books, articles, reviews)
Links
- Barbara Brown Taylor
- Brian D. McLaren
- Bronx Fellowship of Christ
- Chris Lindsey
- Columbia Seminary
- Donald Miller
- Doug Sanders
- Dry Bones--Denver
- Duke Chapel
- Focus: HOPE
- Greg Boyd
- Greg Stevenson
- Greg Taylor
- Jason Steckel
- Jesus Creed
- Jinja Mission Team
- John Mark Hicks
- John York
- Jonathan Storment
- Josh Ross
- Kara Graves (My wife and best friend)
- Kibo Group
- Larry James Urban Daily
- Lauren Winner
- Lee Camp
- Luke Norsworthy
- Mark and Lori Manry
- Mark Love (Missional Church)
- Mike Cope
- My Twitter Page
- New Wineskins Magazine
- Otter Creek Church
- Patrick Mead
- Randy Speck
- Rochester Church
- Rochester College
- Rubel Shelly
- Sean Palmer
- Stockman Family
- The One Campaign
- TOKENS (Lee Camp and the Arts)
- Wade Hodges
- Walter Surdacki
- Will Willimon
18 comments:
When I am in a strange (to me) town, I often check out the music stores and gun stores because my hobbies and interests run in that direction. I am often appalled at the high prices in the poorest sections of those towns. Even in the Midwest. I was in Indianapolis and, in the poorest section, the gun shop's prices were twice what they are everywhere else.
Yep, food was high, too, but I wasn't shopping for that. I think I will. You have a very valid point -- one that is usually under the radar of us well fed folk.
it's true... so now what? you know- i constantly see the need for more being done... but i think the problem most people have is that they don't know what to do. the torah talks of injustice and the n.t. also - just like you said. but people feel they must have a idea before they move forward. so what does it look like for us to care about that word too? now what?
i wanted to ask what jenny asked...what can i do to help?
Patrick,
I remember you telling me about gun prices, thanks for the insights.
Jenny and Courtney,
The first thing to do is what you've done...to ask, "What can I do?"
One thing is to get involved in poor areas (ala Cass Pk. which Courtney has done) to learn the pace and cadence of life AND to build genuine relationships.
Another thing is to get on email lists such as the one Sojourners (.org) produces that lets you know when different bills are being passed that address issues similar to the one I've raised.
That's a start!
Do you think this is an inevitable characteristic of our capitalistic, supply and demand market?
Those poor in the inner city have no means to travel and shop at less expensive places farther away, so shop owners feel they can get away with higher prices.
It's easy to be upset with the owners for doing that, yet it seems to fall right in line with capitalism and free market that we as Americans preach so proudly.
Shane,
Good question and comment. Yes, for Americans, I expect it. However, Christians, if we are following Jesus, shouldn't mind getting in trouble from time to time. If we need a text, here it is (The Message translation). From Mark 11:
They arrived at Jerusalem. Immediately on entering the Temple Jesus started throwing out everyone who had set up shop there, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of the bankers and the stalls of the pigeon merchants. He didn't let anyone even carry a basket through the Temple. And then he taught them, quoting this text: My house was designated a house of prayer for the nations; You've turned it into a hangout for thieves.
Josh -
I believe it was Thomas Jefferson who said, "Our government is created for a moral society. It is wholly inadequate for any other kind."
Perhaps that's the problem.
Shane,
Again. I agree. But I think this is where the church is supposed to step in and speak for those who have no voice.
The church is called to do so in Uganda, Armenia, or the U.S. So, I'm constantly asking myself, how does the church be the church in a capitalistic society--we start by naming the injustices around us and then choose to get involved.
and building those relationships is great... don't get me wrong. it is the basis of my organization- make relationships with those truly forgotten in our society... but we have to speak out too. i know that is my nature and so it is easy for me to say- but "we" as the church don't do it enough. it isn't always about just letting people know we are going to those places but saying i'm going there- i see injustice- and i want to be a part of it ending. let's start speaking for "those folks" in places that matter and can make a change instead of just speaking to "those folks". it is great to speak to "those folks"- i love it- but we have to be willing to take it out of that conversation and make it a practical change. and that is something i don't think "we" do enough. (outside of the cass park mission)
Jen,
Wow, great thoughts.
So, let's start a formal petition to get this considered by the powers that be in Metro Detroit. I'm going to email my insurance guy and ask him more about this.
What ideas do you have? I'm in.
yay! that is awesome to hear!! well for the things related to my work (problems with dhs, different "helping" orgainzations, medicare, etc.) i go to this one representative i met a while back. he is for the lapeer area. but i like the point you made about the stores... maybe we could look into that a bit more. the first things that my bosses always tell me to do is start writing letters and petitions... so i like where you are starting with the insurance thing! great idea! my bosses always say to write and ask the questions first so you aren't starting off being frustrated with them- then they will be more open to your concerns when you really start to bring them. also it gives you some solid info to start your search. btw... please know in all of these i didn't mean to be sassy at all so if it came across that way- i apologize. yeah- so i'm excited!
Jenny,
No offense taking...this is the reason I have this blog...to generate good discussion and dialog.
Keep writing,and thinking out loud.
Shane emailed the following to me earlier. BTW--I never questioned his motives or heart...he brought great things to the table.
Josh -
I just wanted to make sure you're not misunderstanding me. I'm not disagreeing with you at all - that it is the church and individual Christian's responsibility to step in to help the helpless and poor.
My comments have been simply trying to think through how this fact of higher prices for food and services in the inner city among the poor came to be. I'm not sure I've ever known or realized how much more expensive things are in the inner city. I do know that in Oklahoma City where I used to live, there were no grocery stores anywhere near downtown, only gas station convenience stores which definitely aren't cost effective for food.
Is this simply our free enterprise system working as designed - less competition in those areas, therefore higher prices? Is it because the cost of doing business in those areas is higher than in the suburbs due to theft, insurance, etc.? Is it because of greed (ie. part of that lack in morality that Jefferson spoke of)? I imagine probably some combination of all those things.
I guess I've taken your thoughts on this from a religious point-of-view and am looking at the situation from a socio-economic point-of-view. I realize that's a tangent to your original point. Sorry. I blame it on VBS-brain.
josh, i am in, too.
i agree with jenny, along with the friendships we have, i want to do more. it seems that we have more of a voice than our friends in CP (unfortunately) and i want to use my voice so that they can be heard. while the friendships are a blessing (jack), i also want to help stop the injustice for our friends.
let me know what else i can do, even if it's just brainstorming at this point.
Courtney,
Thanks for checking in. I'm waiting to hear back from my insurance guy to get his two cents. What if one of you write the author of the article.
I found the article on the Detroit Free Press site but am now unable to locate it.
You can start by writing the editors at the Freep to get more information on the story.
I'll help!
I agree whole heartedly that as a Christian we have a responsibility to help and be kind to the poor.
As talked about in the good book, the farmers were told to leave the corners of the field unharvested so the poor could come in and get some.
What I question is why Capitalism = unmoral business practices in most american minds?
First lets define Capitalism. The right for you to trade your own property without force, for your own best interest.
I personally feel Capitalism is the most moral, governmental system available. And whats best for its people. When governments step in and "force" something to change before the free market fixes it, we are now not running in a capitalistic system.
I feel america is economically the strongest because we are the most Capitalistic, but definantly not totally capitalistic.
Ok, enough political opinions out of me. As a Christian I do want to feel I have done everything I can to help make this a better place for those in need.
Thanks for the discussion Josh.
Courtney found the article (it was actually from the Detroit News, the other major Detroit paper) I referenced in the blog that's stirred some good dialog.
You can read the article here:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070710/METRO/707100374/1003
Adam et al,
Welcome to the discussion! Good thoughts as usual.
I personally don't believe captialism to be inherently immoral though I tend to think that anytime to give someone the option (myself included) to look out for his own best interest or to look out for the interests of others, he/she will chose the former and not the latter.
Friends who've lived in Africa assure me that capitalism is a better alternative than what goes on in many countries today.
So, let the record show that I'm not against captialism. More than what I'm against, I want to use what I have to talk about what I'm "for"--that is speaking for those with little to no voice.
For instance, Luke 4 is Jesus "platform speech" (to borrow from contemporary political jargon)--he will exist and work for the poor, the outcast, the blind and the imprisoned.
I do not expect AT&T, McDonalds, or Starbucks to do so (though some of these companies do). I do however expect the church to lead this discussion in public arenas.
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