The vast number of people unemployed in the United States is overwhelming. It is a phenomenon which has not been this vast since the days of the Great Depression, although it was even more disastrous then. Unemployment may be the root cause of a period of unrest, increased violence, depression, political anger, and who knows what other symptoms of a society in which a huge number of people feel disassociated from their norm.
That norm is employment…work. When I shut down all the other distractions around me and allow my mind to focus on that singular issue, I realize that our whole life is, to a great degree, aimed at being employed. Our educational, economic, social and sociological systems are about preparing for work and being successful in work. Even our religious systems assume that employment in one form or another is a major part of our lives.
This moral ethic is based upon a simple belief that there is virtue in work. For a long time we referred to this as “the Protestant Work Ethic” as it was prominent in the preaching and teaching of the reformers who came to this country in the early days of our existence as a nation. But it is wider than that…there is a breadth to this ethic that exceeds the boundaries of protestantism. Work is a necessity in the minds and hearts of the American people. To be without work is to see one’s self as a failure…not contributing to those factors which make our engine function.
The word coming from Washington these days is that we are in the process of recovery, and our economic systems are feeling new energy. The problem is that employment is frequently the last factor to recover. It is safe to assume that we will see unusually high unemployment numbers for some time to come…even though the other factors may see some victories.
When talking about the solutions to vast unemployment it is not all that helpful to focus on the growth of the economic system. It doesn’t put pizza on the tables of the unemployed. In many ways it is a paper reality, bringing little consolation if any.
Earlier on in this economic crisis there was a lot of reference to the days of FDR and his having “put the nation to work” on infrastructure projects which were unbelievably successful. The largest dams in the country were built, highways were constructed, forests were planted, post offices and other government buildings arose.
One of the criticisms of the FDR programs has been that it was “grunt labor” that was provided. Today, some say, the people are not prepared to take on labor that is dirty or which requires a strong back. We have become a soft society, used to ergonomically-correct office furniture and flavored coffee at the mid-morning coffee break. I suspect that is true for some of society.
But I suspect FDR, a theologically-literate man, was not only aware of, but a strong proponent of the work ethic which enables one to sense well-being and productivity. Former bankers and management people dug those roads, built those dams, and planted those forests. They were productive and had a pay envelope at the end of the week. They could look their family in the eyes and know that they were respected and honored for their hard work.
I thought it was unfortunate when those in authority began to move away from the infrastructure programs that were being envisioned for today’s population. Lately I have driven numerous times over bridges that are so rusted that they look like they will collapse at any moment. Roads I travel on are in worse condition than those in some supposedly “underdeveloped” nations. Schools and hospitals need repairs they cannot afford.
I think the work ethic is still viable. I’m convinced that the great bulk of those who are unemployed or underemployed would jump at the chance for a job that brought home a pay check regularly and provided some sense of dignity. There is more at stake here than the economic benefit; the very basic need to be productive is evident and requires some attention.
