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

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Charity versus JusticeA Macro Look at
CompassionBob WolenskyStevens Point, Wisconsin
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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.

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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.

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The Story of the Social Worker

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

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Sociology and Social Structure

• Three Levels of Analysis micro, meso, macro
• Micro LevelIndividual level
• Meso levelSmall Group level
• Macro level Societal/ Cultural/Structural level

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Macro levelSocietal/Cultural/Structural level

• Focus on Institutionsespecially the two most
  important today Economy Government
• Focus on Valuesespecially individualism,
  materialism, consumption, freedom
• Focus on InequalityPoverty, Wealth, Class
• Focus on Power Relationshipsabove board
  (legislatures) and behind the scenes power
  (lobbying)

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Charity

• Charity takes place at the micro and meso levels
• 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 ROOT of the problem

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Sociology and Structural Solutions

• Structural Solutions Address ROOT causes
• 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?

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Social Justice

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

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EXAMPLE Child Labor in 1912

• ? ROOT Causes of the Problem
• 1. Low Wages for working fathers (economy)
• 2. Families need childs 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)
• Meso Solution Help a family (charity approach)
• Macro Solution Reform laws, raise taxes, build
  schools, train teachers, set standards
  (institutional changes)

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Poverty and Inequality in the U.S.
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Inequality in Western Countries
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Poorer Poor Richer Rich, 1975-2007
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Income Gains, 1979-2007
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Inequality and Social Mobility
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The Distribution of Wealth An Unjust Social
Structure
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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

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Summary

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

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Ideally, we would act compassionately at all
three levels

• MicroWork to help individuals
• MesoWork to help families, gangs etc.
• MacroWork to reform social structures

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Thank You!