Prioritizing Poor People in Politics, Paying Fair Wages to Disabled Laborers, Jonathan's Thoughts on Moana

Plus, an Advent devotional centering Palestine

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Alright, now on to the usual business. Our highlights this week include:

- Neither political party prioritizes poor voters

- Virginia prisoners taking desperate action to escape appalling conditions

- Ending the subminimum wage for disabled workers

- An Advent devotional from Palestinian Christians

- And Jonathan keeps us grounded with the beauty of a kids’ movie

Jonathan’s Recommendations

Poor People Are Not A Priority of Either political Party

John Blake, award winning author and journalist at CNN (and past guest on our podcast), spoke with the leader of the “Moral Mondays” movement and chairman of the Poor People’s Campaign, Rev. William Barber, on the results of the 2024 election. According to Barber, neither party paid any attention to voters in material poverty. He argued that 30 million low-wage workers did not vote in the election because they felt neither candidate was talking to them. Instead, both sides focused on courting the middle class. But Barber has made a real difference in North Carolina elections by creating an interracial coalition that mobilizes low-income voters. The poor are at the center of the heart of God and his kingdom. But they are not at the center of any preeminent political power in this country. And I lament that they are not at the center of many churches either. pray that things would at the very least change among the people who claim Jesus as lord.

- Check out the interview with Rev. Barber

Desperate Virginia Inmates Try to Escape Miserable Conditions

(Content warning, self-harm) Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have both investigated on Red Onion State Prison, a supermax facility in Virginia, for various human rights abuses in the past. Yet, there are persistent allegations of racism, excessive solitary confinement, inadequate healthcare, assaults, and food covered in maggots or the spit of corrections officers . Recently, at least six inmates burned themselves in a desperate attempt to be transferred out of the prison and into a hospital. Will you pray for these men? Pray for both those behind the bars and those in front of them. For the men whose names have been changed to numbers, and for Governor Youngkin whose name everyone knows. May God move in all of their hearts. May freedom come for everyone.

- Read about the men at Red Onion Prison

Sy’s Recommendations

Ending Subminimum Wages for Disabled Workers

If you don’t know that there is a carveout from the federal minimum wage for disabled workers, you are far from alone. Most people I talk to about it have never even heard the phrase “subminimum wage.” But ever since the first federal minimum wage law in 1938, companies have been able to apply for certificates exempting them from paying disabled workers that baseline amount. Half of the workers under the program today make less than $3.50 per hour. I’ve heard from advocacy organizations of people making less than $1. The bigoted notion behind the system is that all people with any disability are inherently less productive, so companies should not be burdened by paying us equal wages. But it’s usually left to the companies themselves to determine how productive a disabled employee is, and how much their work is therefore worth. Predictable exploitation results. Fortunately, the Department of Labor has introduced a proposed rule to phase out the use of subminimum wage certificates. Let’s pray it takes effect, and the incoming administration doesn’t meddle.

- Read about the proposed rule

An Advent Devotional from Palestinian Christians

Red Letter Christians has released an Advent devotional featuring the writing of Palestinian Christians. The contributors include two past guests on our podcast, Rev. Munther Isaac and Shadia Qubti. As the publishers put it, the devotional will help us “consider the world-changing truth that God is with us, Emmanuel – not from a place of comfort, but in the rubble of suffering, injustice, and violence.” It is always true that Christians living in relative comfort will benefit from the wisdom and experience of people following Jesus under extreme oppression. But I hope it does more than that, immersing us in the daily circumstances of their faith, and spurring us to both worship and political action.

- Download the whole devotional or get a daily email

Staying Grounded with Jonathan

Last Saturday, our family went to see Moana 2, and I spent much of it in tears. I won’t spoil anything, but two things about the experience really struck me. First, I had been looking forward to this movie, and it exceeded my expectations so much that I sat completely immersed in the story and didn’t look at my phone once. I was not working, posting, or pausing to do something else. I was fully present to the people around me and the experience we were having together. Second, the movie was a powerful reminder that we have the capacity to create remarkably beautiful stories and images. And in a world that inundates us with advertisements, breaking news, things to buy or be afraid of, we need to center ourselves on beauty. So I hope you will appreciate something beautiful today, preferably with others. Go see Moana 2!

- Watch the Moana 2 trailer

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