In the lobby of our church they set-up a Christmas Tree last weekend. Instead of traditional ornaments, the church ladies hung pretty scenes cut from old Christmas cards. On the back are items requested by families helped by our parish and the groups we support.
My wife picked a nice, snowy scene.
The requests? A board game and toilet paper.
Yes, toilet paper for Christmas.
That doesn’t surprise me. At Circle Of Concern it seemed every family included the routine and the mundane on their Holiday list…underwear and “food” probably led the charge.
Despite all the reports about how the economy has tons of unfilled jobs and wages are rising, the harsh reality is that my “rule of forty” still applies: 40% of Missouri households try to survive with an income below $40,000 a year.
Yes, you can make $15.00 an hour flipping burgers about St. Louis. Alas, with luck the fast fooder might give you up to 25 hours a week – and forbid you from working for a competitor – limiting your income to $375 a week.
That used to be a lot, a living wage (back in the 1980’s). Remember, the current poverty level for a family of four is $26,500 a year, or, $510 a week! That family qualifies for food stamps, Medicaid and other basic benefits until their income exceeds $660 a week.
Unfortunately, in His Accidency’s Missouri you can’t count on much help from the state. Remember, this state cut-off pandemic bonus payments to the unemployed way before it had to, delayed voter-approved health coverage for low-wage adults, and, deprives struggling families of a great portion of the food stamps the federal government says they should get.
That’s why people ask for toilet paper for Christmas.
You Can’t Make This Up…
JEFFERSON CITY — State Sen. Eric Burlison, R-Battlefield, announces he has pre-filed legislation to strengthen Missouri’s Stand Your Ground law.
“Sadly, we have recently watched the justice system be used as a weapon against law-abiding citizens for simply defending themselves. No one should have their lives ruined like what has happened to Kyle Rittenhouse,” said Sen. Burlison…This legislation provides a person who uses or threatens to use physical or deadly force in self-defense immunity from criminal prosecution or civil action for the use of such force… A provision in this bill also states the defendant can raise a claim of self-defense during a pre-trial hearing in either a criminal or civil case, shifting the burden of proof to the party seeking to overcome the immunity [meaning the prosecutor or family of the person killed].
To learn more, look up 2022 Session pre-filed Senate Bill 666. (Yes)
Glenn