We certainly hope to offer recordings, though we cannot promise. If they are available, they’ll be posted on the website (under the “podcast” section). Thanks for your interest!

I know studies can show certain things. By, experience, however, I have seen some others:
1. People can do things wrong, from a moral or Christian point of view, yet they establish bonds that help them succeed. Example, the unwed couple expecting a baby—who go on to a solid marriage and family life. ( By “solid” I don’t necessarily mean they are spiritual, but that they achieve what they want.) Certain ethnic minorities seem to be especially good at doing this. These people also seem to be better at manipulating others to achieve their goals.
2. People in “impoverished” communities often develop their own set of standards. I.e., they start living by their own rules, and the law is too busy to deal with it. Example, a black man I worked with related to me how, after one career ended, he opened up a “speakeasy” nightclub in his basement. He also told me that many black ministers were pimps! There is also a huge underground economy or black market in this country, with people making good money at things they do not report—-and which might not be discussed in studies. In my work, I started discovering that nearly everyone, seriously, was involved in work they did not report as earnings and in other fleecings of the public purse.
3. Many white people, I have started noticing this in churches, end up living emotionally isolated lives. Maybe they want to, I don’t know. Sometimes really attractive women get so many men pursuing them that they just close the door to life, unable to handle it any longer. Some Christians earnestly try to live by the rules and suffer persecution from secular society.

I am not saying these are axiomatic. What I am saying is that there is a lot of practical variety.

I know that the support of business enterprises has become a way of trying to help people who are economically disadvantaged. (Disadvantaged—that’s an older word that tends to not have racial or ethnic connotations). For example, the Grameen bank and micro-enterprise have become well know tools for doing this. I tend to believe in home ownership (which can easily come about through owner builder programs) is the best antidote to poverty. Either approach has its advantages and disadvantages.

I agree that “wealthy individuals” should have” the opportunity to invest in something of grater value.” I wish the Pamplins would stop giving money to that black hole—Lewis and Clark College!