Could the modern Christmas bonus be to blame?

Last updated on: December 31, 2015 at 11:52 am by Dave Griffey

Could the modern Christmas bonus be to blame? 2015-12-31T11:52:00-04:00 Dave Griffey

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Looks like unemployment benefits went up in the week before Christmas. Could this be the result of what I call the modern Christmas bonus? That is, lay offs? Because that has long replaced the Christmas Eve party or the Christmas bonus. Remember the movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? The underlying story line – such as it is – involves Chevy Chase awaiting his Christmas bonus in order to build a new swimming pool. Brian Doyle Murray plays his boss. At one point Chase and his family confront Murray about the idea of not getting a good bonus for Christmas. They got a bonus. Just not a very good one.

But by today’s standards, where December is now known as the time when corporations and companies lay off their employees due to tax reasons and fiscal year considerations, Griswold’s bonus comes off as quite heart warming. My kids actually have asked if that’s real. Did companies really do that in the day?

Yes sons, I say. There was actually a time when it wasn’t assumed that December would see endless lines of laid off people as a bonus for their years of service. But this is now. The post-modern era. I don’t think it’s Capitalism. I think it’s the generation at hand. Like the difference between a good driver and a reckless driver. The car is the car. But driven by a maniac, it can be a killing machine. Capitalism, without Christ, is no better than Communism. And a generation at the helm of what is left of the Capitalist ideal, that has embraced the evils and ignorance of the post-Christian West, will likely do more harm than good with either Capitalism, or any economic ideal it has inherited.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

December 31, 2015

To hold to traditional conservative values

Next Post

December 31, 2015 Happy New Year!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Atheism Awesome things Bigotry for the hip American Blogging Books Catholic Catholic Teaching Catholics on the Internet Christian Persecution Christian Unity Christianity and America Christianity in the Post-Modern World Christianity in the world Culture of Death Culture of Life Current Events Decline and Fall of the Christian West Defending Liberty Fun Stuff Global Warming Good Causes Good News Gun Control Health Care History Holidays Homeschool Humor Important things Inspiring Stories Interesting Insights Interesting Stories Islam and the West Liberal "Tolerance" Liberal observations Life in a post-Christian world Memorial Movies Musings News Other Blogs Our Big Politically Correct Bother Politics Popular Culture Post Modern Values Prayers Pro Life Promoting LGBT Protecting Liberty Racism in the world today Scientism Social Observations Sports Strange Stories The Boys The Catholic Church and the Left The Decline and Fall of the American Dream The end of liberty The Faith and the Left The Faith and the Right The Family The Greatness of God The Internet The Leftist Juggernaut The LGBT Question The Media The Pope The post-liberal Left The Power of Propaganda Tributes Twilight of the American Experiment Uncategorized Uneducating Postmoderns When the Church is wrong Why learn from history when we can repeat it instead Wisdom in the Post Modern Age World Events

Select a Month August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In the Lord's Prayer, what do Christians ask for daily?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Riches Daily bread Fame Long life