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U.S. no longer head of the economic class

09 Sep 2012 - Preaching the News for Sunday

“He has done all things well,” the people conclude of Jesus in this Sunday’s gospel after he heals a man who was both deaf and had a speech impediment. When it comes to economic competitiveness, however, the U.S. is not doing that well, at least according to a World Economic Forum (WEF) survey released Wednesday. The world's largest economy, which placed 5th last year, fell two positions to the 7th spot—marking its fourth consecutive year of decline.Lack of economic stability, the business community's continued mistrust of government, and concerns over fiscal health were some of the reasons for the downgrade, according to the annual survey. "A number of weaknesses are chipping away at its competitiveness . . . the U.S. fiscal imbalances and continued political deadlock over resolving these challenges," said Jennifer Blanke, economist at the Geneva-based WEF.The political impasse over reducing the unsustainable federal government budget deficit—projected to hit $1.1 trillion this year—prompted the Standard & Poor's financial rating agency to downgrade the country's credit rating last August. A mix of U.S. tax hikes and spending cuts referred to as the "fiscal cliff" is set to come into force in January unless lawmakers reach a compromise for avoiding them.Despite declining in the overall ranking, the forum highlighted that the U.S. remains one of the world's top innovators—supported by an "excellent" university system—and continues to offer vast opportunities because of the sheer size of its domestic economy. Source: An article by Ansuya Harjani for CNBC

united states economy competitiveness world economic forum jennifer blanke

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Homily stories

10 Apr 2022 - Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Cycle C

"You're blocking MY sunset!" one man shouted to another, in between furiously laying on his horn. I was tempted to roll down my window and yell, "Well, YOU are ruining MY sunset!" But instead—glancing at the out-of-state license plates on both their cars—I muttered to myself, "Tourists." It was rude what the first guy did—pulling in front of someone who got to a front row parking spot first on a bitterly cold day when no one was going to get out of their car to watch the sun's spectacular plunge into the horizon. But the wronged man way overreacted. When you live on the sunset side of a Great Lake, it's part of the regular rhythm of many to head down to the beach as daylight wanes—even in the winter. It's a beautiful opportunity to settle into God's presence, to marvel at creation, to be humbled and filled with awe that you've been given a gift from the heavens. These two out-of-towners didn't get it. Competitiveness can make us possessive and oblivious. After all, the disciples were arguing about who was first among them at the Last Supper of all places! I imagine there were average people lining the streets of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, waving branches, eager for a Messiah, boxing each other out for a better view—and they missed what they were fighting to see.

Authors Jennifer Tomshack

competitiveness

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20 Oct 2024 - Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

There are many symbols that reflect our society, some for better and others for worse. The professional athlete is one of those symbols that seems to endure generation after generation. Children look up to them. Wheaties still puts them on their cereal boxes. And all the sports channels give interview after interview. They become our heroes, to be emulated and imitated. What does it say, then, when athletes are found with corked baseball bats or steroids or illegal golf clubs? It tells us that we live in a society that condones winning no matter what the cost, the importance of being No. 1 over simply doing your best, that being guilty only happens when you get caught. And we shrug it off, saying that this is just the way things are. It is no wonder that young and impressionable people have become so incredibly competitive and the rest of us so jaded that nothing surprises us any more. The gospel of Jesus stands as a strong counterpoint to the message that is being given. The gospel tells us we must put others first, put their needs ahead of our own, not worry about who is No. 1. It was a radical message when Jesus first spoke it, and it remains so today in our competitive, win-at-any-cost society.

Authors Father Dominic Grassi

competitiveness win at any cost winning

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