I took this from my driver side window on the way to Dollar General Store a few days ago...the sun appeared to be pointing it out to me, that I needed to Stop and Snap!
In today's news paper, I found this information
65 denominations operate more than 230 houses of worship in the county, according to the Manatee Chamber of Commerce.
Church property is valued at more than $297 million, upon which there are no taxes paid.
One church is worth 12 million, another 3 are each worth 6 million and another will soon past the 12 million mark.
PONDERING....
1 in 5 of our children are hungry, and we have no low income housing. Yet we have marble floors and marble walls in the churches..
America theBeautiful Wasteful ?
40 % of all food grown in the USA is thrown in the trash dump. Not the left overs, but good edible food.
Dump trucks of it...
I watched a special on CNN on hunger... Our farmers can only sell the beautiful fruit/veggies.
No one will buy the yellow cauliflower, which is just as good, they pick the perfect and white caulilower and the rest is plowed under, The broccoli was taken to the dump by truck.
We as Americans want the beautiful and perfect, the round not crooked.
So they trash it.
Photo from
Bradenton Herald Fireworks
Mother Nature presented her own fireworks for free last night.
The 30 minute display put on by our county cost 40,000 dollars. This was not the only display in the county, there were 6 of them. I did the math on the cost.
PONDERING...
1 in 5 children in America and in our county are hungry. We have over 1000 homeless people in our downtown area,
PONDERING
In today's news paper, I found this information
65 denominations operate more than 230 houses of worship in the county, according to the Manatee Chamber of Commerce.
Church property is valued at more than $297 million, upon which there are no taxes paid.
One church is worth 12 million, another 3 are each worth 6 million and another will soon past the 12 million mark.
PONDERING....
1 in 5 of our children are hungry, and we have no low income housing. Yet we have marble floors and marble walls in the churches..
America the
40 % of all food grown in the USA is thrown in the trash dump. Not the left overs, but good edible food.
Dump trucks of it...
I watched a special on CNN on hunger... Our farmers can only sell the beautiful fruit/veggies.
No one will buy the yellow cauliflower, which is just as good, they pick the perfect and white caulilower and the rest is plowed under, The broccoli was taken to the dump by truck.
We as Americans want the beautiful and perfect, the round not crooked.
So they trash it.
Photo from
Bradenton Herald Fireworks
Mother Nature presented her own fireworks for free last night.
The 30 minute display put on by our county cost 40,000 dollars. This was not the only display in the county, there were 6 of them. I did the math on the cost.
PONDERING...
1 in 5 children in America and in our county are hungry. We have over 1000 homeless people in our downtown area,
PONDERING
19 comments:
Hello Sandra, some things just do not make sense to me either. The priorities are all wrong. And the waste goes on and on.
I hope you enjoyed your 4th of July. It was cloudy and rainy here most of the day. Happy Sunday!
All this does get me thinking.
Wonderful examples of blind extravagance.
Unfortunately, these facts do not seem to make a difference! If we only utilized what we waste it would make a great difference. Don't even get me started on the continued tax-free status of churches!!
Best,
Bonnie
OMW Sandra. That bears pondering for sure. Now think how these wrong priorities are employed in South Africa. I hope you enjoyed your July 4th. Jo
Sandra, you made some valid observations, and unfortunately there are so many more. If everyone even in their own household strived not to be wwasteful of food or other items it would be a major step. Unfortunately, consumerism and wastefullness seem to be hand in hand in these times.
Only this week I heard or read very similar info about food thrown away here although I can't remember the percentage. Too much anyway. And property vs feeding the poor has probably always been an issue in every culture (if not churches then other temples, or castles or memorials or sports arenas etc). We're never satisfied, are we. Always want more...
I agree with you, Sandra, that there's much to ponder here. One of my "favourite" things to ponder is why we spend so much on prisons but so little on lower-income kids and teenagers giving them hope for a better life and a strong possibility of never committing a crime.
That is a pretty snap of the church. My heart just hurts when I see hungry children and homeless folks on tv. I have often pondered about how many nice buildings there are that only get used a few hours each week. I have seen the reports on wasted food too. As for fireworks, I wish they would just stop them altogether...they are devastating to those who have PTSD and to many sound sensitive pets.
I cannot understand homelessness and hunger in our country for the life of me. With all the entitlements and help organizations - it baffles me. And when I stand behind someone in line using an Access card for their food, with their designer handbag, nails done, and iPhone 6 it baffles me more.
And if churches being tax free bothers you, did you know the NFL is also untaxed? Think about THAT ONE! Crazy. At least most churches help in some way...the NFL not so much.
That is some very sad news about the food that is thrown away and you are right about America the wasteful! I know last night my dad said that the fireworks on TV must cost $50,000. so of course I looked it up! The Macy's fireworks are close to $6 million dollars. I love them but the money could be used to help so many people!
Food for thought!
I quite agree that there is too much waste in our country. Spending six million for a fireworks display when we have people going hungry and are homeless is just not right. I won't get started on the way overpaid celebrities and sports stars. As far as churches, I know there is a need for places to worship. But do they have to be so fancy? I don't think so. That is a beautiful shot of the church!
Sandra you are hiting on just a tiny spot in the very big picture and yes one can ponder but no one wants to take action. Let's start with the many millions wasted annually on a very broken election system. State after state, candidate upon candidate! And the money just pours out to various ones from some of the biggest cororations who likely get a super sized tax cut for doing so.
As for food being dumped, again it is the big companies that hold the trump card and force us to shop for perfect.
Here in Toronto a big grocer known as Loblaws is now allowing imperfect produce back onto the shelves . It also allows food banks to come by daily to pick up that day's leftovers that must come off the shelves. Here people wanted this and the chain listened. It's a small step forward. People have to speak up for change.
I love the way the sun hit that church just as you drove by.
Things like that do make you stop and think. Every time I see one of those commercials for starving children in third world countries I wonder why there are no programs like that for the starving children in the U.S.
You make some very good pondering's here Sandra. Makes you think doesn't it?
you hit one of my 'pet peeves' right on the nail--
the cost of fireworks--I live in a small town in NYstate--
yet in this area alone we have over 6 firework displays a year--
even one after the Christmas parade--why??????
all that money just thrown up in the air when so many are hungry and homeless--have been saying this for a couple years now!!
do love the pic with the old wooden church--thanks-
Smiles Di
we are incredibly wasteful, always believing there'll be more where that came from...
That is a great sky in the photo. I don't mind giving organics back to the earth but they should be put to better use than a landfill hole! If we aren't going to eat them then give them back to the earth to help make something we will eat.
We need to get the people who can do something about this to ponder for a little while!
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