Where Is Marley's Ghost... When We Really Need Him? | Philip A. Farruggio

[Tace]

Philip A. Farruggio

Philip A. Farruggio -- World News Trust

Dec. 18, 2014

It is yuletide season once again.

What better book to read, or film to watch, than Dickens' Scrooge or the 1951 movie A Christmas Carol? This writer watches that movie every December and always takes more out of it each year.

It took me perhaps a multitude of viewings to finally realize the true gist of the tale. For years I thought the story was about the personal redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge. No!

Now I realize that the crux of the story (and film) was centered around Jacob Marley's ghost and Karma. Scrooge was the recipient of, and future receiver of, the karma that Marley's ghost forecast. Sadly, and most often the case of those among us who are able to peer into the future through whatever supernatural means, Ebenezer Scrooge was thus driven by fear. It was such a fear of the future laid out for him... by his own actions, that opened his eyes to truth.

The ghost of Jacob Marley, destined to trudge the earthly ethers dragging his chains of Karma, is the key to the whole story. His ghost finally understood the "errors of his earthly ways" and was summoned to, or perhaps he alone chose to, save his partner Ebenezer from the same fate.

But... there is more to that aspect of the Dickens story. The interlude revealing the life of the Cratchit family announces how much Dickens felt for the working poor... not just the poor, but those who labored for lousy pay working long hours. Similar to our 21st Century America, yes?

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http://worldnewstrust.com/where-is-marley-s-ghost-when-we-really-need-him-philip-a-farruggio

[peacebird]

1. K&R. As one now working a contract job for the first time in my life, I totally get this.

At 57 I am in a job with no benefits, no paid time off (no holidays, no sick leave, no vacation), no retirement plan or 401 K.
And making over 20k less per year than my previous job BEFORE adding in the loss of three weeks vacation and paid holidays and sick leave, plus a 5% match on my 401k.

Even before this change, I can safely say my raises have not been keeping up with inflation for the past decade.