Poignant Poetry for Holy Week

Carolina Singerman

First Payroll Tax and First Health Care Bill

 

In July, 1798, Congress passed, and President John Adams signed into law "An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen," authorizing the creation of a marine hospital service, and mandating privately employed sailors to purchase healthcare insurance.

This legislation also created America's first payroll tax, as a ship's owner was required to deduct 20 cents from each sailor's monthly pay and forward those receipts to the service, which in turn provided injured sailors hospital care. Failure to pay or account properly was discouraged by requiring a law violating owner or ship's captain to pay a 100 dollar fine.

 

Who speaks for "the people."

Which group of legislators speak for "the people?" Not "some of the people" but "the people." Worth reading and thinking about.

What real Americans think (?)

I liked this essay about the thinking and actions of real Americans that never makes the evening news.

Infant Baptism: Why? Wonderful explanation!

Read all about it here!

ST. Patrick Did you know the whole story?

Not being Irish or Catholic, I had never known the whole story of St. Patrick. Here he is called an early Liberation Theologian.

What do you think?

Synod Councils Now Playing Hardball.