“No body owes you anything. If you want something, work for it.”
I agree with this. If you’re waiting for someone to rescue you, or wanting to just relax your way through life, you’re going to be thoroughly disappointed.
That being said, I’m not heartless. Sometimes things happen and we Americans have the ability (and in my opinion, the duty) to help someone. A lot of times, I hear fear about allowing too much welfare help. The fear being that those on welfare will become content in their lifestyle and leech off of the hard working Americans (middle class) while having no intent to ever rise above.
So here are a few scenarios I think most people can support or relate to. (Read and answer to yourselves. I could be wrong!)
Scott has 3 children. He has custody of all 3. He works 2 jobs trying to make enough to support them, but needs some help with childcare because it is so expensive.
Should there be a program to help him?
Chad has 2 kids he has custody of. He’s been employed at the same job for 3 years, but due to some cuts at the company he works for, his hours were cut in half. He is looking for a second job, but needs to be able to feed his kids.
Should Chad get food assistance?
Brett’s wife of 15 years, Mary, makes 65K a year. Brett has spent the last 8 years staying home with their 3 kids and taking care of the household. He finds out Mary has been cheating and she wants a divorce.
Should Mary pay spousal support as well as child support? Should Brett qualify for government assistance until he can find a job?
Larry, husband and father, has been working at the same company for 20 years. He recently was laid off and is having a difficult time finding a job.
Should Larry get unemployment? Should he qualify for food assistance and Medicaid?
Steve had an injury which caused him to lose his job. He is well now, and wanting to get back into the job market. The problem is, he has no phone or internet and cannot afford the bill for either until he gets a job. He can use the internet at his local library, but wants to have a phone number to leave on his applications.
Should we help Steve get a phone?
Todd’s wife, Amanda, died unexpectedly. They were young, so their life insurance policy only covered funeral expenses. Without her income, Todd cannot afford their mortgage. He soon finds the house will be foreclosed. He has 2 small children and needs to find a place to live while he adjusts to his new life as a single dad.
Should there be housing help for him?
Those sound like good men. Trying to support their kids. Trying to contribute to society. I think most would say that it would be an investment to help these guys out.
Now. Sub in the name Trevon and/or Ladonna. Seriously. Scroll up and reread them with only the name change. This isn’t going to work if you don’t.
I’m not in your head. You are. So be honest with yourself. Where do you imagine they work? Did the company/line of work they were in change from the first time you read it? Do you believe they are contributing to society? Do you assume the kids have different mothers/fathers? Do you assume they have no desire to strive for a better life? Do you feel like they are leeching? Is your gut response to withhold help? Do you feel it’s a waste of tax dollars?
When you hear people talk about racism, THIS is what we’re talking about. This is white male privilege. That purely being a white male means that people will initially assume the best. You are worth investing in.
You are not against welfare. You are against minorities receiving help from government programs. You have been conditioned your entire life to have these knee jerk responses. I have them too. I have to CONSCIOUSLY decide to not feed into them.
Years ago I had a conversation about a woman and that was the moment I realized my white privilege.
Her: She has 3 kids with 2 different guys. But That’s how they do it in Benton Harbor. They have kids with whoever just so they can get the benefits.
Me: Oh. You mean like me? I’m from Benton Harbor. I have 3 kids by 2 different guys. Heck, my youngest’s dad is married. And I get food stamps.
Her: No no no. Thats not what I meant. You’re a hard worker! You made a mistake. You’re doing what’s best for your kids! You are am amazing mother. It’s temporary for you!
Me: And why isn’t it temporary for her? What makes her a lost cause?
Her: No. You’re misunderstanding. I know you’re a good person. But she is from a culture that encourages living off hard working Americans.
Me: So if you didn’t know me, you would assume the same thing as you are with her? That I was lazy and lookimg for free stuff by having kids?
Her: No no no. That’s not what I’m saying. I can tell you’re a hard worker! You do anything for your kids. You are using the welfare system for what it was set up for, to get yourself on your feet again!
Me: And I’m white.
Her: *uncomfortable*
Me: She’s black.
Her: I’m not racist. It’s a cultural thing. That’s just how they live in Benton Harbor.
No. That is racism. That poor woman has to work 10X as hard as me in life. She will be assumed to be lazy, and a leech everywhere she goes. You will sit there and make mental (or verbal) judgements on whether or not you believe she is worthy of help. She will have to pay the same taxes as you. She will have to work the same amount of hours as you. But you will know, that you are more deserving of every break you get in life. And your attitude toward her is just a form of “tough love”. Her hard work doesn’t count because her culture encourages laziness. That has to be what it is.
You will talk to others like you, and set imaginary goals for this woman. “If she really cared about her kids, she would get a degree.” But offer no way for her to obtain a defree. “She should get an additional job. If she put her nose to the grindstone, she could rise above.” But condemn her for leaving her children or for asking for a raise. Any hardship she has is deserved. You are punishing her for not being a white man like you.
Are you really against food assistance? Or are you against the woman who “obviously” just having babies to live off the state. Are you against housing help, or are you against the black guy who probably just works at a fast food place part time and should just work harder if he wants a place to live.
You Are not against welfare. If you were in any of these positions, you would feel completely justified in using government assistance “for it’s intended purpose”. To get back on your feet. But if it’s a minority, you are immediately skeptical on their motives. Ask yourself WHY. Why do you feel you need or are entitled to an explanation for anyone’s reasons? Why do you feel you get to be a judge on whether someone deserves to eat or have medical care?
And just throwing this out there. “Getting back on your feet” is not the intended purpose of the welfare system. The intended purpose is to make sure that the lowest income people in our country have their basic needs met. It’s to have a lower class that is fed, housed, and medically well. The basics. Because some cannot rise above some imaginary line you’ve drawn in your head to indicate success. Some will always work sweeping floors, cleaning toilets, or serving fast food. And they should still have heat. And their kids deserve to have full stomachs. The value of a life is not determined by annual income.
You have been lied to. You have been told your whole life that you are superior and deserve what you have because you a hard worker and they are not. So who is telling you these lies? I’ll give you a hint. It’s not the lower class…and it’s not the middle class…you guessed it! The top 1%. They want you to be mad at those who “leech off the system” so you don’t notice them…leeching off the system. Does a black man, who works at a grocery store, getting $1500 worth of food a year piss you off? What about a white man getting a $30mil tax break? Smart businessman?
Do not tell me that racism doesn’t exist. Say what you really mean. I don’t care that racism exists because it benefits me. Don’t tell me you don’t see color. Say what you mean. I don’t want to acknowledge others are treated differently because then I have to change my internal dialogue. Don’t tell me you care about the poor. Say what you mean. They are poor because they deserve it.
thatbethy 