We Don't Neet Your Help

I was talking to a friend the other day about the election, and the idea of universal health care came up. I asked her about her stance on it, and she told me that though she believes that all children should have health care, she doesn't believe that the government should provide it- Her reasoning being that taxes would increase. If people wanted health insurance, there were companies that provide it that low-income people could work. She alluded to me, who recently got a job at HEB because they offer insurance to part-time employees. She said she didn't think it was fair for her hard earned money to go towards providing health care to other people when they could get it themselves.

Fast forward a week or so later, and I'm listening to one of my favorite financial adviser's radio show. He starts talking about the election also and how he does not like any of the candidates. He says he's scared of government officials trying to "help" him which made me believe that he is not in favor of many social welfare programs. My suspicion was confirmed when I was watching him speak a few weeks later and he was talking about getting rid of debt. He was reviewing how cash advances, rent to own, and other financial products for the poor are rip-offs. His basic point was that you will always be poor if you use these poor ideas, but you should start saving and paying off debt and you'll gain wealth and become rich. He made a few other remarks about how 90% of millionaires are first generation rich. They did not have anything else going for them, but basically worked hard and did rich things. Not to mention those bootstraps.

I understand the point of my friend. Why would you, someone working 40+ hours a week and going to graduate school while making sure your family stays financially stable, want to pay extra money for someone who OBVIOUSLY is not managing their finances correctly? And for this financial planner, one who had millions of dollars, lost it, and gained it back after budgeting and managing your money: why would you believe that people are really having a hard time rather than not working hard enough? I understand these points.... but they're lacking.

The truth is that there probably are some poor money management skills going on in low-income families. BUT, I think most families do have a budget and the problem is that their minimum wage jobs do not pay enough to have anything left over. Bills DON'T get paid for so that they don't go into debt. Families go MONTHS without a telephone and other "necessities" so that they can eat. And yet, they are still blamed for not having a savings account.

And as for insurance, what does it matter if your company offers insurance if they're going to charge your $200-300 a month for it? That's rent! That's food! That's electricity!!! That's too much to invest in something so intangible.

The problem is there is systemic oppression. No matter how long someone's bootstraps are, there are still several stories of ceilings for them to bust through. Race plays a part into whether someone gets hired. Gender plays a part into whether someone gets a promotion. The exorbitant price of childcare prevents people from working longer hours. Poor funding to minority-laden school districts prohibits education that would give children better jobs. There are issues plaguing the poor on all directions and it's unfair for those who have (who have probably not stayed at the soup center for community service long enough to see the struggle) to assume that people aren't working hard enough.

I know this friend and this financial celebrity are good people. They are Christians who profess their spiritual gift to be giving, and truly live it. Both of whom have given to me cheerfully without expectation. However, in their deliverance of these opinions, the underlying message is that it's not their problem. When the bill shows up on the ballot, they will mark that they are against universal health care... and forget about it.

The problem is we DO need your help. And "you" is not just white people - it's anyone in power. And "we" is not just poor people- it's anyone who is oppressed and left out by the system. Don't just mark no on the ballot box. Think of an alternative. Write to your legislator and suggest how you would change it. You don't have to have a doctorate in public policy to come up with good ideas. Just don't turn your head…

I mean, suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well, keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Shena Sandle