Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
–Margaret Mead
For some reason I always get political on Sundays. I have no idea why, other than the fact that it seems every show on the TV has a talking head discussing how the world should be run, from their perspective. I think that’s why I often get frustrated at many of the ideas presented on these programs.
All of these talking heads spout that they are only looking after the average American and the well being of the world in general. Well…that might be the case, but I’m a little confused by your motives. If you were really looking out for everyone’s welfare, wouldn’t you be trying to come up with ideas that actually help?
I think one of the major problems with our society, is that we are all looking out for our own best interests. Believe me, I’m not excluding myself from this egocentric notion. I’m the king of looking out for numero uno. Just ask anyone who has ever dated me. However, I do believe that if I have something, and someone else doesn’t, that it is my duty as a human being to help out the one that doesn’t. I don’t understand this selfish notion that just because I’m endowed with opportunities which enable me to provide for myself, and family, that I shouldn’t then help others to achieve the same goals.
Whether it is healthcare, child care, economics, food, water, etc., everyone becomes so angry that they might have to help out their neighbor. It’s this idea that if someone is poor, they must have done something to cause that, and therefore deserve nothing. I have lost count of how many times I hear “Hey…I worked for this, so shouldn’t they have to?” As if they wouldn’t work for it if they had the chance. It’s this idea of punishing someone for not having the same opportunities. It’s also like the anecdotal stories of people driving Mercedes Benz’s and living off welfare. As if the $200.00 in food stamps for an adult would make the payment. I would think it is more likely they once worked, bought the car, lost their job, and now are hungry. I guess that means we shouldn’t help that person. After all…who cares that they paid into the system, and for some reason believe they should actually have access to it.
My all time favorite is the idea of having babies makes you rich. That’s classic. If you think this is true then I suggest you go visit someone on welfare who is trying to feed their children. What’s that mansion like that they live in?
Here’s the thought I was guilty of: If you got laid off, it’s most likely because you weren’t working hard enough. Boy was I stupid. I designed a system that saved my company millions of dollars in overhead costs. I worked 12 to 18 hour days for two years making it happen. My reward was for the company to implement that system and fire every U.S. employee. The way I see it, I should have worked less. Not everyone is the cause of their own fate. Sometimes there are external factors beyond their control. Do I think there is fraud in the world? Of course I do. I’m a cynic. However, looking at any situation on the surface just makes you look like an ignorant moron. You know why? Because you are being an ignorant moron.
I don’t think arguments against public services have anything to do with right and wrong. I think they have everything to do with being selfish. It’s an inability to help out your neighbor when they need it, and justifying your actions as somehow noble. It’s being stingy. You can try and cover it in any guise you like, but really…it’s just being stingy.
When a politician or individual goes on TV and yells into the camera and touts that the government is taking food out of their mouths, I want to reach into the camera and bitch slap them until they are unconscious. Either that, or at least wipe the ketchup off their tie. Especially when you see that they are neither hungry, ill cared for, or in any way downtrodden. The reality is that the individuals who are in need, rarely get on camera unless it is on a scale so large that it’s impossible to miss.
I am overwhelmed when I see what a small group of people can do once they put their minds to it. Just look at what happened in Haiti, New Orleans, and even Iowa when the floods came through. But you have to ask yourself. Why can’t we do something for people before the disasters happen? Aren’t there people in need now, who could use our help?
The answer: Yes there are. So why not get a small group together, and see if you can change the world?