Forgive me. This is one of those times where something triggered a rant and I was nowhere near my computer so I couldn't write it down. From what I remember of the trigger it had to do with tolerance. Financial tolerance.
I know I was thinking about some friends and acquaintances who aren't doing that well financially. I was thinking about one or two who are really not employable for various reasons so they will be screwed for the rest of their life. This means they will either die eventually or end up in the prison system or back in the prison system. Some haven't worked in a long time so even if there still is social security in 30 years they won' collect any of it.
Then I went back to the unemployable points.
These people are Black men who I think do not believe in themselves enough to break past the barrier that is keeping them down. Some are in need of psychological counseling. Not because they are psychotic but because I sense there may be some degree of mental illness preventing them from succeeding. Sadly, as I mentioned they will probably end up in a prison or dead. In New York they will almost definitely be homeless. Homeless in part because society (average folks) allowed themselves to be manipulated into believing too hard into the tough love theory. That theory of pulling yourself by your bootstraps, whatever that means. Meanwhile we are allowing the same politicians who are cutting public assistance to bail out companies and cut their taxes. Corporations are worth more than people. Even for the lazy folks it is easier to slam them for making $400 in welfare and food stamps.
I have had this rant before. I just need to get this out.
Somehow people have been duped into adapting this theory that if you can't make it on your own, screw you. Or something close to that.
Right now I am like, wow, I do want to help these people. Not only the ones I KNOW but the ones who for one reason or another beg me for food or change on the subway or in front of a bank or restaurant. I can't help them. I would want to let them rest their head in my apartment but I barely have room for ME. It seems like the burden falls on me to take care of them. This is in part because WE don't want the government to get involved and companies have to make a profit in order to appear to assist.
I had this discussion with CJ Anderson, writer of ON THE RIGHT SIDE and a friend. We were talking about the government giving funding to AMTRAK after the recent crash. He wants all forms of public transportation to be run by private industry. The point is people NEED public transportation. It's bad enough the Metropolitan Transit Authority has very well paid people on its board and they keep raising the fare when they see fit. Why can't we help because it's the right thing to do?
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