Much has been written about the division of money and status of the people living in this country and in the world. Many blame the inability to rise from one’s birth condition to the effort needed for upward mobility and self suffiency in our society. Even those born rich or middle class must work to keep their status in the community. If born in circumstances beyond your control such as a product of poor parenting, inadequate education, and poor mentoring or bad luck, the challenge to a higher status is often daunting. Or people can also be indifferent or lazy. But one thing is certain; one is at an incredible disadvantage if not educated, has a bad attitude and a poor work ethic.
No matter under what circumstances one is born, (serious health problems not included), the United States offers everyone an opportunity to learn to read, write, communicate, work and do basic computations. Without these skills and attitudes, most people have little chance of upward mobility. An article in the 12/26 edition of Forbes titled “An unhappy childhood doesn’t kill” says that when Walt Disney was 9 years old, his family was so poor that young Walt would rise in the darkness and get his newspapers to deliver and deliver them and be home by 5:30 A.M. to take a nap and eat his breakfast before going to school.
When I meet or read about a student who doesn’t like to read, doesn’t like school, doesn’t like to work or doesn’t like to participate in community activities, I can almost always be sure I am looking at a person who by failing to participate in what is being offered, will whine all their lives about circumstances that has affected his or her present or future well being.
True, the most fortunate or best prepared of us have a certain responsibility to those who never rise from poverty. However, most of us understand it is difficult for a person to have upward mobility if that person does not apply some of the self-help tools that are free for the taking (like a free public education). Government micro-bombing of money to poverty stricken areas, loaning money that will never be paid back, free food pantry’s, housing and clothing with no obligations, is not an answer. Unless those people capable of upward mobility take responsibility on themselves, these programs have little success. (I’m tired of hearing the old saw “teach a man to fish---, but the saying is true.)
A number of years ago I saw a woman fishing for food in a trash can. I gave her $10 and asked her to go get some decent food. By chance, I saw her coming out of a convenience store minutes later with two 6-packs.
We are all teachers whether we realize it or not. Someone is always watching what we do and say and if we do or say it, why can’t they? Unfortunately, what people are most likely to emulate is what we do that is not a benefit to society. Leaders must set examples. We should be demanding that people be responsible and showing people how to be responsible instead of being their nanny. I believe that while all of us should be compassionate, this country is creating more people to be dependent on others rather than showing people how to be more dependent on themselves.
In 1997, I wrote an article on responsibility that was published in a local paper under the heading “Responsibility has been replaced”. In this article I wrote “Fear of ones own children is widespread because some parents are afraid of disciplining their kids or make them do chores, accept responsibility or study for fear of being charged with child abuse. Teachers and others are afraid of disciplining for fear of lawsuits. Principals often promoted on seniority; weak administrations and boards who let kids grow up without accepting responsibility on the school grounds, hallways, sports teams and classrooms add to the problem. Lack of parental training and in turn kids born to untrained parents, conflicting doctrines on how to raise children and welfare programs from both the private and public sector; all these things visited on those who could learn to pay their own way and be contributors to society. All contribute to the in jail, in court, can’t find a job, can’t hold a job, won’t work, pregnant without support, won’t work if that’s all they pay me or undependability has led to a most severe breakdown in our society.
Faith based compassion often does not help the problem as those that need the help are laughing at those who think they are helping. Look at those in the world who we have helped with trillions of dollars and are now saying get out or be killed or get out and we will kill you sooner or later.
It may occur to some of our leaders someday that many people do not want to be free because of the responsibility freedoms demand of them. “Do-gooders" cannot fathom this reality that many “homeless people” do not want to come off the streets because keeping their status quo is the only power they have.
Think about it.
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