You may have noticed that there is a lot of political discussion in the media right now. I thought I would throw in my two cents.
Looking at my family today might make you think that I was privileged. Nothing could be further from the truth. My mother brought me to this country without money or possessions. In spite of that, she got a master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She raised me and my sister and sent both of us to college. Today, she and I are living comfortable lives thanks to the education we received and the jobs we were able to get as a result of hard work. We essentially lived out the American dream.
Our success was due to living poor, studying hard and working even harder. We did not believe in taking hand outs. You might be wondering, “why not?” The story below illustrates my point.
Looking at my family today might make you think that I was privileged. Nothing could be further from the truth. My mother brought me to this country without money or possessions. In spite of that, she got a master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She raised me and my sister and sent both of us to college. Today, she and I are living comfortable lives thanks to the education we received and the jobs we were able to get as a result of hard work. We essentially lived out the American dream.
Our success was due to living poor, studying hard and working even harder. We did not believe in taking hand outs. You might be wondering, “why not?” The story below illustrates my point.
In 1972, there was a family that desired to escape a difficult living situation in India. The family consisted of a mom, Meena, and her two children, Uma, age thirteen and Akhil, age seven. Meena wanted to move to the US. She had kept in touch with a family friend who had immigrated to America a few months earlier so she got in touch with him to help plan the journey.
After much planning and anticipation, Meena and her children made their way to America and settled in the Midwest. Moving from a distant country was not easy and once in the Midwest, life wasn't easy either. Meena and her children moved in to their friend’s very small one bedroom apartment. Four people lived in a space designed for one or two people. To make matters worse, the apartment was in a crime-ridden part of town. Meena worked at a minimum wage job while she attended the local university. Needless to say, times were tough financially.
After much planning and anticipation, Meena and her children made their way to America and settled in the Midwest. Moving from a distant country was not easy and once in the Midwest, life wasn't easy either. Meena and her children moved in to their friend’s very small one bedroom apartment. Four people lived in a space designed for one or two people. To make matters worse, the apartment was in a crime-ridden part of town. Meena worked at a minimum wage job while she attended the local university. Needless to say, times were tough financially.
Uma saw others in her neighborhood that appeared to be working less and getting more. She found out from kids at school about a program where the government gives families money to buy food at grocery stores (and today even at fast food restaurants). The program was called food stamps (today it is referred to as SNAP). Excitedly, Uma told her mom the good news about FREE food! Uma said, “We are in the US so we deserve the free food too!"
Uma's mom stopped what she was doing and told Uma to sit down. She said, "I know about food stamps and other free items that are available for us."
"What?" Uma questioned in disbelief. "You knew that we could have delicious free food and you continued to feed me rice and beans all this time?"
Uma’s mom replied, “Don’t you like the food I give you to eat every day?"
"No! I don't want to eat the same thing every day! I would rather eat like my friends!”
Uma's mom stopped what she was doing and told Uma to sit down. She said, "I know about food stamps and other free items that are available for us."
"What?" Uma questioned in disbelief. "You knew that we could have delicious free food and you continued to feed me rice and beans all this time?"
Uma’s mom replied, “Don’t you like the food I give you to eat every day?"
"No! I don't want to eat the same thing every day! I would rather eat like my friends!”
“Good answer; I was hoping you would say that because when you don't like your situation you will work hard to change it! Aren't you curious who pays for all of this FREE stuff? The government pays for it but where does the government get the money? They don't make a product to sell or provide a service they can charge for like a business. So where does the money come from?
The money to pay for all this FREE stuff comes from people and businesses who are earning money by doing or making something. Do you think it is fair that people who are working are responsible for providing Ding-Dongs and potato chips to those who aren't working or who are working but can’t afford indulgences like that? By the way, those are indulgences, not necessities.”
The money to pay for all this FREE stuff comes from people and businesses who are earning money by doing or making something. Do you think it is fair that people who are working are responsible for providing Ding-Dongs and potato chips to those who aren't working or who are working but can’t afford indulgences like that? By the way, those are indulgences, not necessities.”
“I want you to understand that we will not be taking FREE anything. Why? You might be wondering. These free things are designed to help people temporarily in a time of trouble. Unfortunately, some people don’t see it that way and these free things become a trap for those people.
They feel entitled to choices like Ding Dongs or potato chips instead of rice and beans for dinner. When these choices are available to them, the people no longer feel the pain of eating rice every day. Without pain there is no reason for change. Something that is designed to help is actually backfiring for many people and the government is making prisoners out of the poor. Don't get me wrong, the programs that are free are wonderful if they are used in times of trouble, for a temporary solution but NOT a way of life.
So thirteen-year-old Uma asked her mom, "What can I do to get better food and candy?”
“Now that is right question. What can you DO?” They stayed at the table, brainstorming.
Uma was on the right track. My mom was happy because Uma wanted to DO something to change her OWN situation rather than looking to others to change things FOR her.
They feel entitled to choices like Ding Dongs or potato chips instead of rice and beans for dinner. When these choices are available to them, the people no longer feel the pain of eating rice every day. Without pain there is no reason for change. Something that is designed to help is actually backfiring for many people and the government is making prisoners out of the poor. Don't get me wrong, the programs that are free are wonderful if they are used in times of trouble, for a temporary solution but NOT a way of life.
So thirteen-year-old Uma asked her mom, "What can I do to get better food and candy?”
“Now that is right question. What can you DO?” They stayed at the table, brainstorming.
Uma was on the right track. My mom was happy because Uma wanted to DO something to change her OWN situation rather than looking to others to change things FOR her.
The only lasting changes are ones we initiate ourselves. An increase in the minimum wage may seem like a “fix” but it will only work temporarily until businesses begin raising prices to compensate for it or automating manual jobs to reduce payroll; then the people will cry out again for an even higher minimum wage or more unemployment compensation.
The solution is not in government, it is inside us. It is our desire to better ourselves and suffer in the meantime that will result in a far-reaching, long-lasting outcome.
The key to success is realizing that you can change your situation rather than being the victim and waiting for someone else to fix it.
The solution is not in government, it is inside us. It is our desire to better ourselves and suffer in the meantime that will result in a far-reaching, long-lasting outcome.
The key to success is realizing that you can change your situation rather than being the victim and waiting for someone else to fix it.
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