Wife was driving home from work one of these days and she got stuck at a light where she could see a homeless person. She felt bad and mad at the same time. On the one hand, she hates that they suffer and live out in the streets, but on the other, it is by their choices, in cases where it isn't a mental thing. Then we got into a conversation, which I like exploring, and usually pisses off whoever I try to do this with. I asked her who is really the one to feel sad for? You might think you're winning, but your butt runs from place to place, and you aren't in control of your domain. Try missing work for a few days without announcing to your superiors what you are doing, and all your comforts could be taken away by getting fired. These people get to lay around all day, if they want. They come out to a light intersection, put their hand out and get what they need, and then go about their business. Just from that point, who has it better?
Then you can add the fact that yes, you make a bunch of money, but most of it goes to cover housing, to keep your stuff and a car to get to your job, so you can be a prisoner every day, just to keep the shelter and maybe a little extra cash. The bums keep all their belongings in an HEB or Target cart and don't have to worry about taxes, or schedules. Their time is their own, they aren't selling their life blood for a couple trinkets from the man. Add in a tent provided from one of the nice people with too much money and life is getting a little better and better.
What I don't understand is why do they set up camp right next to the freeways? If I lived out in nature, I would go find a campsite next to a quiet lake or river, that would be nice. Once you give up the grace of using modern plumbing and/or showering every day, why be amongst all the roar and commotion of "civilization"? I think that is a lot of the reason these people go crazy, in the first place.
Meanwhile (this was a conversation with Wife), your butt still has to rush home, go pick up Mijo from practice, eat something, probably overpriced crap from one of our mediocre eateries, take a shower and get to bed before 10:00am, just to do it all again tomorrow, starting at 5:45am. And don't think you can take it easy, skip a few house payments and you'll lose the house. Forget to pay taxes, and eventually they'll threaten you with fines and jail time. Shit, don't feed your kids and the state might even take them away.
Who is really living in a gilded cage?
No comments:
Post a Comment