Homelessness - Your Future?
Posted: Monday, January 25, 2010
by e
Dhammabucha Rocksprings Meditation
Quite a few years ago in San Francisco I couldn't believe all the homeless people milling about the city without a place to live or even eat regularly, counting on the hit and miss and long lines in front of churches and good Samaritan organizations for their very survival. I wondered how a government as rich as ours could be so stingy and crass as to not even consider helping these people.
But now 40 years later I understand more, and I can see where our country is heading, which is quite a different direction from all of the other industrialized nations that still maintain a semblance of compassion for its fellow human beings, and don't view them as simply assets or liabilities.
We turned our backs on the homeless because we were selfish, insensitive, and we frankly hated them - and we turned our backs because we could. They had no clout, no political power, and we ignored their plight.
So now our karma is coming full circle where middle class America is finding itself in the same boat. But we are not as tough as street people. It's going to be very difficult to live in third world circumstances with middle class values, and I don't think that the middle class will put up with it for long.
And no one will help the disadvantaged this time either, just like San Francisco many years ago, because the numbers will be too overwhelming. Neither the government, nor churches (who are going broke themselves) or good Samaritans (whose numbers are diminishing rapidly) will be able to help. We will be on our own.
I must admit that this is hard to fathom. I frankly don't understand the unwillingness to help those in need when we have excesses ourselves. Maybe we're afraid that we still don't have enough, or that we will lose what we do have. But I'm just not built that way, and neither am I very loud and forceful.
And many aren't. Maybe that's why strident and vocal hate mongers have been able to force their values of hostility upon the rest of us to the point of many middle class Americans living in fear of losing everything to those entities in control of the nation's wealth. And the fear is justified. Many are only a pink slip away from disaster. Are there any jobs, or even situations, that are truly secure?
There is a snowball effect: No job, then no health insurance, maybe an illness in the family, then a bankruptcy, then a foreclosure, then living with relatives, and when the living with relatives option runs out, then living under a freeway overpass. Because nobody cares. Nobody knows you anymore.
This is becoming a nightmarish reality for many good hearted common folk because frankly nobody is concerned about the other guy, and this callousness seems to be escalating as time goes on. When we lose our character as a nation and become mercenaries interested only in our own welfare and profit, it can't help but all fall apart.
The attitude in this country is becoming just that; mercenary. If you don't have health insurance, too bad - go without. No job? Too bad, collect aluminum cans. No house? Too bad, live on the streets. No money? Too bad. Go rob a bank. No food? Too bad, starve - the hell with all of you poor saps. Go die in the streets; who really cares? Why don't you leave if you don't like it here; that would be one less liability for our great country. I don't know you.
You will find this attitude prevailing if you have argued recently with a health insurance company. They are incorrigible. If they decide not to pay or drop your coverage for no reason other than you are too costly for them, they are betting that you cannot afford a lawyer to fight them, and they are right. They are brazen enough and have enough power to say; "Go somewhere else for insurance, we only take healthy, wealthy people."
Have you talked to anyone lately who has a pre-existing condition and is dying because not only do they not qualify for health insurance, but they cant get health care at all? Nobody cares. They are on their own, no different from any other third world country. We are only a small step away from hospitals demanding up front payment or no service, regardless of the emergency.
Have you talked to a banker about their predatory rates and practices, and received a brazen "If you don't like it go somewhere else - we really don't care what you do."
Have you asked a doctor, "What do you mean you won't take me because I have Medicare?" And has the response been, "Sorry, sir, I have too many good paying patients and can't afford drudges like you." Go somewhere else. I dont care."
As more and more wealthy people turn their backs on an increasing number of destitute but well informed and educated people, a sinister attitude and smoldering anger may develop which is the beginning of a classic struggle between rich and poor that has in the past brought great countries and cultures to its knees.
Historically when this has happened, the wealthy have been, at best, stripped of their wealth, and at worst, physically harmed. I can only advise that the ones on top begin sharing some of their holdings to help others by loosening up on their anti-social legislation. The alternative may very well be losing it all due to possible severe reactive legislation, or possibly due to even violence down the road if the social legislation continues to be roadblocked.
Unfortunately, there presently is no answer to this because no one will listen until the situation becomes a crisis, and then it may be too late. No one can see, or wants to see what is happening right before his or her eyes. Until we are on the streets ourselves and experience the viciousness of street life, we won't pay attention.
Congress and our government cannot help because congress is hamstrung by wealthy corporations that frankly dont care about anything but themselves and their bottom lines, and poor folk dont enter into that equation. Poor folk are simply to be dispatched in some way because they have neither money to spend nor influence to peddle.
Have we lost all human decency? Has this country become so profit minded, which equates to greed, that the common people who live here are becoming nothing but liabilities and expenses? What is life all about anyway?
A country that is 78% Christian should know what life is about. Wasn't Christ about love and not about money? How have we come to rationalize turning our backs on our neighbors, justifying our greed by catch-phrases such as "entitlements" which indicate our country owes something to its hard working citizens. Doesn't it? Are the scriptures hollow, or are we just clever in adapting them to our own selfish desires
Can we look at ourselves and see what we are, or are we blinded by some kind of glorified god-like self image that we self righteously hold in our minds, where we are always right and everyone else is stupid?
Before it's too late, can we understand that many are suffering, and if we, as bankers, doctors, businesspeople, employers, insurance companies or anyone in power positions turn our backs on them, they will turn their backs on us as soon as they have an opportunity, and they have long memories. They have the numbers as well. That's how it works.
If your company or those that you are associated with is doing something that is hurting innocent people, fight for what is right, what is humane, and what is compassionate. And if you get fired because of it and even end up on the streets yourself, there is an outside chance that you will feel good about yourself, maybe for the first time in your life. And that is such a rare thing these days.
"Many plan to leave their gold at heaven's gate when they walk through, but no gold is ever found there." (From: "A Year to Enlightenment")
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Good article e, I hear you, I hope others do as well.Thanks David, I know that you understand at a level more refined that "What's in this for me?"
It's not about you, it's not about me, it's about us!
The measure of a society is our attitudes toward our homeless, our prisoners, our poor. I see a failed country, not a successful one. You have pointed out time and again that material wealth is temporary, that possessions are gained and lost. The haves simply don't get what makes a great society. They confuse their own fortunes as proof that things are still good in this country. You can immediately see that is a sign of selfishness, but not the sign of a healthy society.Very moving article, e. I know that again it's going to be generally unpopular because you're not talking about how great it is to go to war against brown Muslims, or how great it is to protect your right to own a gun or to be a capitalist or extol the virtues of "The Church." But you are doing the right thing, and that's the difference.- GIt's unpopular to be a Buddhist! I'm used to it, but still, before I meditate every day, I wish happiness for everyone, even those who disagree with me. You have to do what your heart tells you is right, and let the chips fall as they may.
Thanks for your wisdom, as always.
Very interesting read, e. I try to keep a positive outlook, but there's nothing here that I can disagree with. When the people who are supposed to be the good examples to follow have taken to believing that greed and selfishness are good things, what hope is there left for the future? I struggle with comprehending the ramifications of this every day.There is tremendous hope for your future. Your struggle to sort truth from all the wacky untruths out there is the indication of that. Way to go Bruce! And thanks for the very kind comment.
Metta.............e
Good article, however I don't believe everyone always has a what's in it for me attitude. I have close friends who feed people in New Orleans and they would love to be able to buy an old warehouse to help the homeless, but they can't afford it. I do believe our country is in trouble but I also believe prayer can be very powerful and can help to turn this country and people around if it is God's will. Thanks for sharing. Linda DThank you so much for your comments, Linda. They are always appreciated.
Best..............e
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