Mark, 14:7 ...For you have the poor with you always...Matthew, 25:29 (14-30) ...For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath...
Luke, 12:48 ...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more...
...from each according to his ability,
to each according to his work... Socialist Slogan
Even though I am poor, I don't understand the chronically poor - who seem to pass their condition and mentality to each successive generation.
I live in one of those neighborhoods to which most of the children from the poorer areas caravan for Halloween. I give out small bags with two full size candy bars and full size Skittles or Starburst, in addition to a handful of those little "fun-size" bars and suckers. (Note: At a certain age, it stops being trick-or-treating and becomes begging. I have fully grown adults come to my door every year.)I enjoy Halloween. Especially this year.
This Halloween marked the end a a decade long personal project to eradicate poverty in one neighborhood.
The conclusion I've come to is that I cannot help the poor - they must first want to help themselves.
In order to better understand a situation that I felt i may have forgotten, I became poor myself. I sold many antiques and provided furniture for many homes with the proceeds. I gave my truck to an old man and my car (A pimped-out red Cadillac with a white leather interior and gold spoked wheels and accent package. Yeah, my grandmother was ghetto-fab. She could have put the local dealers to shame with her gold teeth, ice, furs and pimped-our ride - while rolling through the 'hood to collect rent.) to a family. I gave T.V.'s, stereos systems, appliances and more to needy families.
Other than my home, I started from scratch.
The 'Hood.
Beaumont, Texas is an oil town.
It's population is 49% white and 49% Black.
Refinery workers earn $120k annually, many only having a high school diploma.
The 'hood is a roughly 2mi x 2mi square that is bordered by the Port of Beaumont, Exxon/Mobil and a highway.
There are more than twenty church buildings, one liquor store, one corner store, one small grocer, one bank, and three night clubs in this area.
The homes in the area are mostly dilapidated Art&Crafts style or modest four-squares. There are a few old Victorians still standing. Most of these homes could be bought for $12,000. Most rentals (other than mine) go for between six and eight hundred dollars a month.
The schools offer free breakfast and lunch as well as free tutorial services to the students.
City Hall is less than a two mile walk from any part of the area.
Bus service is readily available.
So, what went wrong?
How is this ghetto still the ghetto?Public assistance, volunteers and entitlements provide the basic needs of food, shelter , heath care and clothing - in addition to many wants.
An ex-convict can get a part time job at the refinery making $1100.00 a week (after taxes). The job only lasts six months out of the year (two months on and two months off) and the worker qualifies for unemployment for the other six months. The refinery is within walking distance of anywhere in this area. The Port of Beaumont pays $18.00 an hour with about the same work schedule. One only has to pass a remedial procedures test and a drug screening.
Most of the homes in the area could be bought with less than a year's wages.
Failing students could take advantage of the numerous tutoring sessions that are offered both before and after school.
Churches are plentiful - so no one can say that they have no opportunity to learn basic moral values.
A police sub-station is in the area - so no one can claim a lack of police protection.
Between a the Rec Center, churches, parks and schools, there is enough social activity for any child.
Why is this area still poor?
Or are they just ghetto?
Are they victims of their own culture?
I'm no proponent of the common genetic/eugenic argument for poverty,
but in this case, am I wrong?
Is it a case of a low IQ woman breeding with a low IQ man and producing more low IQ children?
Is it the cycle of a boy growing up without a father and failing to be prepared for life and ending up in prison only to leave his son to grow up with no father and then repeating this cycle?
I'm poor but I'm not ghetto.
I did a lot of volunteer work during my decade long project. Doing volunteer work (and knowing which fork to use, which wine to order, and having basic manners) allowed me to have access to those who assume that they have some sort of power or influence.
I was given a new car, televisions, electronics and appliances from the families of the people I tried to help (or sometimes complete strangers).
I met a buyer (through my time volunteering) from an upscale department store. She allowed me to buy past season Cole Haan, Donald Pliner and Salvatore Ferragamo shoes for dimes on the dollar. She allowed me to buy past season Armani, Hugo Boss, Valentino and Alfred Dunhill clothing at nickels on the dollar. They are all classic pieces which rarely go out of style. I have a closet full of Nike Shox and matching sweats that were given to me as gifts.
Since I'm the only single guy on my block, all of the women bring me more meals than I can eat.
All have a niece or sister or cousin that they want me to meet.
Poor people know the cost of everything but the value of nothing.
I've picked from the side of the road (or resale shops in the 'hood) classic mid-century modern pieces of furniture by Herman Miller, Knoll, Ray and Charles Eames, George Nelson, Wegner and others - worth thousands of dollars. People give these modern classics away and then go out and buy cheap Ashley plywood and melamine furnishings that retain none of it's value.
Through volunteering, I met the guy responsible for approving grants in our area. He has millions in grant money that goes unclaimed annually. He wants me to set up a non-profit, set my salary, write a business plan and run the organization. I'm done with the poor - so this is no option for me.
I have been approached by three groups who each want me to run nightclubs as their partners. I still have a little bit of game so this might be an option.
I've been talking to two separate groups of contractors who each would like me to oversee developments as their partner.
I've done nothing that those I was trying to help couldn't do.
I didn't have opportunity,
I created it.
Maybe I'm an Elitist.
No, not in the Caste System sense. I don't think that you're stuck in you situation for this entire lifetime.
But I do now believe that most of the chronically poor deserve to be poor.
Most of these poor are beyond outside help.
They've been cultivated and groomed to rely on assistance (or get over) for the rest of their lives.
IMO - Obama's plan is only socialist in the sense that it requires work. It's privileges are not for those in the lower class
but for the middle class.
Even if approached Biblicaly;
the poor will always exist (Mark 14:7),
the poor keep themselves poor because of a lack of initiative (Matt. 25: 14-30),
the rich are expected to pay more in taxes (Luke 12:48).
In America, we offer the poor more than enough opportunity to escape their situation.
Opportunity is ALL we owe them.
While I'm pleased with Obama's victory, I don't see a nimbus around his head.
There are going to be a lot of disappointed poor people.
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