Wealth, Schmealth 🤑

     I can say with almost certainty, there have been times, in most people’s lives, when they have wished they could be rich. When they fantasize about winning the lottery or Publishers Clearinghouse or a huge jackpot in Vegas. Wealth seems to be an answer to all the ills of the world, an end to a lot of problems and at least a partial answer to many prayers. Wealth is central to many, many daydreams of a new car, boat, house, vacation, jewelry or wardrobe that seem just beyond your fingertips. Believe me when I tell you if my husband and I had more money I might indulge my daydreams to help with home maintenance; maintenance like repair/replace 35+ year old sewer and water lines before the maple tree roots crush them. That would end the periodic basement flooding or maybe we could add to the 35+ year old insulation that has proved to be woefully inadequate or perhaps all new kitchen appliances which, at 20 years old, are starting to lose their effectiveness. (Sigh, it would be nice.)

     Don’t get me wrong, I enter sweepstakes daily; the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway, faithfully. I don’t think we’d actually keep the Dream Home. We could sell it and the cash from the sale would let my husband and I have a much nicer fade into the sunset of our life. However, I’m not foolish enough to believe that money will solve our problems. Money, after all, is just money. It makes some nice things possible but if power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, (and it does) then wealth must make one completely unsympathetic and unlimited wealth must make one completely out of touch with any sense of humanity.

     This government shut-down affects more than just 800,000 federal workers. It affects (or should affect) each and every one of us. This economy is losing Millions of dollars – Daily!  The lack of any empathy coming from so many in the top levels of the government regarding the struggles of these persons is astonishing. I’ve heard so many people express disgust for a president who had to use cheat sheets containing words of condolence when he met with the students of Parkland HS, passed on going to the Armistice Day parade in France due to rain and spent five minutes at the Martin Luther King Memorial on January 21st. I think what we all need to keep in mind is this president has NEVER known a day of deprivation. NEVER had to struggle. NEVER had to suffer at the whim of another person. In other words, he has no experience in what it means to be a human being. To show genuine kindness.

     If being wealthy means you stop caring about your fellow human beings and stop wanting to help whenever or wherever you can, count me out. I’m happy to struggle, to help whoever I can when I can (and sometimes when I can’t), stand up for those who need a partner to stand with them who is able to understand what they are going through. Turning a blind eye doesn’t absolve anyone of responsibility for what is happening to good, honest, hard-working persons. We are one of the richest nations on this planet, there shouldn’t be bread lines in 2019, people shouldn’t have to “ration” necessary medications. Families shouldn’t have to worry about losing their homes. This is just dumb. This is just stupid. All over a childish temper tantrum by an under-qualified reality star who is trying to play the leader of what used to be the greatest nation on earth. Screw the wall!