Who Are We Concerned About Protecting?

     This morning, I was stuck by a photo post that listed the salaries of some of the CEO's of top health insurance companies. These CEO's are not only millionaires but multimillionaires and billionaires. I posted this photo on my page and on all three of my pages and I do not seed that I got one "like" or comment on this post. What I don't understand is the lack of outrage. I feel both sad and angry that people, both online in my social networks and offline, especially in my church family, seem to feel that the very real and often devastating issues surrounding so many in our culture are somehow secondary to what they seem to perceive as "getting out of office" a President that they resent and hate and whom they would like to see fail.
     Now I am not putting down wealth or the right to get rich, as long as it is done by ethical means and the wealthy use some of their resources to support and assist those in need. And many already do and are to be commended for it. But guess what? These wealthy philanthropers, like Bill Gates, are calling for an end to tax breaks for the wealthy, realizing that our ailing economy needs extra revenues from their taxes far more than they do. And also, our President has also gone on record as saying that he does not need any tax breaks. I know that there are so many people who are worried that tax revenues from increased taxes on the wealthy, would "trickle down" to rest of us as these same "super-wealthy" are the "job creators." Really? If that was the case, then why has unemployment so dramatically risen even as these "job creators" were getting their tax breaks? Where were the jobs that supposedly were supposed to produce that "trickle down" effect? I may be missing something her (but I don't think so), but I have not seen these effects of these tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires "trickle down" to the rest of us. And please do not write me off as someone who has "class envy" or begrudges the wealthy their wealth. For I know that if there were not people in the position to provide substantial help to those in need (and this would include many people in positions of wealth or influence), so many charities would not be able to serve those in need and so many of our congregations would not be doing well. And I know that it will be a few such individuals, when I am able to come to their attention, who will be the ones who can help my petition, on behalf of the autism community, really take off!
    What really saddens as well as angers me is the resentment, prejudice and even vitriol so many people, in certain social circles in my life and among so many in my social networks, have shown toward those who use "entitlement" programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and certainly need-based programs such as Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and SSI (Supplemental Security Income). I know that so many have expressed concerns and (and in some cases this concern is valid), that people are abusing the system and using these programs to avoid having to work and paty their way through life. I know that many are deeply concerned about this matter. I'm not pooh-pooing the concerns of those who feel this way about the use of government programs. I'm saddended that so many seem to think that using these programs is somehow the "ticket" to the "good life" and that some people "on welfare" are living "better lives," of more material prosperity, than taxpayers. I can tell you, from personal experience, that the use of any of these government programs is not the ticket to lives of material prosperity. It's the live of living on a fixed income, getting just enough for bare necessities, and living with the ongoing stigma of knowing that so many others are stereotyping you as someone who does not want to work and have chosen to "live off society." And I think the resentment and stereotypes of those who use government programs is why so many are supporting the package of spending cuts proposed by the Paul Ryan Plan AND not supporting the call to end tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. This is sad.
     I fear that I risk offending those in my social networks and in my "real life," who are among those who are wealthy. I don't envy your wealth and I don't want to cause you "undue hardship" or bring an end to your prosperity. And if you are using your resources to help those in need (and not just material, but time also), I commend you heartily. But I hope and pray that you will realize the facts about those who are not as blessed as you are and who are in life circumstances where they DO need to use government programs. And I hope and pray that you will see that increased tax revenues from your incoimes will only pay for itself many times over, especially if your $$$ are used to help balance our national budget. We only want you to pay as much PROPORTIONATLY in taxes as the middle-class do. Isn't this fair?
     I don't argue that spending cuts need to be made and that there is much government waste. I'm concerned (as are so many others) that the needed $$$ to balance the budget will be made off the backs off the most vulnerable people in our society and will be taken from services that serve us and keep us safer. We are hearing more and more about lay-offs of public school teachers in some states and about cuts to law enforcement. These are just two examples of services that are vital to all of us! And our government is seeking to cut such services instead of asking the wealthy to pay more in taxes! The argument for millionaires and billionaires paying taxes is that our economy needs it and they can afford to spare $$$ to help meet this need. Now, I understand that no one is going to like the idea of paying extra taxes and that paying more taxes means less money for the taxpayer. But when the taxpayer is a millionaires or a billionaire, isn't it only fair that they pay as much, percentagewise, as so many others who make far less, already do? Middle-class workers typically pay up to 40 percent in taxes, while the wealthy pay only around 15 percent out of much bigger incomes. How can anyone claim that this is fair? This is a call for justice, not welfare.
     As for spending cuts on the backs of vulnerable people who use government programs, such as the poor, those with disabilities, senior citizens, and others, why are there so many who seem okay with asking those in these people groups to make further sacrifices beyond what so many already make just to survive? So many younger people who use these programs, would much rather work than undergo the stigma of "living on the public dole," knowing that they are looked down on and stereotyped by so many in society. Many have disabilities or differences which employers can't/won't accommodate. This is one HUGE reason I have begun a petition on behalf of the most unemployed people group (at least in the US), those with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). While people are calling for spending cuts to even entitlement programs, how are people who use these programs supposed to survive? "Go get a job!" seems to be the easy answer to such an issue, but this thinking does not take into consideration that many such people do not have the job skills, social skills or even the transportation, to seek employment. So before you say that people should "Go out and get a job!" please realize that many people with true needs and disabilities are unable to do that, as much as they want to. So many of such individuals use the mental health system, or are homeless or are in jail or prison because of unmet needs. Does it not make sense that helping such people would, ultimately, help our economy than just cutting government programs?
     My call is to please realize that, whatever your feelings about government programs and about those who use them, is that ANYONE can find himself/herself in circumstances where you would be forced to use one or more of those programs, even long-term. If you are a taxpayer and you are employed, especially at a career that you love, thank God for His goodness to you and realize that that all citizens are valuable and precious to God, even those who are not in the position to pay taxes.
     And please focus on protecting those who need it, not those who do not need it.
    
    

I Must Be the Best or Let's Pull Through This Together?

     When I log into Facebook and view my homepage, I often see this type of post. It is this: "Please vote for my photo, my video, my blog or my Facebook page, to enter the Top 10." I have usually not paid attention to these online appeals; I don't take part in such voting unless someone asks me, directly, to cast my vote for the person's material. Many times, I find that the sites where such votes are cast are not user-friendly or I find it tough to navigate. It is clear that our mentality of aspiring to be the best, has also made its way all over the World Wide Web. Surprise? For competitive people make up the Web.
     Sometimes, as I did yesterday when I was visiting one person's page, I will see a post where a person will proudly proclaim, "My blog or my Facebook page has been voted to enter the Top 10! Thank you, everyone, for voting for me and supporting me!" What is the value of such a distinction, except to the page or blog owner and to their loyal supporters? What is the point of being in the Top 10 unless it is going to do something practical for you? And sometimes, people will requests votes, saying that if you cast your vote for them and they "win," they may "win" an expense-paid trip or a sum of money. Well, I still wonder. Maybe this is just me.
     In my own social networking experience, I find myself getting sucked into the mentality, that I am doing something wrong or I am missing something, if my posts do not get comments or few of them. And on birthdays, it seems like it's almost a contest of seeing how many birthday greetings a user can get. I have seen users post with pride, the day (s) after their birthdays, "I have received so many hundreds of birthday greetings! I did not know I was so popular!" And now Facebook's new feature, I understand, lets a user know how many friends write on that user's page for that user's birthday? Social networks have become, as so much of life is, a contest to see who "comes out on top" and beats the competition." It's not only an effort to "keep up with the Joneses" (bad enough) but to "outpace the Joneses" (worse).
     I'm not against incentives or pushing people to do their best through the use of these. In the workplace, we know that "Employee of the Month" is a popular incentive to spur workers to do their best for companies. It's okay to implement such incentives as long as everyone has a level playing field in striving for the mark of distinction and it is made clear that the competition is to be one's own personal best, not to be someone else's best. And yes, I'm aware the competition is par for the course in many fields in entertainment, sports and the arts (music, singing, writing, modeling). Events like beauty pageants are just one example, as is American Idol where there are finalists and one "winner." But we understand that, more more today, most of the entire job market, because of limited resources, has also become very competitive. For many positions, there are far more applicants than there are jobs for them. This has become so bad that personality tests and other screening tools, are used simply to get rid of applicants!
     And competition starts early in life and certainly when a child enters school, getting more intense through the years. As a child growing up, I remember that, according to old childhood records I had read, I was a "sore loser and unable to cope with defeat." Well, when my developmental issues hindered my performance to the effect that I rarely won anything, it was hard not to take an "attitude" about losing. I'm all for children learning to embrace the reality that, in life, we all lose sometimes and that defeat is not the end of the world, to pick up one's self and move on. But how is a child (or anyone) supposed to handle it when being subjected to an unlevel playing field means a constant experience of losing? For I remember that I was always picked last for teams. School team sports for me, as they have traditionally been for so many children with developmental issues, were miserable and pounded into me the notion that I was just not good enough and that if you could not "make the team" you were bad.  
     Yes, team sports, in school and at all levels of education and in life, have traditionally been widely praised for building character, not to mental building and maintaining physical strength and co-ordination. And I know that being active in sports has been an invaluable experience for many young people, including for youth from troubled backgrounds who will find team sports to be their only outlet. It has helped them not only have better childhoods but has often helped them find rewarding and good-paying careers. But there is where these young people presumably have the aptitude for playing competitive team sports. But team sports should not become a sources of torment, as they have traditionally have been for so many children with developmental challenges, where the playing field is not level.
     In school as in life, incentives are a good thing when the playing field is made level. The traditional school "honor roll" is a main example, where students are motivated to earn good grades, which will help determine their success in life. But we know that many students don't have the aptitude to make top grades just as many others don't have the aptitude to shine in sports. The idea should be to motivate all students (and all people) to do their best, but in competition with self, not others.
     This competition madness is part of the free world and is not going to go away in this life. But when we see other people as our competition whom we have to outdo, we are not going to like them well. Even on social networks, I find myself getting caught up in this mentality. Early in my Facebook experience, I would pay close attention to my "friends" list count, finding myself measuring how many "friends" I had in my social network as compared to others. So silly! And even now, though I know better, I'll find myself comparing the "likes" I have garnered on my Facebook pages to those which others have garnered on their pages. 'Fess up time!
     My mom has been fond of sharing a rather humorous story of how, when she and her sister (my aunt) were growing up, they would measure their drinks before drinking them. But this just shows how competition has made its way into everything. Even in my current petition drive, I find myself comparing my petition campaign to that of so many others who have been able to gather many thousands of signatures. Yes, a sheer volume and quantity of signatures is impressive. But this does not factor in that names can be duplicated, especially if users cannot remember if they have signed the petition before or if a user has more than one account. And signatues, in and of themselves, say little about the thoughts and feelings of the petition signer.A petition drive has more impact if it is combined with letter-writing. Therefore, further down the road of my petition campaign, when summer is over, I plan to organize a Facebook "event" as a mass "write-in" or "call-in" to  legislators. This would be where supporters can copy/paste a pre-composed letter by me, inserting their own thoughts and stories, and send it to their legislators with their provided contact information. Or they can send their own messages. But getting back to my earlier point, I know that I need to stress quality over quanity, including in this petition drive. Stressing quality over quanity should reduce the drive to compete.
      It seems that the only things that convince us to stop competing with each other and to expect more from co-operation than competition, are need, poverty and tragedy. I recall that, years ago, one evening I was viewing a news channel. The topic of coverage was a weather diasaster in a certain region where an anchor from a competiton station, had been at the time. The anchor, who was discussing the disaster, had said: "This anchor is with our competition but when you consider a tragedy like this, you see people as human beings and not as competitors. Therefore, our prayers are with this anchor, his family and everyone else in the wake of this disaster."
     I understand that in Third World countries, like throughout Africa, the synonym for suffering and want, the emphasis is not on competition but on co-operation. For example, in school, students don't know the fierce competition for grades that is rampant in the free world. When one student excels, everyone celebrates and it is not an occasion for anyone else's relative lack of success. In such countries where education is a scarce resource and can't be taken for granted, getting to go to school is victory enough for any student. Suffering and want have a way of bringing people together and causing us to embrace the truth that we are all in this situation together.
     The whole idea behind the Special Olympics is to give every athlete, no matter how limited, every opportunity to achieve success. It is sad that, in many circles, competition is so much a part of our culture that enrollong kids with special needs in Special Olympics is often seen as a stigma or "holding them back." The Special Olympics is all for their athletes doing their best but the competition is with themselves and not with anyone else. After a competition, each athlete is hugged and congratulated, not only the "winners." No one is allowed to feel like a "loser" or bad.
     In the Scriptures, we are told to outdo each other in showing each other honor. How's that?
     A week or so ago, at the end of a news clip, a moving video was played. In this video, a four-year-old girls was comforting her dad, a professional athlete,who was obviously dejected at his team having lost the game they were playing.
     This says it all.