I am not one for a whole lot of political commentary, but I've spent a lot of time the past few days pondering this idea. It all began with the panic that is currently instilled in the school systems and out-of-school programming of my hometown, and all the videos of outraged politicians fighting the inhumane modifications to our healthcare system. After-school programs and youth employment programs are being defunded, thousands of people are losing their insurance - the country around me is spiraling. All of these things stemming from our current presidential administration and government and their gluttonous tendencies. Rather than getting upset, I often spend a lot of time asking why. Why the top 1% feels the need to physically and culturally starve the public - the youth - for their own copious gains. Why they feel like they need more. Why does the idea immense wealth leech and bleed our country of the economic integrity and diversity we founded it upon? And more importantly, how do we save ourselves...
"As riches increase and accumulate in few hands, as luxury prevails in society, virtue will be in a greater degree considered as only a graceful appendage of wealth, and the tendency of things will be to depart from the republican standard. This is the real disposition of human nature; it is what neither the honorable member nor myself can correct. It is a common misfortunate that awaits our State constitution, as well as all others."
- Alexander Hamilton, speech to the New York Ratifying Convention, June, 1788
Not-so-fun fact about myself - I struggled with alcohol abuse for about 5 years. I was a heavy drinker through my party years, and unfortunately fell into some bad habits at some point through. I watched as the rest of my circle grew out of it - and I only fell deeper. At the worst of it, I was drinking morning through evening - sometimes up to 20 drinks a day - napping in between binges to sober up and do it all over again. I'll spare you the gory details, but it was certainly a low point in my life that I remember pretty vividly. In 2014, I was lucky enough to identify the road I was travelling, and through the support of my friends and family I was able to correct the problem before it got worse. I've now been sober for over 3 years.
I wish I could accredit my recovery to strength, willpower, and mindfulness. Of course, these traits were acquired along the road after - but really my recovery began with a sense of hopelessness, powerlessness, and loss of control, and the acknowledgement of them. The idea that I lost control of my life is what drove me to seek help, to admit that I was lost. It was the fact that my days were short, and my bank account was empty. It was the fact that I had no power over my own life and my surroundings. My reason for this comparison to my own experience with addiction is this - complete lack of control and power is what leaves many addicts open to rehabilitation. So my question is this...
How do you correct an addiction that grants power and control to the individual?
I've been calling this the 'wealth addiction paradox' to myself in my head. I've googled it to see if anyone has addressed this issue before, but didn't have much luck in my findings. It seems as if the wealthiest demographic exhibits similar traits to that of an alcoholic or drug abuser - but with money.
I pulled some addictive behaviors off of 'narconon.com', just to see who fit the bill:
- They lie.
- They manipulate.
- They are very likely to be engaged in criminal acts.
- An addict will shift the blame.
- An addict is very likely to become abusive.
I don't think I have to point out who and what this sounds like.
When I read these traits - all I think about is the current state of our country and how it is these symptoms that put and keep us here. The lying and manipulating is obvious. The criminal acts are easily covered up by the fact that most of them make the law, and can avoid abiding by it. The blame is shifted to the lower class, and to countries that may not be 'sending their best' to 'steal our jobs'. And I don't even need to address the abuse that our country is currently enduring (but I will anyways). Maybe not physically or directly, but what with the loss of insurance, education, well-being, after-school activities, and jobs to hundreds of thousands of Americans? I think it applies. They've lost their moral standards for life and love - leeching every drop of well-being from the common people - from the poor, from the youth, from the future of our country - for their own gluttony.
But this is where I become stuck. They say that the first step to solving a problem is admitting that you have one - and I can vouch for that motion. So how do we correct a demographic who holds more power a couple individuals than the rest of the country combined? How do we unlock an issue so much bigger than we are, even as a united front? It seems impossible.
I've found happiness and meaning in my pursuit to help the youth discover their passion - I wouldn't trade it for any dollar amount. I truly believe that the level of wealth that certain individuals and families possess are absolutely destroying the beliefs and foundations of our nation - any level of immense power is evil. True heroes understand this and distribute accordingly, and true villians embrace and hoard. The solution has always been love and assistance.
'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
I lost my connection with God years ago, but my love for people remains - and I certainly uphold these values better than some of the most self-proclaimed devout.
Wealth addiction is becoming a severe problem in the United States. How do we correct a problem that will overpower love, connection, and progress - every time?