“Pull Yourself Up by Your Bootstraps…”
As I have blogged before, I HATE when people say that those with insufficient wages or those people with a low income should simply “pull themselves up by their boot straps and get a good job.” One of the major problems I have with this statement is that these people are assuming that all good jobs have benefits and high wages. As a former adjunct instructor and graduate with a Masters degree in Literature and Writing, I can tell you this is not the case. For a year, I worked in my profession as a college instructor, which required an advanced degree, and had no health insurance and a livable, but not high wage. Worse yet, many of the instructors around me, some with their Doctorate degree, were toiling under the same conditions. What should my colleagues with their doctoral degrees do? Should they pull themselves up by their bootstraps too? Is a double doctorate now required for people to survive in the US?
Another problem with the bootstrap argument is that it assumes all people living in the lower incomes have a choice. It assumes that people are unemployed, underemployed, or employed but poor by choice. I have to assert that I believe, in many cases, it is environmentally enforced poverty. Imagine for a moment that you are a child born in the inner city to a low income family. Your parents each work 2 minimum wage jobs, and you are in day care at six weeks. Your parents, whose parents were in the same situation, never went to college and may have not even finished high school, and do not have the tools to properly support you in an education. You go to school at the under-funded city school in your area. The school cannot afford the best teachers because of the under-funding, so you are at a disadvantage from Kindergarten on. Your family lives from check to check and sometimes there is no money for groceries, electricity, etc. How focused would you be on bettering yourself in this situation?
A lot of people reading this would probably say, “I would make the most of the situation. I would still be invested in school and in my future.” Bull. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, if your basic needs for survival are not met, you can hardly ever hope to work your way up the pyramid to such things as self-actualization. The American ideal that you can be born in the ghetto and become Andrew Carnegie is a myth that is killing this country.
Yes, there are a few people that crawl up from poverty and live the true American rag to riches story. There are a few out of MILLIONS. The myth of social mobility is just that, a myth. It is a sociological fact that you are highly unlikely to ever be more than one tax bracket richer than your parents as an adult. You are basically born into the class that you will remain in. It is undisputable. Things are not equal, so opportunity is not equal.
So, those that say people should pull themselves up by their bootstraps, need to ask themselves, are there really any bootstraps to be pulled?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Lie to Me
“Lie to Me”
I have recently become invested in FOX’s semi-popular series Lie to Me. The show, while predictable at times, has a very interesting and captivating premise. The main character, Cal Lightman, is a man with the ability to tell when people are lying. He can analyze facial twitches in an instant and determine when someone is not telling the truth. Isn’t this a power we would all like to possess?
What if we did possess the power to tell when others were lying though? What would our social lives and relationships be like? This is one of the most interesting hooks of the entire show. I can’t help but wonder how a real Cal Lightman would function in the world. I would think the power, or ability to tell when people are lying would almost make you feel isolated and ostracized. Worse yet, we might always realize just how much the people around us try and deceive us! Think of how often you tell a white lie…
I almost think that part of the fun of life is the puzzle of it. Trying to figure out which people are trust-worthy and which are not makes life interesting. If this became too easy, I can imagine we might get weary of the world too fast. I almost see this in Lightman’s character. (He is a very depressed, misanthropic man.) After all, isn’t ignorance bliss?
It is an interesting life to ponder. All in all, while I enjoy watching Lightman’s character suffer through his genius, I don’t think I would in fact enjoy the power to detect the truth.
Where is the fun in knowing everything?
I have recently become invested in FOX’s semi-popular series Lie to Me. The show, while predictable at times, has a very interesting and captivating premise. The main character, Cal Lightman, is a man with the ability to tell when people are lying. He can analyze facial twitches in an instant and determine when someone is not telling the truth. Isn’t this a power we would all like to possess?
What if we did possess the power to tell when others were lying though? What would our social lives and relationships be like? This is one of the most interesting hooks of the entire show. I can’t help but wonder how a real Cal Lightman would function in the world. I would think the power, or ability to tell when people are lying would almost make you feel isolated and ostracized. Worse yet, we might always realize just how much the people around us try and deceive us! Think of how often you tell a white lie…
I almost think that part of the fun of life is the puzzle of it. Trying to figure out which people are trust-worthy and which are not makes life interesting. If this became too easy, I can imagine we might get weary of the world too fast. I almost see this in Lightman’s character. (He is a very depressed, misanthropic man.) After all, isn’t ignorance bliss?
It is an interesting life to ponder. All in all, while I enjoy watching Lightman’s character suffer through his genius, I don’t think I would in fact enjoy the power to detect the truth.
Where is the fun in knowing everything?
Monday, October 5, 2009
Misunderstanding
A Misunderstanding. . .
I am very frustrated with the amount of misunderstanding people seem to have in the United States. We live in a great country. I will not argue that. We do not, however, live in the richest country. Yet, most people in America would claim we do and really believe it. As a country we are hyper-nationalistic, thinking and truly believing that we are number one in everything even when that is not the case. Today, I read an editorial in the Daily Kent Stater where a student was ironically complaining about others complaining about having no money. He wrote, “You live in the richest country in America” suggesting that those who lament know nothing of poverty. I will not dare to claim that we as a country experience near the extreme destitution of third world countries. We are, for the most part, very lucky here. A large majority of people in America are living below the poverty level though, and more and more people are falling to that level. We are, as of right now, the eighth richest country in the world (aneki.com). The number is amazing considering the number of countries on this planet, but yet, it is not number one. It is also unimpressive when you consider how much of that wealth is shared by so few in the United States.
People in this country also tend to believe we are number one in health care. The media and government have propagandized people into believing this. Again, this is not the case. We are, in fact, ranked 37th in healthcare. We are ranked behind many of the other first world countries. You could tell many people this, and they simply wouldn’t believe you. It is willful ignorance.
Nationalism is important for the stability of a country, but when it is blind, as it appears to be in the U.S., it can be very dangerous. It is my firm belief that our over-zealous pride in our country is what is actually holding us back from becoming the ever sought after number one in the world.
I am very frustrated with the amount of misunderstanding people seem to have in the United States. We live in a great country. I will not argue that. We do not, however, live in the richest country. Yet, most people in America would claim we do and really believe it. As a country we are hyper-nationalistic, thinking and truly believing that we are number one in everything even when that is not the case. Today, I read an editorial in the Daily Kent Stater where a student was ironically complaining about others complaining about having no money. He wrote, “You live in the richest country in America” suggesting that those who lament know nothing of poverty. I will not dare to claim that we as a country experience near the extreme destitution of third world countries. We are, for the most part, very lucky here. A large majority of people in America are living below the poverty level though, and more and more people are falling to that level. We are, as of right now, the eighth richest country in the world (aneki.com). The number is amazing considering the number of countries on this planet, but yet, it is not number one. It is also unimpressive when you consider how much of that wealth is shared by so few in the United States.
People in this country also tend to believe we are number one in health care. The media and government have propagandized people into believing this. Again, this is not the case. We are, in fact, ranked 37th in healthcare. We are ranked behind many of the other first world countries. You could tell many people this, and they simply wouldn’t believe you. It is willful ignorance.
Nationalism is important for the stability of a country, but when it is blind, as it appears to be in the U.S., it can be very dangerous. It is my firm belief that our over-zealous pride in our country is what is actually holding us back from becoming the ever sought after number one in the world.
Missing Good Television
Lately, I have been missing good television. At the risk of sounding like an old person declaring, “Things were better back in my day. . .,” television really WAS better about ten years ago. I miss shows like The X Files, ER (Pre. all the original cast leaving), Friends¸ etc. I don’t know if it has been the influx of reality television, or just a string of really bad ideas, but shows do not seem to be as high quality anymore.
I do watch two shows regularly: House and Bones. House IS smartly written. Despite last year’s season finale, it is normally not predictable. It is fresh, funny, and engaging. It is about the only show out there that I have seen that is. (At least on non-cable channels…) I love bones, but I recognize that it is not a “great” show. Lately, the writers have been pandering the fans and making the show’s primary focus the relationship between Booth and Bones. As a result, the show seems a bit corny lately and forced. The writers are taking a too heavy-handed approach.
What I am most upset about is that people do not seem to recognize the lacking quality in television shows these days. Much to my horror, a Bones fan actually compared the relationship between Booth and Bones to that of Mulder and Scully on the X files. I do not see how the writing or the chemistry even compares. The great thing about the X files was that the relationship between Mulder and Scully seemed organic. It seemed to evolve naturally out of the series of events that occurred on the show. It was not the center of the series. The storylines still took center stage, yet the relationship was just as engaging as ever. Better yet, the writers didn’t seem to have a stronghold over the direction of Mulder and Scully’s relationship. It was slow in developing and the writer’s relied on using little interactions, like a look or a touch to keep the audience coming back for more. That worked. Booth and Bones are cute at best. Their trajectory toward love seemed planned on the first episode. The writers forcibly put them in scenes that do not fit with the overall storyline of the episodes, just to get them in a romantic situation. It works, but limitedly. I repeat, it is not great television.
I suppose someone could argue that television is just as good now as it was ten years ago. They could say that all my conjectures are opinion based. Well, to that someone out there, prove me wrong. I dare you!
I do watch two shows regularly: House and Bones. House IS smartly written. Despite last year’s season finale, it is normally not predictable. It is fresh, funny, and engaging. It is about the only show out there that I have seen that is. (At least on non-cable channels…) I love bones, but I recognize that it is not a “great” show. Lately, the writers have been pandering the fans and making the show’s primary focus the relationship between Booth and Bones. As a result, the show seems a bit corny lately and forced. The writers are taking a too heavy-handed approach.
What I am most upset about is that people do not seem to recognize the lacking quality in television shows these days. Much to my horror, a Bones fan actually compared the relationship between Booth and Bones to that of Mulder and Scully on the X files. I do not see how the writing or the chemistry even compares. The great thing about the X files was that the relationship between Mulder and Scully seemed organic. It seemed to evolve naturally out of the series of events that occurred on the show. It was not the center of the series. The storylines still took center stage, yet the relationship was just as engaging as ever. Better yet, the writers didn’t seem to have a stronghold over the direction of Mulder and Scully’s relationship. It was slow in developing and the writer’s relied on using little interactions, like a look or a touch to keep the audience coming back for more. That worked. Booth and Bones are cute at best. Their trajectory toward love seemed planned on the first episode. The writers forcibly put them in scenes that do not fit with the overall storyline of the episodes, just to get them in a romantic situation. It works, but limitedly. I repeat, it is not great television.
I suppose someone could argue that television is just as good now as it was ten years ago. They could say that all my conjectures are opinion based. Well, to that someone out there, prove me wrong. I dare you!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
An Epidemic
Ashley Howard
I have noticed an epidemic afflicting the American people. No, I am not talking about the swine flu. Over the past few months, I have become increasingly aware of a great sickness in the U.S. An obsession… It is widespread and people talk openly about it without shame. They even have pride in it.
I am talking about the overwhelming American need to work more than 40 hours per week. When you ask people how many hours they work, they normally reply with, “Well, I am supposed to work 40 hours. . .” They are, of course, implying that they never work that few. Instead of appearing angry that they work 50-60 hours per week on average, they appear unconcerned. They shrug their shoulders and walk away defeated. A lot of people even seem happy they are mired in such stress. It seems to be the American thing to do. If you have free time, you are not doing something right. Right. . .?
Most people in this country are under the impression that we are the happiest, most well-adjusted people in the world. Is this really true? Do the statistics really demonstrate that? The U.S. is ranked number one in divorce. People in this country get divorced more than they do in any other (Nation Master.com). A lot of people have argued that the reason for this is a lax youth that rushes into marriage without thinking of it as a long term commitment. This could be. On the other hand, people could be getting divorced more frequently than ever in the U.S. because spouses rarely see each other. Absence does not make the heart grow fonder; it makes the heart forget.
Daily lives in the U.S. are filled with deadlines and responsibilities. When men and women get home from work, late at night, they often cannot simply spend time with their spouse to regain that intimacy. There are dishes to be done, children to be played with, family to see, etc. Forget about friends. Friends are a luxury fewer and fewer people have time for. Friends have to come fourth on the list.
Besides showing that people in America get divorced more often than those in other countries, statistics also show that people in this country are more psychologically distressed than those in other countries. For instance, nearly ten percent of people in America suffer from bipolar disorder while over eighteen percent of Americans suffer from anxiety disorders. Ronald Kessler, a professor of Health at Harvard University, partly attributes the United State’s high rate of depression to the “constant pursuit of the American dream” (Dusen 2). With the economy in the shape that it is currently in, it is getting harder and harder reach the American dream. No one is giving up though. People are working longer and harder than ever. They do not want to fail. When they do, and when they have detached themselves from any world outside of work, they are falling into depression.
Last year, my husband and I ventured headlong into the world of real-estate. We set out to buy our first house. It is the biggest slice of the American dream. I was discussing our journey with a German woman, Sigrid Streit, doctoral candidate at Kent State University. While I was proud of my attempts, Sigrid shrugged her shoulders, unimpressed. She said, “That’s an American thing. Most people live in apartments in Germany.” Her comments made me think. Why do we struggle so long to own something, when in reality, we most likely won’t own it for 30 years? It is a symbol of vitality and wealth to have a house in the United States. So, people who really have no business buying one, often struggle to sign that loan paper. They work long and hard, and many times default on their mortgage. Admitting they cannot own a house is worse than trying and failing, it seems.
Material wealth, and the pursuit of it, is very important in America, more important than in most other countries. What do we have to show for it? Divorce, depression, two weeks vacation per year. . . I think perhaps it is time we let go of our sickness, and stop feeling guilty about working our forty hours and leaving.
As wise men say, “you can’t take it with you,” right?
I have noticed an epidemic afflicting the American people. No, I am not talking about the swine flu. Over the past few months, I have become increasingly aware of a great sickness in the U.S. An obsession… It is widespread and people talk openly about it without shame. They even have pride in it.
I am talking about the overwhelming American need to work more than 40 hours per week. When you ask people how many hours they work, they normally reply with, “Well, I am supposed to work 40 hours. . .” They are, of course, implying that they never work that few. Instead of appearing angry that they work 50-60 hours per week on average, they appear unconcerned. They shrug their shoulders and walk away defeated. A lot of people even seem happy they are mired in such stress. It seems to be the American thing to do. If you have free time, you are not doing something right. Right. . .?
Most people in this country are under the impression that we are the happiest, most well-adjusted people in the world. Is this really true? Do the statistics really demonstrate that? The U.S. is ranked number one in divorce. People in this country get divorced more than they do in any other (Nation Master.com). A lot of people have argued that the reason for this is a lax youth that rushes into marriage without thinking of it as a long term commitment. This could be. On the other hand, people could be getting divorced more frequently than ever in the U.S. because spouses rarely see each other. Absence does not make the heart grow fonder; it makes the heart forget.
Daily lives in the U.S. are filled with deadlines and responsibilities. When men and women get home from work, late at night, they often cannot simply spend time with their spouse to regain that intimacy. There are dishes to be done, children to be played with, family to see, etc. Forget about friends. Friends are a luxury fewer and fewer people have time for. Friends have to come fourth on the list.
Besides showing that people in America get divorced more often than those in other countries, statistics also show that people in this country are more psychologically distressed than those in other countries. For instance, nearly ten percent of people in America suffer from bipolar disorder while over eighteen percent of Americans suffer from anxiety disorders. Ronald Kessler, a professor of Health at Harvard University, partly attributes the United State’s high rate of depression to the “constant pursuit of the American dream” (Dusen 2). With the economy in the shape that it is currently in, it is getting harder and harder reach the American dream. No one is giving up though. People are working longer and harder than ever. They do not want to fail. When they do, and when they have detached themselves from any world outside of work, they are falling into depression.
Last year, my husband and I ventured headlong into the world of real-estate. We set out to buy our first house. It is the biggest slice of the American dream. I was discussing our journey with a German woman, Sigrid Streit, doctoral candidate at Kent State University. While I was proud of my attempts, Sigrid shrugged her shoulders, unimpressed. She said, “That’s an American thing. Most people live in apartments in Germany.” Her comments made me think. Why do we struggle so long to own something, when in reality, we most likely won’t own it for 30 years? It is a symbol of vitality and wealth to have a house in the United States. So, people who really have no business buying one, often struggle to sign that loan paper. They work long and hard, and many times default on their mortgage. Admitting they cannot own a house is worse than trying and failing, it seems.
Material wealth, and the pursuit of it, is very important in America, more important than in most other countries. What do we have to show for it? Divorce, depression, two weeks vacation per year. . . I think perhaps it is time we let go of our sickness, and stop feeling guilty about working our forty hours and leaving.
As wise men say, “you can’t take it with you,” right?
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