Huainanzi - Entry 48

Trey Smith

[There are ways to evaluate people.] If they are poor, observe what they refuse to accept.
~ a passage from The Book of Leadership and Strategy by Thomas Cleary ~

There is a pervasive myth in this nation: Those on welfare, food stamps, medicaid and/or other government programs for the poor are lazy, no-good folks who want everything in life handed to them on a silver platter!

While there is no question that the above description does indeed define some of the poor, it just as easily can be used to describe some of the rich as well. The well-to-do aren't looking for food stamps or medicaid; they want tax subsidies, bailouts, no-bid contracts and all sorts of abatements.

In my work as a social worker, I can tell you that most people who came to our agency did so very reluctantly. They didn't want to rely on handouts, but they needed to eat! Yes, some were lazy -- they could haven't gotten a job if they really wanted to. Most of them, however, due to a variety of factors, simply didn't earn enough to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.

And here's a secret few people know about: a certain portion of the population we served refused to avail themselves of all of the services they were eligible for! Their caseworkers would urge them to fill out the forms, but many steadfastly refused. All they wanted was the bare minimum to assist them in keeping their heads above the waterline and nothing more.

To read the introduction to this ongoing series, go here.