• It must be because tax season just ended and my bank account is at an all-time low that I feel like I must be doing something wrong. I’m working my tail off, doing the best that I can to raise my four children properly yet, somehow, life just doesn’t seem to let up. I try not to get too frustrated, but all this running around is starting to get to me and feels like it’s never going to end. I guess that’s the world of parenting? However, the irony is that my life has always been this busy, even before I had children. Whether it was working my way through school, taking on three low-paying jobs to make ends meet or just doing chores around the house, there was always something to do. I never expected anyone to do it for me or waited around for hand-outs. But out of frustration, I am now asking myself: ‘why am I working so hard?’

    When I look around, I see a whole other side to society that doesn’t seem to bear the same worries and stress that I carry around on a day-to-day basis. I know they have other worries and stresses to worry about. Of course, it’s not everyone. But I’m sick of seeing so many people around me who don’t think twice about maxing out their credit cards, not paying back their debts and not caring to work at all. There are exceptions and extenuating circumstances whereby people have disabilities or have fallen on hard times. I can understand that. I’m talking about those individuals who are milking the system and draining our resources because they don’t care to put in an honest effort to support themselves and contribute to our society. And here I am trying to pinch every penny and work multiple jobs just to put food on the table and make it through another month of bills. I do believe that there is a time and place for welfare, unemployment assistance, Section 8 housing and other government subsidies on a temporary basis. However, when it drags on to the point where it’s being abused (people working for undeclared cash, using it for drugs, alcohol, etc.), then it makes the burden that much harder for the rest of us.

    It makes the burden that much harder for the rest of us.

    The reason it drives me crazy is because I know that if someone really wants to work and be self-sufficient, then they’ll take whatever job they can get until they can find something that they would prefer to do. That’s what the rest of us do! And I know that anyone can find a job because when I worked as a counselor with mentally disabled adults, I was able to find all the clients living at the residential facility employment counting and packaging Bic pens. They didn’t make a lot but they felt productive and gained a sense of accomplishment. Unfortunately, many people have egos or think certain jobs are beneath them and not worth their time. Especially if they can get their needs met for free! And I don’t blame them. Who want to work for meals and pay for utilities when you can get it for free? Well, I would as well as others in my circle because it goes against our morals to expect to get something for free. Plus, it creates a sense of entitlement, whereby they may feel that other things are owed to them and deprives people of the opportunity of building their self-esteem by being independent.

    I realize that as I get older, I’m becoming more cynical and less tolerant of seeing injustices around me. At least I’m more willing to speak up about them. While I believe in helping others, it’s important to see that people seeking help have a sense of accountability and are putting in an effort to help themselves. Yes, this can be subjective, but there’s a solution to that as well. Often politicians know that providing all these services for free creates a dependent society. They know it’s wrong but no one speaks up to change it because it’s all about getting votes. So, they chase the popular vote by telling people what they want to hear.

    The solution is to have better checks and balances whereby we monitor our resources and hold people accountable. More specifically, this means that if you’re getting government subsidies, then you’re working somewhere doing some work to benefit society, whether it be clerical, street building or cleaning or whatever job we can find you. Just look at our cities. There’s plenty that needs to be done. No more getting something for nothing! It’s not healthy and causes people to spiral into helplessness. If our politicians started doing what’s right because it’s the right thing to do, then it would ease the burden for the rest of us. It’s hard enough for me to support my family, much less earn enough to support others as well. It’s not a viable model for society and sends the wrong message to our children!