2/16/2007
The Slavery of Freedom
Not a lot has happened of any consequence since the last time I posted, except for a followup to the original News & Record story. The article states that I've been considering stopping the blog. I figured I'd said all that needs to be said and I didn't want to wear out my welcome by becoming yet another "I-did-this-and-then-I-did-that-but-it's-all-boring-and-the-exciting-bits-are-made-up-anyway" blog. C'mon, you've got better things to do with your Web time.
However, I occasionally have a thing or two to say, so maybe I'll continue just a bit longer.
Today's offering is twofold, but both borne of the same incident. We were in the Greensboro Housing Authority offices for recertification today. For the uninitiated, each year we have to report our income and family composition -- prove that we're still poor enough to live in the projects*, if you will -- which determines if our rent will stay the same, increase or we'll be booted out altogether.
The first realization came as I was filling out the reporting forms and looking over the voluminous rules and regulations the office receptionist handed me. I realized that although my family is living in the most free nation on earth (arguably), we are not free.
Gasp! Horrors! Must be one'a those pinko reds!
Wait, put down the pitchforks and I'll explain. It occurred to me that if I owned my own home, I would not have to do this every year. My private affairs would be just those: my private affairs. How much money I made and how I made it would be my business. Who I had over and why they were there would be my business. What Mama does in her spare time during the day when I'm at work and the kids were in school would be her business. Where the kids went to school and how well they were doing would be their business. Our lives would be -- our lives.
Instead, we have to report on our financial and some social activities to the Overlords, in order to keep a roof over our heads and heat around our bodies. And if we don't report, the roof and heat immediately go away. In addition, we have to submit to inspections pretty much whenever management feels like it; report if I make more money, temporarily or not; report who in the house is working and why or why not; how well the kids are doing in school and why or why not; and always, always dread the next inspection or recertification where we may have forgotten to dot some arcane i or cross some obsolete t that'll land us right back on the street.
I pass by houses every day and I envy those within. Sure, they have their own set of problems, but they're not sweating losing their home just because they can finally tell some bigwig "none of your business" when s/he wants to go poking into their private affairs.
Yes, I can almost hear the rebuttals: "But you're better off than when you were homeless." "But at least you have a roof over your head." "At least you're still alive." "Well, you got to go through some of that if people are helping you." But show of hands, now: how many of you like having to strip naked -- socially speaking -- for whoever orders you to do it "or else"?
The other thing came from a poster I saw on the wall at the GHA offices. It was a PSA** for health care services. The headline was "Poverty Doesn't Make You Sick, But It Can Keep You From Getting Well." How sadly true, but I submit to you that poverty can indeed make you sick.
Poverty can make you mentally sick by making you worry all the time. About money. About the rest of the family's health. About who's going to screw you today, or tomorrow. About the bills piling up. About everything in the universe that you could knock out of the way if you just had your hands on some money. And some people wonder why others play the lottery. All that worry leads to stress, and all that stress leads to...
Poverty can make you physically ill as well. Most of it comes from the mental stress that builds up over worrying about money so much. It's been scientifically proven that stress makes you fat and does horrible things to your immune system. In addition, poor people can't buy the right kinds of food -- fresh fruits, vegetables, foods with low fat and high nutritional content, even dietetic foods -- because they're more expensive. So we end up eating the wrong things. Pretty soon, you're flat on your back with a bug, a stroke or a heart attack. Or you're listening to your doctor (if you can afford to see one) utter those dread words "it's Type 2 Diabetes. There's no cure."
So to sum, I say that poverty can make you very sick indeed. It can also make you a slave. And neither prospect is very pleasant.
----------------------------------
* The irony being, of course, that if we were making enough money to leave the projects, we would've long since left.
** Public Service Announcement, but you knew that already, didn't you?
However, I occasionally have a thing or two to say, so maybe I'll continue just a bit longer.
Today's offering is twofold, but both borne of the same incident. We were in the Greensboro Housing Authority offices for recertification today. For the uninitiated, each year we have to report our income and family composition -- prove that we're still poor enough to live in the projects*, if you will -- which determines if our rent will stay the same, increase or we'll be booted out altogether.
The first realization came as I was filling out the reporting forms and looking over the voluminous rules and regulations the office receptionist handed me. I realized that although my family is living in the most free nation on earth (arguably), we are not free.
Gasp! Horrors! Must be one'a those pinko reds!
Wait, put down the pitchforks and I'll explain. It occurred to me that if I owned my own home, I would not have to do this every year. My private affairs would be just those: my private affairs. How much money I made and how I made it would be my business. Who I had over and why they were there would be my business. What Mama does in her spare time during the day when I'm at work and the kids were in school would be her business. Where the kids went to school and how well they were doing would be their business. Our lives would be -- our lives.
Instead, we have to report on our financial and some social activities to the Overlords, in order to keep a roof over our heads and heat around our bodies. And if we don't report, the roof and heat immediately go away. In addition, we have to submit to inspections pretty much whenever management feels like it; report if I make more money, temporarily or not; report who in the house is working and why or why not; how well the kids are doing in school and why or why not; and always, always dread the next inspection or recertification where we may have forgotten to dot some arcane i or cross some obsolete t that'll land us right back on the street.
I pass by houses every day and I envy those within. Sure, they have their own set of problems, but they're not sweating losing their home just because they can finally tell some bigwig "none of your business" when s/he wants to go poking into their private affairs.
Yes, I can almost hear the rebuttals: "But you're better off than when you were homeless." "But at least you have a roof over your head." "At least you're still alive." "Well, you got to go through some of that if people are helping you." But show of hands, now: how many of you like having to strip naked -- socially speaking -- for whoever orders you to do it "or else"?
The other thing came from a poster I saw on the wall at the GHA offices. It was a PSA** for health care services. The headline was "Poverty Doesn't Make You Sick, But It Can Keep You From Getting Well." How sadly true, but I submit to you that poverty can indeed make you sick.
Poverty can make you mentally sick by making you worry all the time. About money. About the rest of the family's health. About who's going to screw you today, or tomorrow. About the bills piling up. About everything in the universe that you could knock out of the way if you just had your hands on some money. And some people wonder why others play the lottery. All that worry leads to stress, and all that stress leads to...
Poverty can make you physically ill as well. Most of it comes from the mental stress that builds up over worrying about money so much. It's been scientifically proven that stress makes you fat and does horrible things to your immune system. In addition, poor people can't buy the right kinds of food -- fresh fruits, vegetables, foods with low fat and high nutritional content, even dietetic foods -- because they're more expensive. So we end up eating the wrong things. Pretty soon, you're flat on your back with a bug, a stroke or a heart attack. Or you're listening to your doctor (if you can afford to see one) utter those dread words "it's Type 2 Diabetes. There's no cure."
So to sum, I say that poverty can make you very sick indeed. It can also make you a slave. And neither prospect is very pleasant.
----------------------------------
* The irony being, of course, that if we were making enough money to leave the projects, we would've long since left.
** Public Service Announcement, but you knew that already, didn't you?
# posted by Cybermancer @ 2:43 PM 
Comments:
<< Home
What price freedom? Love your "strip naked" analogy. I believe in less taxes, less government and so being at the mercy of the system, is an awful feeling, but being inside is better than sleeping on cold concrete.
You might think of it as "a game", those requiring all that info, need to do that stuff as part of their job. Wonder how many of them get Lottery tickets on payday.
Often wondered why food that is healthy for bodies costs more than those that aren't. Found that by eliminating meat from grocery list, could buy more vegatables and fruit. For what it is worth.
You might think of it as "a game", those requiring all that info, need to do that stuff as part of their job. Wonder how many of them get Lottery tickets on payday.
Often wondered why food that is healthy for bodies costs more than those that aren't. Found that by eliminating meat from grocery list, could buy more vegatables and fruit. For what it is worth.
I believe that we are all slaves in one way or another.
A slave to a job, to a person, to a lifestyle...
I'm a slave to my medication that keeps me alive. But, alas, I am happy to be alive.
A slave to a job, to a person, to a lifestyle...
I'm a slave to my medication that keeps me alive. But, alas, I am happy to be alive.
I hope you do continue this blog. I think it's very important to share your story.
I read your post today (and that news article) and it really struck me deep inside. My mom and I had some really bad times when I was a child. Living in a car in the park. Living in shacks. I say poverty DOES MAKE you sick. We had no heat in our leaky shack of a house and no hot water. Because of that I was sick constantly with bad colds. I could go on and on w/ examples, but you know about it.
My heart ached when I read your post. I hope and pray things get better for you. Hang in there. :)
I read your post today (and that news article) and it really struck me deep inside. My mom and I had some really bad times when I was a child. Living in a car in the park. Living in shacks. I say poverty DOES MAKE you sick. We had no heat in our leaky shack of a house and no hot water. Because of that I was sick constantly with bad colds. I could go on and on w/ examples, but you know about it.
My heart ached when I read your post. I hope and pray things get better for you. Hang in there. :)
Man, why don't you get your own website? This blogging company is getting rich off YOUR content. Are you getting any advertising revenue? You've been in the newspaper and are probably getting a few thousand views a day; did you know that? While you slave away at a wal-mart.
I completely agree with your post. The things THEY demand from those who need help. The answers they want, the hoops to jump through. I've done it many years of my life. And now my brother is doing it.. as a single father of two. I hope things get better for you...
This is my first visit to your blog, but it won't be the last. Hope you don't mind.
This is my first visit to your blog, but it won't be the last. Hope you don't mind.
While reading your blog I felt many things. First, you should know that I am a social work student in a urban area. I also work in a junior high and see the children of poverty and it is devastating. I know all to well about homelessness also becasue I am working at a place that helps the homeless in our area. As far as having to report any changes in your income I read that and felt that it seems that the government is trying to keep you down. It does not seem like they want you to succeed. That is really sad and unfortunate. When and how does the cycle end than? I think they should let you live where you are living for several years and let you save and make as much money as you can so you can buy that house we all dream about owning. Than the next family can move in and the cycle goes on. I guess this may be elementary in the thinking, but dosn't support mean helping and assisting while a person is down and getting them back on their feet and independent again. Call me crazy.
We brought together the world's top fashion trends of designer jeans to display their charming fashion imagination, creative unique design, to explore the city a unique atmosphere of casual upstart. With its fashion sense, he was ahead of the sensitive integration of the brand concept, the shackles of the traditional dress once released, infiltrated fashion, leisure elements, breaking the traditional framework, and vividly show the self-style, to bring traditional costumes outside the the trend of choice. We have diesel jeans, Ed-hardy jeans, D & G jeans, Levi's jeans and other brands of jeans, first of all to ensure adequate quality and comfort and make the product style and the beautiful, comfortable, classic European and American avant-garde style of the performance of most vividly Cheap jeans allow you to reduce overhead at the same time leading the fashion in our series of jeans, you can create their own unique personality delightful charm.Our center also has jeans diesel, as well as a variety of clothing cheap polo look at the welcome your presence
Truely a nice blog and thanks for your great work.I have carefully read your Bo-wen,By the way,Do you knowcheap shoes store,Many people like it.and Thecheap polo shirtsThey sell are very good,Of course, this also includes theNFL Jerseys.People are like sports, I believe you are also.So,you must be like Cheap Nike Shoesand we are familiar with Air Jordan Shoes.these will make you eyes bright, bring you a special experience.Do NOT miss it!
Truely a nice blog and thanks for your great work. By the way,welcom to our websites:polo shirtsWe providewholesale polo shirtsWholesale and retail are both acceptable to us. Welcome to our site and free to look! Thank you and wish you a nice day. Good Luck!All of the product are popular around the world. In addition chaussures puma.Do NOT miss it! Wholesale and retail are both acceptable to us. Welcome to our site and free to look! Thank you and wish you a nice day. Good Luck!
Truely a nice blog and thanks for your great work.I have carefully read your Bo-wen,By the way,Do you knowcheap shoes store,Many people like it.and Thecheap polo shirtsThey sell are very good,Of course, this also includes theNFL Jerseys.People are like sports, I believe you are also.So,you must be like Cheap Nike Shoesand we are familiar with Air Jordan Shoes.these will make you eyes bright, bring you a special experience.Do NOT miss it!
Truely a nice blog and thanks for your great work. By the way,welcom to our websites:polo shirtsWe providewholesale polo shirtsWholesale and retail are both acceptable to us. Welcome to our site and free to look! Thank you and wish you a nice day. Good Luck!All of the product are popular around the world. In addition chaussures puma.Do NOT miss it! Wholesale and retail are both acceptable to us. Welcome to our site and free to look! Thank you and wish you a nice day. Good Luck!
Are you in financial crisis, looking for money to start your own business or to pay your bills?
GET YOUR BLANK ATM CREDIT CARD AT AFFORDABLE PRICE*
We sell this cards to all our customers and interested buyers
worldwide,Tho card has a daily withdrawal limit of $5000 and up to $50,000
spending limit in stores and unlimited on POS.
YOU CAN ALSO MAKE BINARY INVESTMENTS WITH LITTLE AS $500 AND GET $10,000 JUST IN SEVEN DAYS
**WHAT WE OFFER**
*1)WESTERN UNION TRANSFERS/MONEY GRAM TRANSFER*
*2)BANKS LOGINS*
*3)BANKS TRANSFERS*
*4)CRYPTO CURRENCY MINNING*
*5)BUYING OF GIFT CARDS*
*6)LOADING OF ACCOUNTS*
*7)WALMART TRANSFERS*
*8)BITCOIN INVESTMENTS*
*9)REMOVING OF NAME FROM DEBIT RECORD AND CRIMINAL RECORD*
*10)BANK HACKING*
**email blankatmmasterusa@gmail.com *
**you can also call or whatsapp us Contact us today for more enlightenment *
*+1(539) 888-2243*
**BEWARE OF SCAMMERS AND FAKE HACKERS IMPERSONATING US BUT THEY ARE NOT
FROM *
*US CONTACT US ONLY VIA THIS CONTACT **
*WE ARE REAL AND LEGIT...........2019 FUNDS/FORGET ABOUT GETTING A LOAN..*
IT HAS BEEN TESTED AND TRUSTED
GET YOUR BLANK ATM CREDIT CARD AT AFFORDABLE PRICE*
We sell this cards to all our customers and interested buyers
worldwide,Tho card has a daily withdrawal limit of $5000 and up to $50,000
spending limit in stores and unlimited on POS.
YOU CAN ALSO MAKE BINARY INVESTMENTS WITH LITTLE AS $500 AND GET $10,000 JUST IN SEVEN DAYS
**WHAT WE OFFER**
*1)WESTERN UNION TRANSFERS/MONEY GRAM TRANSFER*
*2)BANKS LOGINS*
*3)BANKS TRANSFERS*
*4)CRYPTO CURRENCY MINNING*
*5)BUYING OF GIFT CARDS*
*6)LOADING OF ACCOUNTS*
*7)WALMART TRANSFERS*
*8)BITCOIN INVESTMENTS*
*9)REMOVING OF NAME FROM DEBIT RECORD AND CRIMINAL RECORD*
*10)BANK HACKING*
**email blankatmmasterusa@gmail.com *
**you can also call or whatsapp us Contact us today for more enlightenment *
*+1(539) 888-2243*
**BEWARE OF SCAMMERS AND FAKE HACKERS IMPERSONATING US BUT THEY ARE NOT
FROM *
*US CONTACT US ONLY VIA THIS CONTACT **
*WE ARE REAL AND LEGIT...........2019 FUNDS/FORGET ABOUT GETTING A LOAN..*
IT HAS BEEN TESTED AND TRUSTED
Sealantonline Ltd. will continue to develop and progress through its quality products, efficient solutions, and experienced staff. We are dedicated to hiring ethical employees who hold the utmost respect for our clients. Sealantonline Ltd. employees put the client’s needs first as well as integrating relationships with the clients beyond a business level.
We define ourselves through our cooperative work environment and quality control. We promote ethical conduct, the pursuit of excellence, integrity and honesty. We will continue to practice these beliefs diligently throughout its continued periods of growth.
Thank you very much for taking the time to consider our company.
Fire protect door
We define ourselves through our cooperative work environment and quality control. We promote ethical conduct, the pursuit of excellence, integrity and honesty. We will continue to practice these beliefs diligently throughout its continued periods of growth.
Thank you very much for taking the time to consider our company.
Fire protect door
Walk-In Care for Patients of All Ages
Urgent Orthopedic Care expert healthcare providers can manage orthopedic injuries in
seniors, adults, and children ages two and up.
https://urgentorthopedicscare.com/
#URGENTCARE, #URGENT CARE,
Urgent Orthopedic Care expert healthcare providers can manage orthopedic injuries in
seniors, adults, and children ages two and up.
https://urgentorthopedicscare.com/
#URGENTCARE, #URGENT CARE,
Thanks for sharing this information, Please keep sharing.
if you want to know more about sidewalks please visit website: Sidewalk Repair NYC
if you want to know more about sidewalks please visit website: Sidewalk Repair NYC
Transform your outdoor space with the elegance and durability of Ipe Fencing. Explore our premium selection at BW Depot and enhance the beauty of your surroundings with the finest quality wood fencing solutions
Post a Comment
<< Home
