On Economic Bias: I am Poor, Not Stupid
63I have experienced times where my economic status left something to be desired. I have been on food stamps, welfare, gone to the food bank to feed my children, gone to a local church to get warm clothes for my kids for winter and signed up with the Salvation Army to have Christmas presents for my children. Yes, I did live a life at one time, it seems eons ago, where I was proud, maybe even arrogant, but, as the old saying goes, pride comes before a fall. I have learned humility over the years, particularly the last ten or so. It seems at times that Life has humbled me time and again. I have gained, though, a certain strength of character that can only come from experience and hard times.
What has repeatedly amazed me is the way some people feel they can treat me because I have come to them for help or they see me as someone ‘poor.' It seems that there is a distinct economic bias against those who are poverty stricken. Apparently, we are unable to comprehend what is told to us, we cannot think for ourselves and we are uneducated and stupid. Well, I can assure you that I am not stupid. I may currently be having some economic troubles, but I have a college education and am quite intelligent.
Case in point: I once signed with an agency that will provide free prescriptions to those who cannot afford medication. I called the place to see how long it general takes to pick up a prescription that had already been called in to be refilled. I had been at doctor's appointments all day, since early morning. I was in poor health and had had several medical tests run. I was actually calling between appointments and was on my way to another appointment. When I spoke to the woman on the phone I told her that I had to get the medication and she told me, "Well, you knew that you had this appointment this afternoon, you should have gotten up and come by here this morning." I was taken aback. I felt compelled to explain to her that I had been at appointments all day and this was my first opportunity. She still kept her haughty manner. It seems that when you must go to such an agency to get help they can treat you any way that they wish.
Another time I got food stamps in Louisiana. The worker talked down to me from the beginning. I was polite and kind to her, but she called me the day after my case was approved to tell me that she went ahead and approved me even though I did not provide the information that she told me to provide. I told her that I had given her everything that she had put on the list and she told me I was a liar. I had the list in front of me and I told her that she had no right to call me a liar. She told me I should tell the truth.
These are only two examples of how I have been treated as a person of a low financial status. However, an impoverished wallet is not indicative of an impoverished mind, values or feelings. Certain people seem to look down on those who have financial difficulty. If you are on food stamps to feed your children or need help with medication or bills or necessities, some people who work at these agencies seem to get some sort of God complex. They display an attitude that indicates that they feel that just because they are not in such a position that they are somehow better than the person that they are ‘helping.'
Let's see, I shower, dress neatly, smile, speak with proper grammar and am friendly. I do not try to intimidate people by using an extensive vocabulary or talking over people's heads. I don't talk down to people. I look people in the eye. I am kind and respectful to everyone, poor, wealthy, behind a desk or on the street. In short, I give no one any reason to treat me the way that I have been treated by those who ‘help others.' Over the years I have had a husband who did not work, was a single mother looking for work, got laid off of a great job and was ill and could not work. I have also worked but my salary was not enough to pay the bills and feed the kids. In the real world you can't always wrap someone's life in a neat little package, all cut and dry. There are circumstances and hardships. Things happen.
Don't get me wrong, there are some people who are pure of heart and truly want to help others. They do not present any bias, are warm and make everyone feel comfortable. They treat us as equals, as if they know that were they in the same position that I would do the same for them. They act as friends, no lectures, no condescending remarks or belittling. They are truly refreshing and those are the people who are really helping others. They are the ones who inspire people like me to help others. They are the true saints.
You can't buy your way into sainthood by looking down your nose at the people you are helping. Do you think that we don't have any pride or feelings? I would like to ask these people, what makes you so much better than me? Is it because you have a job? Is it because you don't have to worry where your children's next meal will come from or how they will be clothed? Or do I make you think that someday it may be you in that chair. It is something to think about, you know. One day you have it all and in a blink of an eye it can be taken from you. Then it will be you on the other side of the desk, while someone just like you talks down to you, treats you like you are not human, treats you like you are stupid.
I don't respond to these people who treat me badly. See, this ‘stupid poor person' has integrity, strength of character and a good deal of intelligence. I see past the rude, haughty exterior to someone who is intimidated and fearful. See, I represent reality, a reality that they don't want to face. I am the reality that it can happen to anyone at any time.
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I experience the same thing a lot here in Oregon. It is very disrespectful.
I felt for you. I am poor too....don't know how I gonna pay for my meals this week.
Fotojunkie, I agree with this so much. I have lost my job due to illness, mental and physical, and the people on the other side of the desk act like they are paying for your benefits. Well, maybe their taxes are but I worked for 20 yrs before illness set me back...therefore my taxes are included too. I had to call my sister-in-law that works for DSS in another county to e-mail my case worker about the status. I turned everything in within 48 hours from applying and four weeks later she was just sitting on it. When she saw the e-mail from my sis-in-law and saw the last name was the same, she called me that same day to say that my benefits were approved. I had spoke to her that morning and she was very rude, honey when they are approved you will be notified. I guess it helped to have a family mbr in the system. Great post.
I lost my job in November,because my company signed on to a new company and did not bother to inform me,when I did get ahold of the company,they told me I would have to drive to Phoenix(which is 3 hours from where I live to get the paperwork)(I was a security guard)i told them I could'nt,I did'nt have the gas and that was that. The caseworker who first reviewed my case(and I had not had assistance in over a year)said that I had willfully quit my job and would have to endure a probation period of 1 month before I could get food stamps and cash assistance and it was Christmas time! After I threatened to take it to court,after several weeks I got the back food stamps only because I threatened to sue this corrupt office for the second time! I was and still am attending college trying to get my bachelor's degree and i reapplyed for food stamps within the alooted time.Now,the new caseworker that I have did not enter my information in time,even though I gave it to her in time and now I am without fs or cash assistance! her response everytime I call her or go in is "I'm going to work on it"It has now been almost a month since I applied and "yes" I had to go through all the humiliation of the haughty jobs worker(who I had to comply with)talk down to me in front of the whole waiting room,and drive 30 miles(60 roundtrip)to Holbrook to comply w/child support just to get this kind of treatment and NOTHING to show for all the hassle anda missed day of class right before finals!Casworkers should see what it is like to be on the other end!
I used to be quite an arrogant person, but shortly after Sept 11, 2001 I lost my job as a systems consultant. We lost both our cars, both our houses, all our long term insurance policies... everything!
I could not find a job in 7 months. I was desperate. Then I got an expat job, made some money, started a business, and lost everythinng again!
Where we live there are no food stamps, no un-employment queue, no government assistance. No free schooling -- I had no money to transport my son to school, leave alone money to pay school fees!
I can't pretend that I know what you've been going through, but my life changed a whole lot -- and my heart!
Some friends and distant relatives had been very kind, and assisted, but we as a family had been humiliated at the same time...
I came to the conclusion that the world we live in is a huge hostile place, and that even when one tries to be good, the god of this world does his utmost to stop you.
I managed to find a small office in a shop from where I can access the internet and develop intranet web sites for one of the shop owner's customers. This helps paying for the rent and we have now enough to eat!
We live a simple live! Im totaly dead to material things! Someone had to give me a cell phone for free, because I could'nt care to get one again.
I had a burning desire to do good to others that are destitute, and I helped a few poor beggars, but I'm now very disillutioned!
It seems that the people I'm helping are professional beggars! They're not interested in jobs and they're really totally healthy! I asked one of them we began to know better why he does'nt go and help with the harvest, when he suddenly began to limp -- pretending that he was unfit for any job. This is enormously discouraging, and I don't know what to think! By the way, 99% of all these beggars, I'm told by the local government doctor, are alcoholics!
Fortunately there are good news! One day "... many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first." We will have One world government -- a monarchy -- that will by ruled by someone who has all the answers! The laws will be based on love and the commandments that everybody already knows but refuse to live by!
I've been in the same position and I've experienced a deep sense of inadequacy as a result. People are quite judgemental. The roots of this are the same as roots of any prejudice; not seeing people as individuals, but simply lumping the good with the bad. Have faith, you obviously have talent.
I just wanted to first say that I appreciate the way that you told your story. I am a 31 year old mother and wife. I have had my share of up's and down's and I have always tried to believe that one day I would have the 3 vehicle s, nice home and financial security for my family. I have worked since I was 11 years old and I still have not accomplished my goal ooal of financial security. I have attended college and was taking the classes I needed to become a licensed vocational nurse (LVN). I was making excellant grades, I had perfect attendance and I worked full time so that I could take care of my kids. Even though I was doing everything right, one day I tried to get out of my bed and I could not. Because I had no medical insurance and I no money saved to take care of medical expenses, I lost my home, my vehicle and finally found my self with nothing. I was not able to continue my education and I found myself like many trying to apply for and receive public assistance. The caseworkers I the misfortune to deal with were not understanding and very degrading.
It is now 2 years later. I have a minimal wage job and I am trying to keep it together every day. I have come to realize that no one is going to help me unless I help myself. I have to make sure that I stay one step ahead of my caseworker, because she seems to look for any reason to deny my benefits. I hope that she never finds herself in my position. The USA has thrown away it's homeless, impoverished and uninsured. I can only pray that things will get better, but I know it will not. God bless us all, because without Him, what will we do?
thanks for the amazing post its really inspiring.
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Dear ones. Thank you for your stories of courage. I can only pray that somehow we can offer opportunities that are meaningful. As one of you noted, no one can meet another person's needs. I know that the help that is given to us in the form of food stamps is so limited and really it is just to help with the survival. We all need and want the best for ourselves and children. I remember when I graduated from collee with a PhD. I had to go on welfare because I couldn't find a job. The social worker called me very early in the morning at 7AM to ask me whether I had gone to look for work! I just couldn't imagine what she was thinking aobut.... that I went to school for all those years to go on welfare? I asked her whether she really thought I was just seating at home waiting for the welfare check. Anyway, I had to leave to find a job in another country.
working
wajay_47 says:
2 years ago
Excellent hub, fotojunkie and you are quite right! Some of these people should be removed from their confortable, stable positions and placed on the unemployment roster.