John Scalzi: Being Poor

[SheilaT]

9. Some years back, probably in the '90's, but perhaps even earlier,

one of the NPR shows, possibly Morning Edition, did a week long series where the reporter followed a woman who was one of the working poor. Among her many problems was that (surprise!) she didn't have a reliable car. At some point the reporter said bluntly that her problem was that she didn't have enough money. Period. With more money she could get her car fixed or maybe even buy a somewhat better one, and then she'd be able to get to work when she needed to.

The car thing is only one small issue out of many that poor people have, but I have never forgotten that.

I've been relatively poor at various points in my life, but have never been homeless. When I didn't own a car, I either walked to work or took public transportation. When I walked, the job was about a mile away, not bad. When I took public transportation it was in a metro area with excellent public transportation. I've gone hungry on occasion, but I also have the good fortune to be very healthy. Because of the times I haven't had much, I try to remember what that was like, and try not to judge others. It's hard for me, because I tend (maybe we all do) towards being judgmental. I do volunteer at the local homeless shelter, fixing food and feeding our guests. I don't do it just to remind myself how very well off I actually am, but that's the way I feel after every time I do it.

I get totally enraged at people who somehow think "those people" don't deserve health care, or that it's just a blip to raise the age for Medicare a couple of years. Good Christ! Even *I*, and annoying paragon of good health think that's idiotic.

Oh, and in a related comment, although I am totally down on smoking and think no one should smoke and that cigarettes should be even more expensive than they are and that smoking should be even less acceptable than it currently is, I do NOT think those dumb enough to smoke anyway should have medical care withheld from them. Whatever smoking related diseases they might get are punishment enough. Free health care for all, regardless of some of the stupid things any of us do.