The Unemployed are Lazy

This is a common judgment made for those who are on the streets or collecting unemployment payments. I don't understand why such a broad (and false) statement gathers so much steam. The Occupy Wall Street movement has stirred up some real conversation. Some of those conversations are more in the form of satire and sarcasm, and the backlash of people who wish to teach the "occupiers" some life lessons is strong. The misconception that unemployed are lazy or un-wise at best is at the heart of most negative responses. I have heard and read these comments lately: "Go get a job!" "I am the 1% of the 99% who work hard and don't whine."

I hear the perspective of those who are frustrated because they work their tail off and don't expect special treatment and make it work. You are to be commended for your hard work. Your wise choices of not being in credit card debt and not losing your house are rewards in themselves. America (et all) screwed up. Things got out of control. Greed is the new black. I get this. When someone who has miles of credit card debt and bad financial decisions wants to be forgiven their debts, it does smack a little of unfairness for me who has always and I mean ALWAYS paid my bills in full. Then I am challenged by the parable Jesus told of the hired hands. Remember that parable?

Matthew 20:1-16
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

This parable reminds me that if I got hired first- I was already lucky. I have a strong back, a clean face. Those hired last are the ones who are old, injured, or plain unlucky. Some might argue that the first ones had good reputations and were hard working and the last ones were lazy and thieves. The scripture does not give us those details. I could counter-argue that the first ones beat the weaker ones down day after day, and the last ones were persistent- standing at that corner for work all day, every day despite their disabilities. The scripture doesn't give us those details either.

Here's the part that the gainfully employed and hard working folks tend to forget... the system favored you. For those that the system did not favor- you lucked out. If you are: not a genius, mentally disabled, physically disabled, not from money, any ethnicity other than white, and a woman, then you will have to work harder. Period. Sometimes it doesn't matter how hard you work. Sometimes the cards are stacked too high against you.

I read a post on Facebook that was one of those pictures of a person holding a sheet of paper that tells their short story in relation to the Occupy Wall Street protests: "I am the 99%." This one was a satire in opposition to the movement, here is what it said: "I have a steady job with a regular paycheck, great benefits, and lots of room for promotion. Next year I will be paid to go to college and graduate with a guaranteed position making a decent salary. I am the 1% of the 99% that decided hard work and sacrifice were more prudent than complaining about how life is too hard and I'm not getting any free handouts." The writer appears to be a man named Dustin Franks who was in a US Army military uniform. I applaud his hard work- and his career choice. The military is certainly a good choice in this economic time- if you are able to make the commitment and qualify for the service. My Dad was in the Air Force, and retired a Lt. Colonel. Growing up we did not have the trendy clothes, but we had everything we needed and great medical coverage- we never waited to go to the doctor because we couldn't afford it.

I am ineligible for military service. I am hearing impaired. Our military does not accept disabled people into the service. There are valid arguments on either side of this issue, I don't want to debate it here. I just want to point out that this option is not available to me or any others with a physical disability. I don't want to be in the military, so it does not affect me personally. However, this is the only gig I know that provides all of the things that Mr. Franks listed on his paper. So, no matter how hard I work, I cannot get that opportunity. I could be like Keith Nolan (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/keith-nolan-deaf-man-army_n_932465.html) but with a 3 year old and a 6 month old and a husband with a full time job, this would not be prudent.

To those who post responses like these. Please wait. Listen. Watch. You might find that the majority of the folks now who are unemployed are not lazy. Are some of them? Heck yes. Are some military and other gainfully employed civilians lazy? Heck yes. Are there people who went in over their heads with their housing? Yes. Are there some folks who carefully planned it out and still got in over their heads because they lost their jobs and did not have the benefit of family and friends who could help them when their savings ran out? Heck yes. Don't even get me started with the medical bill debts. I have two friends (a married couple) who both have master's degrees, are hard workers and have ONE child. If they didn't have a system of financial support (I'm talking medical insurance coverage + government assistance + family support + church support + freakin HARD work)- they would be on the streets and their daughter would be dead or at least hardly functioning.

Please, don't judge an injustice by the exceptions. Don't be so naive as to assume that hard work is the only reason why you are employed. Are you smart? Not everyone is. The same genes that gave me my hearing disability (unannounced and unprecedented- neither of my parents nor did any of my Grandparents have congenital hearing loss) also gifted me with a high-functioning brain. We lucked out by being stationed near good school systems. My Mom had the will and ability to stay home during the day so that our education was bolstered by a constant family presence at home. My parents were nicely matched in skill so that we almost always had someone who knew the answer to a homework assignment, we did not need to seek or pay for tutoring. My Grandparents managed their money (also a military career) and only had 3 grandchildren- so they were able to pay for our college education. My Dad who had retired from the military after 22 years and a new job as a test pilot, was able to pay for my room and board in college. I went on to grad school where I got a masters with a scholarship, a very part-time job and my parents' financial help. I got married with zero debt, a car and a master's degree. I am currently a stay at home mom. Not exactly bringing home the dough, but certainly saving us some money on childcare cost. I do not kid myself that all my hard work brought me to this place. Sure I work hard. Not as hard as some, but I wouldn't call myself lazy. I would not be here if my Grandfather didn't have excellent luck and strong will (that's an entirely different post), if my Dad wasn't able to "squish" his tall frame in the cockpit to qualify physically as a pilot and make a successful career out of being a test-pilot, if my husband wasn't able and willing to work full time to support his whole family financially, if my husband's job didn't happen to come with benefits such as free housing and a generous congregation that gives you baby gifts and meals. I am not naive- I have a LOT of luck, or blessings, or community, or family. They also happen to be willing and able to help me.

I thank God for my blessings, I work hard to do what I can. My husband works harder than anyone I know. We live frugally and spend wisely. However, I know that without the support I've been given all my life to this day- I would be in a very different place.

I am the 1% of the 99% who has had a lot of things given to me and I don't assume that my hard work is why I got it.