I think about money a lot.
I’m a millennial, I can’t help it. Most of us are often busy thinking how little money we have, how we can make more, and what we would do if we had a TON of it.
Most people think about their finances a lot. According to NBC News, “about one in four Americans said that money is the thing they think about most on a daily basis”.
Financial issues are one of the leading causes of divorce.
Basically, money is a big deal. Or so it would seem. It’s hard to get along or have your basic needs met without it unfortunately. Money makes our world go round, let’s be honest, so it’s worth thinking about.
I’ve operated in various circles in my adult life that have given me a unique perspective on money. I’ve known people with an awful LOT of it and I’ve known people who’ve had not a dollar to their name.
The government divides people by a class system or socioeconomic classes. My husband and I are considered middle class, due to our income. Both of us have full time jobs and side hustles that bring us extra income, yet still, I wonder how we don’t go into the hole each month. We’ve got a substantial amount of responsibilities to cover (rent, car payments, insurance payments, utilities, etc.) coupled with debt payments (credit cards, student loans, ugh). We’ve managed to build our savings back up (after our wedding depleted it), but not anywhere enough to cover six months of emergency income as the experts say you should have. Really, we are like most Americans, only a short disaster away from broke.
But how?
We’re living in one of the richest countries in the world, at one of the richest times in history. Yet over the last month, since the coronavirus became our new way of life, over 16 million people filed for unemployment. In a snap, their income source was gone and they were left with no way to make ends meet to sustain their lifestyle.
A short disaster away from broke.
That’s most of us right now.
The pandemic has pushed the government to erect a 2.2 trillion dollar bailout plan to save businesses from closing and individuals from going bankrupt all across the country.
Even celebrities are doling out millions to feed hungry kids and help some of their recently jobless fans.
I’m grateful that all these things can be done and that people will get the help they need, if only temporary.
But where has this help been the whole time?
A Long Time Coming…
In America, people have always been starving. People have always been homeless, living in poverty, not getting their basic needs met. Our economy, our government, our healthcare and education systems have long been broken. The foundation has been cracked for a long time.
Now the cracks are showing and the foundation is crumbling.
They say in times of crisis you find out where your strength lies. Unfortunately, in times like these our weaknesses are also on display.
America is unfair. It has always been, with its racial divides and huge economic disparities. Now that more than just the poor and underprivileged are feeling the ramifications of our hurting society, will more be done?
Will something finally be done about our faulty economy? Will our education system be reformed? (And teachers paid a respectable salary equal to the days of hard work and sacrifice put into educating the future of our country?) Will most Americans receive access to affordable and adequate healthcare? (So we can better combat events like this in the future?)
Will things finally change?
Amidst all the chaos, it’s hard to imagine an election is still due to take place later this year.
Whatever happens, we can’t go back to the way things were before. The new normal is already here, too much has changed. Too much has been revealed. Now everyone is aware of what is broken and we cannot simply turn a blind eye and pretend we don’t see it.
On the positive side…
During times of disaster Americans tend to do a great job of coming together and standing in solidarity. It’s one of our strengths. During these times, our patriotism begins to show. We can put away political and class divides and support and uplift each other.
After all, no one is immune from this virus and it’s going to take the collective working together to stop it.
When it boils down to it, it doesn’t matter how much money you have. No amount of money can make anyone less susceptible to the human condition.
In this war, we’re all in the trenches together.
Do you think the fallout from the coronavirus could have been prevented by the American government? Comment below.
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