Occupy Human Dignity: My Story (Part 2)

[Admiral Loinpresser]

N.B. For the context of Part 1 you can find it at my journal on this website: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Admiral%20Loinpresser

Why do I do this? Have I become overly “Oprafied,” i.e. willing to discuss publicly my own personal situation? The answer is that freedom means nothing left to lose, as the song says. I am one of America's dispossessed. Don't get me wrong. I'm still much more fortunate than other people in America, e.g. the homeless, the physically disabled, those living on reservations, in ghettos and barrios. But I am poor. American society generally holds the value that there is shame in being poor. That is major bullshit. There is no shame in being poor. The shame is in being wealthy in America. Unfortunately most Americans still don't get that, indeed, far too many DUers still don't get that. I guess they weren't paying attention when the Sermon on the Mount was being taught in Sunday School.

Anyway, this series of posts is partly my declaration of independence from the bullshit mythos about wealth in America. There is no shame in being poor, only shame in being wealthy.

I got a call from a debt collector today about a credit card debt from years ago. The woman was very courteous and sympathetic when I explained that I didn't blame her at all for trying to make a living, anymore than I blame the vast majority of police who are just trying to make a living while they protect and serve in very difficult conditions. I went on to explain that I did despise those in the 1% who sat at the top of the corporation which issued me that credit card and then proceeded to charge usurious interest rates. I obtained the card in order to try keep surviving financially because I have been in negative cash flow for much of the past decade. Earlier she had suggested re-financing my home to settle this old credit card debt. I laughed and said that even if it were possible (it isn't), I had no intention of voluntarily surrendering any money to the 1% beyond that which is necessary to survive. They can go ahead and sue and good luck with that!

A personal note. I am an imperfect human being. I have read of the struggles of many on this website who report of their heroic and exemplary work to support their families, how they take multiple part-time jobs when they lose a real job and so forth. Most of those people sound better than me in that regard. I have engaged in all manner of dysfunction in my life. Bill O'Reilly could have a private eye investigate me and come up with several rationales as to why being poor is my own fault.

But I don't buy into that sort of bullshit. As much dysfunction as I have experienced in my life, I am still light years ahead of Obama, Congress and the SCOTUS in terms of being functional, not to mention the two major political parties or Wall Street. My utter contempt for them is real and legitimate. Compared to the power structure in this country, I am a paragon of virtue.

Today I am working on a spiritual way of life involving rigorous self-honesty and helping others, as well as myself. So this is my declaration of independence. There is no shame in being poor. Rather there is great shame in being wealthy. So says Jesus, so says me.
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