I have been thinking a lot about work ethic and how wealthy people look down upon all the rest of us, especially those who work with their hands. Yet in political ads, actors portraying the working man consistently vote for politicians who disparage the champions trying to help those who make an honest living. Let’s try to analyze these ads. We have to remember that people running for office can afford to run a campaign. All candidates take money from large corporate entities in hopes of getting elected. As voters, we have to decide which ones will be accountable and vote in Congress the way they say they will. Those who follow the current idiot in office will not listen to the majority of us who want change for the betterment of ALL, rich or poor. They will vote out of fear of retribution from you-know-who, or stay loyal to their party, believing this is the right thing to do. Democracy doesn’t work that way, folks. It’s all about the people they represent, and all of us are the PEOPLE. So vote with your conscience, not along party lines or based on how you keep your money. Help everyone survive together by listening to your heart.
But that is not all I want to say today. Some days I wake up, listen to the sounds of nature, and work in my garden. I have learned to appreciate the little things in life, maintaining a garden, cooking, baking, knitting, and writing. Some days I just try to tune out for a little while. Yet a niggling thought interrupts my peaceful moments when others who are more fortunate look down on hard workers. People in power or in moneyed positions attack basic fairness, human dignity, and the value of effort—things many people build their character and identity around. These attacks threaten my core values, and a wave of sadness overwhelms me. My core values include honesty, grit, and fairness. Watching someone dismiss a sincere effort feels like a direct insult to those principles.
I deeply value the dignity of hard work. Physical or demanding jobs, like cleaning, driving, cooking, working the land, or trade work, keep society running. Arrogant people mock us worker bees, disconnecting themselves from the real world. (After all, they have people who do those things for them, right?)
When candidates disparage hard work, it feels personal to me, and I’m sure it does to a few others out there. Most of us got where we are because the people we loved had to sacrifice, struggle, or sweat to survive or get ahead, putting their children before themselves. I have continued this tradition in my family, and I hope that my child will do the same for his family.
And let’s face it, in politics, big egos get in the way. Status is important. They want to look down on the workers out there because they need to project this image and think those who are beneath them aren’t smart enough to understand how the system works. They claim to have made it without any effort so they can feel superior to others who work hard. (Amazing when you have a lot of money to start with, right?) They are clearly out of touch because so many of them never had to work hard. They fail to comprehend the needs of the many. People who have never worked a manual, low-wage, or high-stress service job often fail to comprehend the stamina, skill, and patience it takes to complete a job. They never learn the simple tasks because others did them for them. And finally, they attack those who are educated at the best schools, even though the majority of them went to those same schools, thinking the working class will believe that education is not important, thus justifying the lack of funding to help ALL people out there.
Hard work and education go hand in hand. We all need to do our part to support others who are walking in our shoes right now. Donate this fall to worthy causes that fund daycare, local school projects, college education, stations like PBS, and food banks. If we help each other, we will all be remembered in history. That’s a personal ask, but it’s also what I ask of politicians. Enough said for today. Hope for cooler weather and rain to get us through these winter months! I love you all.
