This short episode might end up being a bit of a rant. This summer I was at an event celebrating a friend’s book launch. At this event, an older gentleman and I were chit chatting. He asked me what I did and told him that I create content in the personal finance space and then shared some examples. During the course of that conversation I brought up my student loan forgiveness season and some of the takeaways that I and my guests left with after spending 13 weeks having these conversations around the cost of education and financial policies in general. He then asked me what we thought were the solutions to that specific problem. I began to list many of the key takeaways that I’d left with from the season.
Then, he said to me, “You left one thing out.” He almost looked weirdly excited to pounce on something that I missed.
“What was that?” I asked
“You didn’t mention personal responsibility.” He then proceeded to talk about how people need to be responsible for their actions. What I was struck by was the underlying issue that he had with people which was the idea that THEY were irresponsible and that WE are being made responsible for their mistakes. To be honest, I didn’t feel like I was included in that WE he was alluding to.
Creating content in the personal finance space for as long as I have, I’ve definitely noticed some things about who people are making certain comments about. In this episode, I’m breaking down this personal responsibility trope, how it’s weaponized to harm people and why for me it’s a racist and classist dog whistle.
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Show Notes
One of the common talking points that I often hear as a personal finance content creator is around personal responsibility around the financial decisions and choices that we’re making. And, to a certain extent this is a very valid piece of criticism specific to the choices that people are making with money.
BUT, I’ve also noticed that the idea of personal responsibility is often weaponized against the people that other folks seem to they are better than. Not sure what I mean by that? I’ll give you some examples.
- The United States has a very real problem with homelessness. I’ve yet to go to an American town and not encounter unhoused citizens. I’ve also heard people say things like “Why can’t they get a job” I don’t know, Steve, the fact that they need to have an address in order to apply for a job could be an issue. Or, people will say “Why can’t they get a job or work at that shop over there with the help sign.” Bro, that guy is on drugs right now and seems to be legit bat shit crazy. Maybe they need mental health care and support before becoming a member of the Chipotle team. I’m sure that the other team members aren’t up for dealing with all of that right now. But, it’s the follow up comments such as “I worked cleaning houses and did this and that and the other-why can’t these people do the same?”
- Look, Bob, many of these people have also done the same. What I’ve come to realize during my time on this earth is the following:
- We start where we’re at
- There is oftentimes a small splash of luck that influences our outcomes
- Hard work alone doesn’t always pay off
- Policy really matters-People tend to forget or gloss over the fact that higher education used to be basically free in the United States. But, the US still values higher education so people borrow in order to have that credential with the idea that it will ultimately pay off.
- In the US it can take one small thing to someone else to derail your life for months or even years. Because that small thing may be a huge issue for you. In fact, this week I talked about why not everyone should own a home. I’ll include a link in the show notes. It costs money that many people don’t have.
- I’m so sick and tired of the assumption that people aren’t practicing personal responsibility in their lives. I’m also sick and tired of people virtue signaling what they’ve done in order to shame other people.
- Do I have ideas about what people could have done better? Hell, yes. Of course I do. Do I think that Nick Cannon is risking a lot by having 9 children with multiple partners? Yes, but I’m not paying his bills.
- If people are making bad financial choices I am always curious about the following:
- At the time did they know it was a bad decision and they had clear control over the choice that they were making
- Could policy have changed their decision making process? For example, if knowing that people are overspending on credit cards to bridge the financial gap but they have to have their kids in childcare in order to pay the bills. But, they use credit cards to absorb the cost of childcare. Maybe the conversation should be on childcare affordability?
- I also think about the fact that people could be:
- Paying rent or mortgage on time
- Paying their car note
- Putting a little bit towards savings
- Then, something comes up and maybe they aren’t insured enough and they have to make a financial decision that normally they wouldn’t have.
Ultimately, who are we to say anything about what other people do…if we’re not paying their bills? And, if you bring up taxes, here are a list of things that I’m not excited about that I personally don’t believe help with social good that my taxes also go towards:
- Wars-we have so many weapons, I literally don’t understand why we spend so much on war.
- Tax breaks for the wealthy
- All that pork in government spending bills
When people bring up “personal responsibility” you better believe that I’m paying attention to any subtext that might exist within you comments. Listeners, what say you? Do have this wrong/
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