Who provides you services in your life, but lives in poverty despite their work?

[CreekDog]

First off, this is not blaming you or anybody for poverty. I'm asking to recognize it where we see it and do something about it.

This is about recognizing those who provide us with the things we want or need regularly (healthcare, food, cleaning, serving our coffee, home care to our elder relatives, educate or care for our children, etc.) who make such poor wages and/or lack benefits despite working.

I think we all are touched by poverty, some through experience, but many of us, perhaps most, because the people that make our lives possible, even in momentary, small ways, often lack the resources to live in any acceptable way.

The moral response I want us to have is simple:

We should want and support and help those who serve others and ourselves to have at least the minimum level of resources to provide them a living as well as health care, food, shelter, education, as well as the things their children need too. However these things are provided, I think we can all agree that those who, for example, take care of any elderly relative through home care visits, should not themselves lack health care, nor should they live in poverty --however, many do.

Those who make us coffee and those who make our burritos or burgers, should also, not live in poverty, should not lack health care and should not lack shelter.

These are people that DO THINGS FOR US.

Now, however one responds to this, the fact is that we SHOULD RESPOND, somehow. We can advocate on their behalf, we can advocate for changes in government policies to improve their lives, we can support efforts to better reward their labor, we can tip and tip well, we can give to charity. We can do all or even some of these things in good conscience.

We cannot do none of these things in good conscience.

This holiday season, those of us who are lucky enough to be among the "haves" should recognize how many of our "haves" are provided to us by the "have-nots". And our appreciation should be shown in trying to right this very wrong part of our society.

And it can be done.

[mainer]

1. We should start by paying our helpers DECENT hourly wages.

You can't expect loyalty if you don't give loyalty in return.

[Cleita]

2. Actually, the ladies who do my hair and take care of other

aesthetic personal needs are better off than me. They get to take vacations. I barely scrape up the money to get my hair and nails done. My doctors do really well too, although I wonder how well the nurses and other workers in their offices and in the hospitals and labs are taken care of. No one cleans my house, shops or cooks for me or pumps my gas. I never buy coffee or prepared food from a store. If I have to be out all day somewhere, I pack a meal and drink.

I believe the only people who are slaving that I deal with are the clerks in the stores where I find I need to occasionally shop to buy clothes and other necessities. I know the groceries clerks are well paid because they are mostly union, but I don't think the other ones are.

I do agree with you that the fast food workers, gardeners and the agricultural workers need to make better wages or a living wage. I believe a living wage in my area would be $20 an hour.

[joesdaughter]

3. Not Sure, but

a two years ago my newspaper courier drove a shiny tandem axle diesel pick-up. He had a tool chest attached and well used cleats on the frame of the bed. He also had a child who was an honor student. I'm sure newspaper delivery was not the plan when he bought that vehicle. So I know he was in trouble- doing all he needed to do.

[northoftheborder]

4. Thanks for this reminder. it made me think of some people who need a Christmas card with....

.....an appreciated gift inside. Plus bigger tips the rest of the year.

[wendylaroux]

5. Nurses Aides

taking care of our loved ones in nursing homes.Physically,mentally devastating work. Minimum wage. Maybe a little more in some areas. If anyone deserves a great wage,it is these workers.

[joesdaughter]

6. Raising Social Security

eligibility age would let these angels among us go from caregivers to residents in one smooth transition.

[wendylaroux]

8. You're so right,

i have seen it happen myself.Maybe not right away,but a few short years and these people are ready for care themselves. Ruined backs,nerves wrecked. So sad.

[CreekDog]

9. why raise the age?

dont' understand this argument.

[AndyTiedye]

10. I Think She Must Have Meant to Say "Lower"

Raising the age would just force the barely-able to work even longer.
Lowering it would allow them to retire.

[CreekDog]

11. that's what I thought too

[joesdaughter]

12. I meant raise the age of eligibility.

My sarcasm was an attempt to point out that some of the idiots who want to raise retirement eligibility age have not lifted anything heavier than a 9 iron.

[OneGrassRoot]

7. K&R n/t