Victimization

Sometimes I use this blog not as a way to communicate what few interesting things happen in my life, but rather, as a pulpit from which to preach. This is that kind of post, so if you are not looking for a soap-box sermon, skip this one.

In the end, one very useful way to classify people fits into two categories: victims, and non-victims. I will describe both categories generally, and then talk about people I know who fit into each category.

Victims

Victims are exactly what their name implies—victims. They do not take responsibility for their actions, and they think that everything that happens to them is someone else's fault. They often do things that are financially imprudent, and then, when they are left with no money, they blame others. They view the world as a hard and difficult place that kicks you when you are down, and where those who rise, rise not as a result of real effort, but because of some unfair advantage they have.

There are several examples of this from people in my ward. They have gym memberships, eat out every meal, live in expensive housing, often buy new clothes (especially when they are on sale!!), drive nice cars that they owe a lot of money on, have large credit card debts, owe a lot of student debt, and so on and so forth. Interestingly, these people often have jobs that pay more than jobs of students who get no help from parents, but have no financial problems. The difference is that the people with problems simply do not take responsibility for their own actions—they blame their employer for firing them, their lack of education (which they chose not to get), some artificial bias against them, or other things. Those that don't have problems simply spend less than they make, and if that becomes a problem, they take responsibility and figure out how to spend less, or make more.

Non-Victims

Non-victims take responsibility. When given a problem, they solve it. When given a difficulty, they overcome it. However, they also plan ahead into the future. They notice, for example, that without a useful education or skill, they will never be able to demand a high wage in the marketplace. Knowing this, they take responsibility and gain the skill or education. They plan for disasters that will inevitably come, so when they do come, the non-victims are prepared.

A friend of mine is a great example of a non-victim. He buys his cars with cash, owns him home outright, and is well prepared for his upcoming retirement. The interesting thing about this guy (we'll call him Mike), is that he is not some fancy lawyer or doctor—he is a welder. He obtains and does welding jobs for random people. I will often see his old truck with barbeque grills or toolboxes in the back—odd things made of metal that he is fixing for people. Mike takes responsibility for his actions—he knows the skill he has is not one that pays a lot, so, he spends very little. He manages his finances well, does not go out to eat much, does not waste a lot of money on new clothes or other fancy things. He knows what he makes, and spends less than that. As a result, he is happy and financially secure, even with the very little money he has coming in.

The Result

The problem is, much of politics relies on the fact that there are a great many people who feel they are victims. These politicians confirm that the victims have been victimized, and find easily blamable things like the government, their political opponents, other countries, corporations, big business, foreigners, and the like. They then promise to punish those that are victimizing, and saving the victims.

This is, essentially, what is wrong with America. People don't take responsibility, have problems, and politicians help those people blame those problems on other people in order to gain power. Thus, the responsible are blamed for the problems of the irresponsible, and bear their burden.