Small Things Matter: Prolific and Thoughtful Advocacy for Elders

Submitted by:  Jerel Shaw

Let's face it, the world would be screwed without the expertise of lawyers helping people when they've been wronged.

Then of course, this reality (helping) is predicated on the a myriad of competing conflicting interests in our capitalist society - in others words, everybody has to get paid.

From the guy who was just blindsided by an errant vehicle who is lucky to be alive to the child who just unfortunately didn't survive when a out-of-control vehicle came out of nowhere onto the sidewalk in both the the lawyers and the claimant or their survivals can be well compensated if the lawyer works his magic.  From stifling class action lawsuits to million dollar lawsuits, the likelihood of the inevitable occurrence of disagreements often are the supply that demand that lawyers are needed.  And, unfortunately if  there's  money (profit) then without that element one can fairly speculate that lawyers lose interest - fast.  The bottomline is that many (if not most) can afford a lawyer without the caveat that there's 'money to be made'

Brings us to the mission of advocating for others.  Everything that needs to be made whole is not necessarily based on a million-dollar lawsuit, but still it's small things in life that can throw people lives off balance.  No need to go into details here, but the average citizen can relate to these sometimes unwelcomed and small random matters..  As an advocate for seniors and the elderly I would suggest that they are unnatural targets for fraud, scheming, deceit and malicious interactions.

There are millions of stories where seniors are routinely interacting with others in making a fair exchange (Consumer/Providers & Suppliers).  Yet, they are at-risk of being screwed as soon as that predator's radar of implicit prejudice is activated Not just seniors either, but identity prejudice happens to all types of people.  Yes, that include the person who is of a particular race and is stopped for just walking or driving, etc.).

Recently, as an advocate I assisted someone who was having trouble in getting his car fixed because the mechanic seemingly had nefarious intentions.  the mechanic saw this elder as a target.  From receiving a normal repair job, the person who was in need of a repair could not secure his auto over an extended period time because the mechanic was intent on squeezing as much money from him as possible.  Can you imagine the pain, stress, and agony this customer was experiencing?

So to make a long story short, I was able to guide this senior to charitable legal services, and just the threat from the legal representative got an immediate and favorable response from the mechanic in and benefitted the senior consumer.  One can rightfully ask would this problem occurred if the person under siege was not an elderly person, who also used a cane?

Then this this elderly couple had moved to a senior facility,  When they were able to actually move, they still owed a portion of a utility bill,  The utility agreed to take monthly payments.  It should be noted that the same utility company had reneged on their reduced billing plan earlier and had elevated the couple's monthly payment to higher levels.  Because of this, it could be argued that this is why the couple had an outstanding utility bill when leaving.

They sent in a payment that was minus a few cents on the payment plan, and the  utility company went ballistic. I was able to call the utility and explain that this couple could barely pay for their medical prescriptions each month, and both were sickly.  The utility didn't budge or apologize, but at least they were aware that this couple had a public advocate that was helping to record their faulty customer relations.

Whatever the routine activity is many people take for granted, and it is well documented, that elders are at-risk in all activities that make society function.  The moral of the story is this:  The elderly and/or the disabled can use your support  and/or stewardship in helping in some of their dealings in life.  From daily routines to internet interactions, many are at risk.

If you would like to share your story, please comment.  Thank you.

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The Poor are the Most Hated - Not the Rich

Submitted by:
Jerel Shaw
@jerelshaw


Being raised in a system that has historically become the best at indoctrinating the hearts, minds and souls of society many of us have forgotten this elementary fact: not connecting the dots often have us targeting the messenger vs. the source of the problem.

Let me explain.  For example, it's not the rich that are the culprit in a nation where inhabitants are indoctrinated from youth to accept that they can be whatever they want to be, including becoming rich and famous.  Based on this proposition, the 1% are the only ones that have lived up to that side of the bargain (Ethics do not apply).  There is just not enough to go around for everyone to become rich.  Accept it or not, this is basic fact.

Yet, our ingrained aspirations demand that we are always unrealistically shooting to be a part of this imaginary baseline (rich and famous) - or, at least a lot of people do.  So it's not that we loath being rich, but we do project our hopelessness on those who are considered the 1%.

Being rich is a ideal preached from Wall Street and even from the altars of the church.  The only difference in promoting this ideal is the style of delivery.  

Hence, it's  a given that those who dabble in stocks, bonds, and predatory investments; or have sold their wares and ideals to the not so rich consumer;  or when taking risks have only one goal in mind, to hit it big or bigger and to become or remain rich.  

But the same can be said about the little guy (and even the homeless), those who play the lottery and the numbers; or those trying to climb the career ladder who are not there yet, they are just as determined to break through - and become rich even if schools loan debt will consume their livelihood and their children (and their children).  

Those who pray on Sunday have also booked a bus ride to the nearest casino on  Monday.  Or, those who just received their monthly welfare or social security check are the first in line for playing the lottery.  Once again, we have been programmed for becoming rich through any nook or cranny.

Many are now (if not the majority) are incarcerated for having the audacity to want to become rich seeing it as a right.  Any many who  are free and rich are habitual predators.

My late mother didn't have a lot of money to take chances at the slot machines, but she tried hard with the little she had in hoping to secure that winning ticket, or hit that winning winning lotto number.  

One would be amazed of just how many today are trusting that the lottery will catapult them to the stratosphere of riches.  As an example, it is reasonable to opine that many professional athletes, entertainers don't necessarily love their gifts more than dreaming how that gift can make them rich.  

Unfortunately, too many politicians don't love the people (in this writers opinion) more than they desire to be positioned to make more (lots of) money. These are the type of truths that not many care to expound on, but today we are talking about the the majority of inhabitants in our society define success as being rich (Thank God that are exceptions to the rules of interpretation) which in turn they own a good portion of everything.

Strangely, it's hard to find a lot of statistics of how many are testing their luck across America, but it's an easy wager to suggest that millions are at it, as it's an open secret that no one will get rich in America (or the world) without luck.  That 1% that we love to vilify, let's just say, they are the lucky few - and we hate them for it, or better yet, we are envious or jealous of their fortune.

Without regressing let's take a more casual observation of why society should critically revisit the core reasons for the disproportionate distribution of riches.

We did say that luck and timing play key roles, but I propose that the system does not start at the top, it starts at the bottom. The bottom feeders empower those above them who are at some point further up in the hierarchy of riches.  They in turn empower those above them and so on because this is how the system works.

The poor will definitely be with us always because (once again) this is how the system works, and even God knew that man wouldn't function no other way. Hence, minimum wage that don't sustain nobody will always be a part of the system.

The middle class is a step above the poor.  I call it living in the purgatory. These are people who, at least in their minds, have made it and they feel that the system allows them to have access to resources that would sustain their welfare, even though this is farthest from the truth as they live from paycheck to paycheck.  They want to make a clean break from the poor, but this delusion is denial.  They are only one step from poverty.  Yet they hate the poor, and blame them for being poor.


The upper middle-class are the ones that are on the precipice of becoming rich (they think).  They are living well and occupy some of the most prestigious professional positions in society. They hate both the middle class and the poor, and dream of becoming a part of the 1%. (Note again the conundrum).

Both the middle-class and upper-middle class share a common trait, to never look back to helping others (of course there are exceptions) or risk their place in the hierarchy for the poor devils in the poor class - just give a little to big business called charity.

However, all the classes (poor, middle and upper) have a commonality.  They are entrepreneurs who are always looking for ways to make more money.

Yet, here we have the gist of a capitalistic market society that hates words like socialism, and equality while everyone is drinking from the the same fountain of greed and vanity (poor, rich and 1%).

I suggest that a new paradigm 

that teaches  

that all in society (every class) 

should help one another should be 

the core element. 

Attacking the rich has become novel, but distorted. In the reasoning declared by politicians like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren they seem to be attacking the dream of the 1% (without  understanding that virtually all Americans have the same dream) versus attacking the systematic vice of indoctrination that promotes every being out for themselves starting with the poorest all the way up to the richest.

These politicians, by the way, are not poor, many are personally rich. 

I suggest that a new paradigm that teaches that all in society (every class) should help one another should be the core element.  In other words the relentless drive for becoming rich is an impenetrable deep  mindset that has contributed to a cold and inequitable world.  To assigned this ideal exclusively to socialism; or for a supposedly Christian society to make it an alien proposition is ludicrous.

  
Reality is that everyone can't be rich, and fairness is a distant echo because of our self-delusion about the roles we play in direct or indirect unfairness.  With all said, we know good and well that the 1% are not necessarily a class of saints, but neither or the other classes.  A revolution that will directly confront a system that promotes discrimination, racism, privilege and injustice is inevitable, and that can only start from the bottom-up. Leaders for this revolution must come from all classes.  They must stop the machine that keeps us all divided.

So, dream on, but realize that there will never be enough room for most to join the 1% or the poor because that is how system has designed it.

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