And while I’m on sharing links, here is a very sad update on James Robertson, the Detroiter who had to walk 21 miles to work every day because he had no car.
A short resume: charity doesn’t help address poverty. It often makes things worse because a poor person doesn’t live in a vacuum. There is a whole reality around him.
Clarissa's Blog 
great comment, only change works, have a great day
LikeLike
A sudden change in wealth like that broadcast far and wide attracts leeches and resentment like you wouldn’t believe. I’m not surprised he had to move.
Remember the story of Abraham Shakespeare
LikeLike
I had no idea about the Abraham Shakespeare story. It’s very very sad. 😦
The desire to help when one reads a story like James Robertson’s is very understandable. But the problem is not just that this specific individual who happened to be profiled in a magazine lacks a car. One can appease one’s guilt by donating money but this doesn’t solve the actual problem.
LikeLike
Yes. I agree. I think that charity is largely useless (though I do donate to some organizations.) I actually prefer my “charitable giving” to come if the form of taxation. I want a working infrastructure—not “feel good” spectacles. A government can’t (and shouldn’t!) guarantee all citizens a car. But a government should guarantee a working public transportation system. It’s ridiculous that in an urban center like Detroit that anybody would have to walk 20 miles to work. This whole story is tragic on a variety of levels.
LikeLike
“But a government should guarantee a working public transportation system. It’s ridiculous that in an urban center like Detroit that anybody would have to walk 20 miles to work.”
LikeLike
If this guy is walking 20 miles to work (and presumably back as well) he must be knackered. I recall old family tales of Youth Hostelling back in the day and even then they never seemed to get much above 20 miles (walking from one hostel to the next as was standard practice in those days). I’ve walked six miles and at the very least my ankles start aching, and it probably takes me two hours. Just shows you what that guy had to put up with.
I don’t know if this is anything to suggest that charity is a bad thing in itself- after all how much better are welfare benefits if it comes to people taking advantage of you?- but certainly an argument for comprehensive public transport (something lacking even in the UK) but also much better efforts towards job creation in places not so far from where one is likely to live.
LikeLike
The same thing happens to people who win the lottery. A lot of them have to go into hiding or even change their names to get away from the sudden influx of dubious “relatives” crawling out of the woodwork to claim a piece of the winnings.
LikeLike
The man had the extraordinary good fortune of receiving 16 years worth of his current salary in one year, so in a way he did win the lottery.
LikeLike
More money, more problems.
LikeLike
“But a government should guarantee a working public transportation system.”
True but this is Detroit which is more like a third world country than part of the States. The community in which he lives opted out of the city bus system. And it’s not just his girlfriend and others who are leaches. He did get a new $27,000 car free but the insurance premiums based on the fact that he hasn’t driven for ten years and he is in a high crime part of the city are $15,000 per year. He grosses just over $20,000 a year so his insurance (never mind gas or maintenance) will take almost all of his post tax income. Why work?
A government should also be able to supply drinkable water to its citizens but in the wake of the bankruptcy proceedings last year, they are cutting off water to those who can’t pay – 3,000 per month – and by the end of this year if this continues at this rate about 30% of the city won’t have access to potable water. Consider the public health issues as well as the moral issues.
LikeLike
Even I know that there is no car insurance on the planet that costs $15,000. 🙂
LikeLike
Ok. Detroit’s car insurance rates average about $5,000 per year.
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2015/01/31/commuting-costs-detroit/22666135/
“ Leedy (James Robertson’s Gofundme helper) told Reuters he was initially quoted a $15,000-a-year premium, a quote that highlights the notoriously high insurance rates in Detroit.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/detroit-factory-worker-gifted-new-car-after-nine-years-of-walking-20-miles-a-day-to-work-10030952.html
LikeLike
The real question here is : if these people really wanted to help and not just use this guy and then discard him, ,why didn’t they just get a regular used vehicle for 2 grand and spare him the aggravation?
But then the “helpers” won’t be able to self-promote in this really blatant way.
LikeLike
Which helpers? The two people who started the GoFundMe for him? The car dealership?
While it is true a certified gently used preowned car would be the least costly up front, the psychological feeling of getting something new after you’ve been doing without a necessity for so long is remarkable.
Did you know that your credit rating helps determine what your car insurance rate is to a shocking degree? I would not be surprised if either of the GoFundMe sponsors was on the title for that purpose. It’s doubtful James Robertson has much in the way of credit rating.
LikeLike
“While it is true a certified gently used preowned car would be the least costly up front”
LikeLike
So you think a used car on Craigslist is the best in terms of initial cost, longevity and overall cost to own and operate the car. As long as the car’s been checked out by a mechanic — I could see that.
To be blunt, a car that goes for $2000 from a private seller is likely to be a lemon or at the end of its life. A ten year old version of my car in fair condition and the amount of mileage on my car would go for about $4000 to a private seller. His previous car lasted for 15 years. Why would they get a car that might have only five years of life left in it if they could get something that would last for much longer?
LikeLike