I am not quite sure if I am one of ‘those’ people. What I
am, is a hard working, tax paying, multi-party system loving American. Though,
I’m guessing by my party affiliation or maybe because I received government
assistance when I was a young, single mom that you might put me into your
‘those’ box. But, if you want to get to know me a bit more, which is something
I expect from a great leader, read on good sir!
I believe, much like Jesus, that we will indeed be judged by
how we treat the least fortunate in our world. And even though you seem to
think these folks are “entitled”– I don’t happen to think that they chose their
circumstance. What I do know is that:
You, me nor anyone else was lucky enough to select our
parents. This simple fact highlights:
• We don’t get to pick our IQ (mostly hereditary)
• We don’t get to pick our race or our sex
• And we certainly don’t get to choose whether we have
disabilities that may impact our activities of daily living
Why are these few things important? These are the large
drivers in access to economic mobility, equal education, and even simply, the
ability to gain advanced degrees or navigate the complex financing constraints
and loopholes for starting a business.
What else is a large driver in this lack of access to
finding employment or wealth? Well, it’s also the parents, as our lack of
access to upward mobility in this country is embarrassingly low. And, as you
know, our income inequality is more severe than most of West Africa, Europe and
Asia. In fact, it’s one of the worst in the world.
I also want you to know that I believe that the people who
plant and grow my food, work in blue-collar jobs maintaining our infrastructure
and who teach our most important commodity, our children, while earning
their pink collar wages are “entitled” to live the American Dream. And my one question for you, Mitt, is
don’t you agree?
The mounting challenges in economics, the environment, our
aging population, access to healthcare, education and equality, just to name a
few – are some of the most complex issues that we have ever faced as a nation
and as world. These challenges should be in the hands of a leader who
represents not just 100% of their countries citizens, but uses their position
of power to affect change for those with the smallest of voices, as the great
leaders of this nation have consistently done.
One small voice,
Rachelle McClure
Rachelle is a mother, educator and interior designer. Her favorite
clients are the veterans, children and families she has been able to
design a better world for working alongside Habitat for Humanity, local
homeless shelters and non-profits dedicated low-income housing.
