Hell is paved with good intentions, not with bad ones. All men mean well
George Bernard Shaw
There comes a time when those that advocate for change need to reflect on what it is they exactly want to change. For the past few years, there have been calls for police disbandment, education reform, censorship of alternative viewpoints, and cancelling people who have made controversial comments in the past. People are starting to become more vocal about these issues, and many are starting to realize that good intentions can often create unintended consequences.
Take the current crime wave taking place in the United States. Though overall crime is not up, murder is, by 25%. Certain metropolitan cities such as New York and Los Angeles are seeing crime spikes they haven’t seen since the 1970’s. Crime has been decreasing for years, and for a number of reasons. But murder is the most horrendous of crimes, and here in my hometown of Albuquerque, NM, we are in a record breaking year for homicides. With just a few weeks left, there have been 82 of them. And under the current mayor, homelessness has increased from 2,000 to 5,000, a figure he admitted in a recent mayoral debate. (Believe it or not, he won re-election anyway)
To say that bail reform and dismissal of criminal behavior isn’t one of the culprits that has lead us to where we are is both arrogant and unsympathetic. Proposition 47, passed by California in 2014, states that any theft under $950 is considered a nonviolent misdemeanor, in which the person will most likely not face prosecution. This has resulted in a 60% increase of costs to retailers, which leads to an increase in cost to the consumer. Along with the massive costs of living, crime is one of the reasons many have chosen to leave the state. The state’s population decreased for the first time last year after decades of consistent growth. Though crime is only one factor, to say that it hasn’t led to many people leaving is out of touch with reality.
When you preach to a generation that they’re the greatest thing in the world and deserve everything, it should come as no surprise that there’s disappointment when it’s realized not everyone believes this. Expectations exist in society, as they should. I understand minimum wage sucks, but it always has, and there’s a reason we call certain jobs entry level positions. Each one should be a stepping stone to the next, in which accountability, discipline, and appreciation are learned from the experience. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we incentivized staying home, and though initially there were justifiable reasons for this, it eventually passed. I’ve spoken before about the responsibility a society has to vulnerable populations, and that narrative seems to be lost in an array of what it is people believe they deserve.
Free healthcare, free education, universal basic income are all rooted in good intentions. But rather than be based on need and merit, they are often promoted as rights. We certainly need to improve the cost of healthcare and make it better. We certainly need to lower the cost of higher education. We certainly need to make sure that those who cannot work have their basic needs met. It’s an almost selfish attitude to believe one is owed these entitlements. Removing accountability creates dependency, and dependency creates apathy. The greatest accomplishments our world has ever seen might not have come to fruition if someone hadn’t been motivated to go beyond their limitations. Often, it’s the journey we cherish, not the destination. Journeys are filled with failures and triumphs, but we learn from each one.
Until next time
JPN