Chaffetz shows his disdain for the poor

The other day I was dismayed at comments made by Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz in regard to poor people, smart phones and self reliance. These comments (impart) the belief of many out-oftouch politicians that poor people are poor because they make bad choices, aren’t self reliant enough and are even just plain slackers. To suggest that poor people may have to give up smart phones to be able to pay for health insurance reflects a profound arrogance and lack of understanding. In reality, poor people don’t typically have easy access to the Internet or a computer. A modest smart phone is a basic survival tool, allowing people to search job sites on the web, fill out applications, schedule interviews and more effectively manage what limited funds they may have. It would actually be smart, not enabling, for society to make lowcost smart phones more easily available in addition to providing affordable health insurance.

Mr. Chaffetz’ comment on self reliance reflects the subtle judgemental disdain many politicians hold for the poor. I would suggest the following for many of our preachy politicians. Take a couple months off. Lose the $300 haircut and $1,500 suit and go down to the local thrift store and outfit yourself with secondhand clothes as best as they will fit. Then go to Appalachia and get to know the long-standing Third-World-level poverty. Then go to the deep South, Midwest and Southwest rural areas to feel the generational poverty that suffocates people like a pillow over a face. Finally, go to our big cities and live within the urban blight. Perhaps after that you will develop some respect in the realization that most poor people are already masters at self reliance in just surviving day to day, week by week, in environments that have been callously stripped of opportunity and poisoned with lack of resources. I submit to you politicians (that)you are obligated to develop this knowledge and understanding of what poverty really is. Otherwise, you have no business making public policy decisions. JOHN CURRIER Rio Rancho