Injustice

The idea of justice is very important to me. It really bothers me to see something that is unjust or blatantly contrary to good morals or common sense taking place. I think injustice is becoming more and more common and accepted in society to the point where we sometimes don't even recognize it at all. I read an article in the Marietta Daily Journal today that highlights exactly what I am talking about and spurred me to write this note. The article was about how the City of Atlanta has demolished almost all of its housing projects in an effort to reduce crime and generally improve the areas around where they were built. (Some of the projects were so crime-ridden that the US Postal Service would not deliver mail to them without police escorts.) It said there are only a few projects left to dismantle and that residents of the demolished projects have been given vouchers with which to pay for private housing. It is a trend being repeated in major cities all across the country, and is generally considered a positive advancement in urban development. In their article, the MDJ interviewed some of the opponents of the movement, particularly a resident of one of the few remaining projects, Jeff Walker. Mr. Walker complained to the MDJ that he didn't want to leave. "I don't think it's fair," he said. "I didn't ask to be moved."

Well excuse me, Mr. Walker, but I don't think it's fair that I work and pay taxes so you can sit in your free house all day and do nothing. And I didn't ask to pay your rent for you as long as you decide not to be a productive member of society. Mr. Walker's statements made me sick and are a perfect example of the injustice that society (particularly the welfare state) has come to tolerate. Even worse is that the Journal presented his arguments as if they were legitimate and reasonable. The crucial fact that Mr. Walker forgets is that he didn't do anything to earn the housing he has enjoyed since he moved to the projects. What is unfair about the City of Atlanta asking him to leave a government-owned facility? Nothing. What is unfair is that Mr. Walker--who is not disabled--gets to live in an apartment for free while the rest of us hard-working taxpayers pay his rent. And his comment about not having asked to be moved? How ungratefully audacious! I find it very sad that we as a society have sunk not only to the level where we expect handouts, but to the level where we feel right in complaining when we get them. What this article says, in short, is that in America you can be both a beggar and a chooser. All you have to do is--nothing.