When my father was in his long decline, he suffered from that bitterest of cocktails, depression with anxiety for a chaser.

As part of a strategy to keep his spirits up, the family plastered his walls with posters like this:

And this:

These ideas definitely provided him with a distraction and helped him see that his glass was still at least partially full; and in general, I agree with these sentiments. However, some pesky stray thoughts are getting in the way of my perfect world. For example, these ideas hold water until one is a victim of, say, the Rwandan genocide or the Syrian civil war. What if you are that climber who cut off his own arm with a pocketknife to escape being pinned by a boulder? Could you have convinced yourself to have a good day? What if you and your family are truly starving?

I have long wondered where lies the sweet spot that must exist somewhere in between the free fall, the bootstraps, and the self-perpetuating handout. Our world’s historical literature is replete with cruel examples: the factory workers scrounging for roots and berries while their boss cruises by in a coach and four; the farmer who “died of want” while his betters affixed muffins and tiny battle ships in their massive hairdos; the barefoot mountaineers making corn whiskey to keep body and soul together.

But then, cut to current welfare state that exists in many areas of our modern “first” world. In the current system in our country, many low-income folks find that working at any job they can find is counter-cost-effective. The threshold of income that disqualifies one from receiving state benefits is, apparently, low; and when one stays at home waiting for checks to arrive from the government, there are no childcare or transportation worries. So, what is a single parent to do, but turn down the job and continue drawing on the taxpayers?

I am reminded of an anecdote of a young mother who had been affluent but was suddenly faced with a massive downturn in her fortunes. She found herself raising her small children singlehandedly and taking welfare payments from her state. After much soul searching, she decided to keep her Mercedes, the last artifact of her former life, which provided reliable transportation for herself and her family. But imaging the shaming she endured! Parking your $50,000 car on the way to the bread line! Having heard her story, though, I understand her decision; although had I not, I would have been tempted to react to the images on the surface.

So, up by the bootstraps, or head-above-water by handouts? I cannot say. But I have often observed the tendency of our society to indulge in wild swings between extremes, from “Let them eat cake,” to a full ride for sitting around the apartment and yelling at the kids. Somewhere inside this polarity is a solution. I just don’t know what it is.

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For your further edification:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aron_Ralston

“Died of want” quote: https://genius.com/Charles-dickens-a-tale-of-two-cities-chap-28-annotated

“Let Them Eat Cake”: Marie Antoinette’s Famous Misquote (thoughtco.com)

Appalachia, Impact of the Great Depression on | Encyclopedia.com