In Indonesia, public school is not free. That’s why Nyoman, the young man who works at my guest house despite not receiving a salary, has no high school diploma. Back when he was in school, education was not subsidized and his parents could afford only to pay for elementary school. Things are changing in Indonesia, however. Nyoman tells me now the government subsidizes a portion of Indonesians’ early education.
The U.S., on the other hand, is becoming more like Indonesia used to be. U.S. taxpayers grumble about tax dollars funding public schools. It seems the first casualty of every budgetary cutback is education. While developing nations are developing infrastructure (roads, bridges, rail service that makes mobility simple), the U.S. is seemingly falling apart.
Two fellow Americans pointed out that’s because wealthy Americans don’t need infrastructure–they drive, or rather, are driven, in Hummer-like vehicles that can handle any terrain. They travel in private jets and helicopters.
The wealthy don’t need public education–they send their kids to private schools.
Wealthy people don’t need health care or health insurance–they can afford their own private doctors and hospitals.
The rich don’t even need a police force–their estates are fortresses policed by private security details and sophisticated surveillance systems; their persons are protected by retired Navy Seals and ex-SWAT team members.
It makes sense for the wealthy to resist paying taxes. They don’t need any of the services that taxes fund. Or, rather, could fund if the people who can afford to pay taxes actually paid taxes. Which, in the U.S., they don’t.
The middle class and poor, who comprise the vast majority of Americans, on the other hand, can’t afford to become ill, even when we have health insurance. Co-pays can cripple the average American’s budget. The typical health-insured American can expect to wait months for a doctor’s appointment with a specialist when the general practitioner is unable to effectively treat an illness or injury. And forget pharmaceuticals. If you do become ill in the U.S. you better hope your treatment doesn’t include prescription meds. Americans can’t afford to retire.
Traveling abroad always deepens my love of the U.S. and, simultaneously, triggers fear–the fear I will not be able to afford to come home.
For me, there’s something inherently shameful about being an American who is not wealthy. Locals I meet while traveling assume that since I’m from USA I must be rich. I’m from the land of equal opportunity where high school dropouts become millionaires through hard work. If I’m from the States and I’m not rich, there’s obviously something wrong with me. Or I’m just really really lazy.
While browsing in Ubud’s Ganesha bookstore, I came across several titles that contain the words “second half of life.” One was about investing, one about finding meaningful work, one about making the years from 50 until death your best. That book claims that the least hardest working people are the young and the old. I reflect back on my mid-twenties when I held 3 jobs simultaneously. Damn, I wish I could summon that level of industriousness again. I’m going to need it.
In Goa, I hung out with a group of ex-pats who volunteer with International Animal Rescue there. One woman, Linda, shared her reason for making Goa her permanent home: “In the U.S. I can survive on my retirement income; in Goa, I can live.”
I think it sucks that a lot of Americans will have to leave the U.S. during the last half of their lives in order to live.
You go girl. Write on.
I feel your frustration Lynn. I want to live in my home country but I can see that I’ll be happier and healthier living overseas. But I also want to contribute to the society and culture of which I am so proud. How can a visit to a specialist and subsequent treatment cost me $12 in India when I would have to pay that just to park a car at my home town hospital in the UK? My treatment might be free but I’d have to wait 3 months for it. All of this stuff bothers me but I don’t know of any solutions. I feel for your guy there, good luck with that. His main skill is speaking English, he might get lucky with your help…{*}
As Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “I like taxes. With them I buy civilization.” RIGHT ON.