Halloween haunted house cartoon scares people

10/9/08

Someone emailed me a cartoon that depicted Halloween trick-or-treaters passing house after house that was being foreclosed. The caption of the cartoon read, "Halloween is going to suck this year." And someone added, "Does anyone think this is so unfair, that the banks are going to get away with this but the people are displaced from having a home?" and, "What's wrong with this picture?"

It's not as unfair as it is sad. I'm afraid that people losing their jobs or trying to buy too much house for their paycheck is what has the greatest effect on home foreclosures.

I was married twenty-two years to a guy who blamed everyone else for things that went wrong in our lives; he never once accepted the responsibility or blame when his choices (and mine) were at the root of the financial problems. There were plenty of times we had no money for the phone or the electricity and even had a car re-poed. He always played the "If" card: If I got paid what I'm worth. If the boss' girlfriend didn't have so much power. If, if, if... I can't even remember them all.

Guess what finally finally killed the marriage: the "If my kids had more respect for me" line. That cut the cord between us and began the cascade of bad feelings which resulted in divorce. All the while I was beginning to realize there was no chance for improvement when there was no accountability for one's own actions.

If it sounds like I don't have sympathy for people who lose their homes that would be a misunderstanding. I just remember that back then it was often foolish choices that made the difference between getting by and not getting by.

There are always going to be crooks around us, trying to get a hold of what isn't rightfully theirs, money that they didn't earn. There are always going to be people who feel no remorse for taking from the "saps," the "suckers," robbing the old people, just because they can. A thief is a thief is a thief, whether they're dressed in a pin-striped suit or t-shirt, jeans and a mask.

We have to protect ourselves and our loved ones from people who don't care about us and sometimes from our own foolishness. We almost lost our beloved cat this week because I didn't read the directions on one of his medications. It looks like he will live but it will cost us near $1000 in vet bills - which we really can't afford - because I didn't do something I should have done.

My whole point is to be careful who we blame for our difficulties. It's why I worry so much about this presidential election. I hear people placing blame in the wrong places, and looking for changes that can make things worse for our country.