Money is Political

I don’t think I would have said this 10 years ago, but today I know it in a way that I cannot ever un-know it. Money is inherently political. 

Hello, my name is Julia and I am, like many others, here to tell you that you should vote. I know. Sorry not sorry. Just stick with me here for a minute. 

So, what changed between 10 years ago and today? First, I had a kid. Nothing like having a child to make you realize the massive financial strain they can cause. It literally made me look at the world in an entirely new light. Second, I started making a YouTube show for PBS. It’s cool and it’s won a bunch of awards. You can check it out here. For seven years and for over 100 episodes I have researched why Americans’ finances are the way they are and how they could potentially be changed. Spoiler alert: How we make, save, spend, and invest our money is almost wholly decided by laws.  

The fact that one company will offer retirement benefits and another won’t? 

The fact that childcare is super expensive in this country? 

The fact that social media influencers can peddle scams and faulty products? 

The fact that your insurance premium costs you a bajillion dollars and still won’t fully cover the things you need? 

The monetary caps put on benefits of saving toward retirement in things like IRAs and 401ks? 

The fact that there’s a massive disparity between the household wealth of white families and that of black and brown families? 

The fact that people with GOBS of money can spend whatever the hell they want on influencing elections? 

These situations are all due to laws and/or the lack thereof. 

Now, are laws the ONLY things that affect the amount you have hanging out in your savings account? Of course not. I have seen people handed silver platters of money simply dribble it away mostly due to personal choices. I have seen people create stable financial ecosystems despite the odds stacked against them. But, after 15 years of talking to individuals, researching economics, and navigating my own life, if I had to guess the impact of personal choices, I would put it at about 70% systemic forces and 30% personal choices. Hey! That’s a depressing rhyme. 

Am I going to tell you how to vote? No. 

But I am telling you that your vote really does matter. I know it’s easy to bemoan the fact that in reality we don’t have enough choices. I know not a single person up or down the ballot is a perfect human being.The apathy and cynicism is like a gravity well, always pulling at me. But if I succumb, who wins? Not me, that's for sure. 

I think another thing that’s working against us is the height of our expectations. What if we didn’t go to the ballot box with the expectation that problems will be fully fixed? What if we go with the goal to simply reduce harm? How can I do my part in selecting people in a position of power who I think are most likely to reduce the harm that is currently happening? 

If nothing else, just go so you can earn permission to complain. I love complaining, so join me. 

Will I see you there?