We Need You

I know others have made the same point about other movements, and more eloquently, but wanted to say:

If you’re outraged by the treatment of poor people in this country, if you’ve been following the anti-poverty movement, but feel like you can’t be involved, because you’re not, yourself, poor, let me be clear:

You absolutely can, and should, be involved. We absolutely need you.

If you’re in a more secure, stable phase of your life, if you’re not stressing, 24/7, about your basic needs, if your health’s not being compromised by lack of money, punitive “Mutual Obligations”, and shoddy housing, then we absolutely need you.

If you think poverty’s a disgrace, then you need to dive into battle, right alongside us. That’s where you need to be.

Weaponise your comfort.

Help us do the work. Do what others — in perpetual survival mode — mightn’t be able to do.

We need you. And you need us.

Just about anyone out there who’s working benefits from a strong social safety-net that stops you from falling into poverty and chaos, if something goes wrong in your life.

You’re just a few steps above us, but many floors below the people at the top.

We need you.