The Argument

“How was school today, bub?”
“Okay.”
“What did you do?”
“Stuff.”
“It’s so nice to have these mother-and-son talks.”

As a younger person, I had a continuous argument with my Mom. She did not believe in performing volunteer work for charitable and educational organizations. Mom argued that volunteers are not respected because they are not paid. That is, if the work was valuable, you would be paid for your efforts. She also argued that by volunteering you enabled nonprofit organizations to provide goods and services that rightfully ought to be provided by our government…that is by our entire society. Ultimately, her argument boiled down to “we pay for what we value.” The converse being that when we are unwilling to pay for something, it is obviously not valued irrespective of the lip service. For example, most people claim to value teachers, yet they are paid at the lower end of professional scales.

I argued that even if she was correct, government does not pay for goods and services needed by many people. What would she tell the hungry person in need of food? “Sorry we have no foodstuff because our volunteers took a principled stance against charities providing free lunches.” And how would she explain to the under funded library that it will just have to cope without volunteers shelving books, reading children’s’ stories, or handing out information. Of course, neither of us had spent any real time offering our services as volunteers. We were armchair critics. She had worked her entire life while raising a family. I had gone to school. I was not sure what I actually believed in terms of the worth of volunteering.

Then something funny happened. Mom retired to Florida and vowed never, ever to work again. She began taking a few courses at Florida International University. Then, she volunteered to lead an adult discussion course on current events for the University. Mom followed up on this by volunteering to lead another discussion group at the local library. Soon she was on the County’s library board of directors. Then she was heading up an arm of the Democratic Party. All unpaid jobs. I asked what led to her change of mind. She said, “I am enjoying each of these activities. They keep me energized.”

As a volunteer for several organizations, I too see things differently now. I do not believe I am engaging in volunteer work for the benefit of particular charitable and educational organizations or to serve the downtrodden because government has fallen short. Helping organizations fulfill their mission or picking up the slack for government are incidental benefits. I am engaged in volunteer work for me. When I worked, I was really serving my needs for security, ease, stimulation, validation, and companionship. I now believe that my volunteer work meets my current needs. It also keeps me from driving my spouse nuts.

Rules

Don’t Let St. Francis Near the Birdcages!

Many years ago I was driving with my family back to Virginia from New Jersey when we saw a road marker for a state park. We immediately decided to pull off the interstate and eat our bag lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at the park. I drove into the parking lot, grabbed a picnic table that was located on a grassy spot adjacent to where we parked, and we began to eat. The day was gorgeous, mild weather and not another person in sight. As we bit into our sandwiches, a New Jersey State Park Police car approached. The officer slowly got out, pulled on his Smoky the bear style hat, and sauntered over. Without taking off his sunglasses, he said, “You’ all need a permit to camp at this park.” I explained that we were tired, we had just pulled off the road, and we would be leaving as soon as our young children finished their P&J sandwiches. “Sir you can purchase a one-day permit for $10 from the park headquarters.” I declined. We finished our sandwiches while sitting on our car.

I understand that rules are the price we pay for a civilized society. I also understand that rules have an objective, which should not be the exercise of power. Enforcement is a tool, not a goal. And that brings me to the current debate about the size and role of government. I prefer efficient government that looks after my welfare with respect to law enforcement, safe roads, fire and ambulance services, affordable medical care, and a safety net that offers a balance between providing assistance and requiring me to help myself. I find the Tea Partiers and the Occupiers equally dogmatic in their beliefs, the former for individualism and the latter for government programs. Save us from the intolerant for surely they will impose their views irrespective of my wishes or the outcomes.