Empathy

Let’s review.

Yesterday this pathetic blog dished up a little reminder on how a tax shelter works, who’s using it, those who squander it and why the thing can help lead to a happy life. The system actually offers we little beavers a cornucopia of ways to grow savings and investments, defer or avoid tax plus shelter household income and wealth.

Most people don’t know, don’t bother or don’t plan. That’s on them. The numbers presented here prove it. This blog can lead you to knowledge. It can’t make you drink.

We don’t come here daily, providing fresh and original content, to justify failure or celebrate normality. There’s a reason most people never become wealthy, and it comes down (almost always) to a single word: choices.

So, if you can’t find a few hundred bucks a month to stuff your TFSA for future happiness, then you probably chose to put your money elsewhere. Consciously. A mortgage payment. Piano lessons for your six-year-old. Your vintage VW bus. The dogs. Puerto Vallarta. Vaping and Uber. Alimony. The cleaning lady. Tats. Or the decision to live in a stupid-expensive place.

There’s always a reason for spending instead of investing. But there are also always consequences. As this blog has cruelly, correctly stated before: if you retire and must depend on public money to get by, you failed financially. You had six or seven decades in which to get ready. What choices did you make that led you to dependency?

Well, the TFSA response – readers moaning the shelter is useless for 90% of Canadians who have no money – led to a rash comment: “This blog is not for people who cannot find $580 a month to finance their future.”

“Then why bother writing it?” asked a poster. “Why is it so difficult for some to accept that others are far less fortunate? That life circumstances usually beyond their control, can severely impact their lives, almost to the point of utter devastation. Why is that so damn hard to understand?

“Being mocked for being poor, is like being mocked for being over weight. Sometimes you can help it, sometimes you can’t. Its shallow. Shameful actually. Anyone care to explain why wealthy individuals choose to mock those less fortunate? Is it the false sense of righteousness based in meritocracy? Lack of awareness or circumstances the poor are experiencing? Lack of empathy or humility? Its quite trendy around these parts….”

There’s no mocking here, of course. Criticism? You betcha. We don’t fete normality or attaboy people suffering from dumb decisions. Every day alive is another opportunity to do better. People do not choose to be poor or disadvantaged, but excuses never bring a better outcome.

Empathy is overrated.

Advice and guidance is a far better gift. You’re welcome.

About the picture: “This is Chloe,” writes Jon. “We were dog sitting for the in-laws and I almost tripped over her one night. This doodle is a chameleon.”

To be in touch or send a picture of your beast, email to ‘garth@garth.ca’.