Your conviction that every human being has inherent dignity and worth is so clearly infused into all your work. It is a gift to see that value laid out so clearly here, and our unhoused siblings lifted up with such respect and care. Thank you.
I put myself through grad school with the exact same kind of tutoring gig. The income disparities in NYC boggle the mind. To witness them is truly to either become numb to the illogic of it all or to become radicalized in favor of building something else.
That we live in a meritocracy is the great myth our ruling oligarchs depend on - so the public becomes gullible to the propaganda that the homeless deserve what happens to them, and we can walk by them everyday and casually ignore their plight (whether we would like to or not).
The lie of meritocracy is wrapped up in the garb of an economic system that quietly exploits human beings as if they were cattle, while treating many (at least here in the US) as less than cattle. The work ethic, pushed upon Americans from day one, by the oligarchs and their bought politicians - is the ethos we are all suppose to live by from birth to death - work until you grow old - work is the only real value in life - Work will set you free.
But what is not explained to you is how the US economic system you are forced into, how much of your daily"Work" will be siphoned off in an exorbitant unfair ratio, to enrich a relatively few Oligarchs. That your "Work" is not provided with equal "Merit" - that the great Oligarchic lie is you are being fairly compensated for your labor in the society whose rigged Oligarchic rules you must live by. Instead, here in the 21st century now - the wealth inequality in the US is greater than it has ever been in the history of the country, the top 1% control more wealth than the bottom 90% of Americans combined. An ordinary American is compensated so little now, he can barely afford to purchase a home for himself or family, or see a doctor when he becomes sick without possibly going bankrupt. And good paying jobs now are becoming a rare commodity, while 50% of Americans end up in jobs they don't even like. They spend their lives as indentured servants, modern day wage slaves to the absurdly wealthy.
Meritocracy is a myth. And the problem is not the homeless or the workers in the society. It's the oligarchs running the US now. Running the US government. Spending billions upon billions of taxpayer money on their wars for resources abroad, while ignoring the daily lives of ordinary Americans. And they do so by convincing us that life will be better for us all, if we all just fend for ourselves. That we deserve nothing other than the breadcrumbs they hand to us for a lifetime of work.
This is such an important article. Turning off our empathy leads to fascism. We need to look at the structure and those who benefit from it, and stop feeling superior to and blaming the victims of this structure. Thanks for posting, Joshua. We need to keep reinforcing the values of empathy and concern for the greater good.
"People aren’t disposable, but when we begin to concede that they might be we open a particular Pandora’s box. When we look at homelessness we need to understand that the cultivation of compassion is vital, and that dehumanization is lethal, both because human beings are invaluable and because if we become willing to discard people we also consent to discarding that which supports life. We risk unwittingly signing away safety nets, supports, the systems that care for us – the systems that are the material manifestation of people choosing to care for one another.
Right now this risk of discarding the individual attitudes, the culture, and the systems that enable those of us who struggle to live decent lives is stronger than ever. We never had the safety net that we should’ve had in the U.S., but there’s no doubt that the fascist movement is eager to dismantle that which does exist."
Diana, your comment amplifies the heart of Joshua’s message so beautifully. You’re absolutely right—turning off empathy is not just an individual choice; it’s a step toward normalizing systemic harm. Compassion is not only a value but a lifeline that preserves our collective humanity.
The Pandora’s box Joshua describes is such a haunting yet accurate metaphor for what’s at stake. When we dehumanize, we erode the foundations of care and connection that sustain us all. As you said, blaming victims only serves to uphold the very structures of inequality that oppress so many.
Thank you for reinforcing this vital call to action. Conversations like this remind us how much power lies in choosing empathy and collective responsibility.
I recently visited a friend who lives in a large apartment building. There were 4 floors of the building dedicated to a parking garage - sheltering people's cars - yet somehow we "don't have enough housing" for the unhoused.
As always, your writing offers much needed clarity to counter the dehumanizing propaganda that uplifts a blatantly broken system. Thank you!
J.P., your eloquent call for compassion and systemic change is a powerful testament to the inherent dignity of every human being. Your vivid storytelling—from the tunnels beneath Penn Station to the stark juxtaposition of wealth and vulnerability—paints a heart-wrenching yet deeply motivating picture.
The courage you show in confronting the insidious forces of dehumanization and inequality, and your unwavering belief in a world built on care and connection, shine through every word. Thank you for giving voice to those often silenced and for challenging us all to do better, think deeper, and act with integrity.
May your writing continue to inspire the ripples of change it so urgently calls for.
glad you linked this from your latest article. i moved to new york last summer from the midwest and have struggled with the tear between coldness as coping and feeling all of the negativity every single day. i still do but it’s heartening to hear others express all of the same sentiments that i have and to redirect blame where it belongs. i’d love to hear more about where to go from here
The hampster wheel of telling ourselves and others that we need to earn care while simultaneously believing that some people have reached a level of success that they don't owe humanity care is a devastatingly effective trap.
Your conviction that every human being has inherent dignity and worth is so clearly infused into all your work. It is a gift to see that value laid out so clearly here, and our unhoused siblings lifted up with such respect and care. Thank you.
I put myself through grad school with the exact same kind of tutoring gig. The income disparities in NYC boggle the mind. To witness them is truly to either become numb to the illogic of it all or to become radicalized in favor of building something else.
That we live in a meritocracy is the great myth our ruling oligarchs depend on - so the public becomes gullible to the propaganda that the homeless deserve what happens to them, and we can walk by them everyday and casually ignore their plight (whether we would like to or not).
The lie of meritocracy is wrapped up in the garb of an economic system that quietly exploits human beings as if they were cattle, while treating many (at least here in the US) as less than cattle. The work ethic, pushed upon Americans from day one, by the oligarchs and their bought politicians - is the ethos we are all suppose to live by from birth to death - work until you grow old - work is the only real value in life - Work will set you free.
But what is not explained to you is how the US economic system you are forced into, how much of your daily"Work" will be siphoned off in an exorbitant unfair ratio, to enrich a relatively few Oligarchs. That your "Work" is not provided with equal "Merit" - that the great Oligarchic lie is you are being fairly compensated for your labor in the society whose rigged Oligarchic rules you must live by. Instead, here in the 21st century now - the wealth inequality in the US is greater than it has ever been in the history of the country, the top 1% control more wealth than the bottom 90% of Americans combined. An ordinary American is compensated so little now, he can barely afford to purchase a home for himself or family, or see a doctor when he becomes sick without possibly going bankrupt. And good paying jobs now are becoming a rare commodity, while 50% of Americans end up in jobs they don't even like. They spend their lives as indentured servants, modern day wage slaves to the absurdly wealthy.
Meritocracy is a myth. And the problem is not the homeless or the workers in the society. It's the oligarchs running the US now. Running the US government. Spending billions upon billions of taxpayer money on their wars for resources abroad, while ignoring the daily lives of ordinary Americans. And they do so by convincing us that life will be better for us all, if we all just fend for ourselves. That we deserve nothing other than the breadcrumbs they hand to us for a lifetime of work.
This is such an important article. Turning off our empathy leads to fascism. We need to look at the structure and those who benefit from it, and stop feeling superior to and blaming the victims of this structure. Thanks for posting, Joshua. We need to keep reinforcing the values of empathy and concern for the greater good.
"People aren’t disposable, but when we begin to concede that they might be we open a particular Pandora’s box. When we look at homelessness we need to understand that the cultivation of compassion is vital, and that dehumanization is lethal, both because human beings are invaluable and because if we become willing to discard people we also consent to discarding that which supports life. We risk unwittingly signing away safety nets, supports, the systems that care for us – the systems that are the material manifestation of people choosing to care for one another.
Right now this risk of discarding the individual attitudes, the culture, and the systems that enable those of us who struggle to live decent lives is stronger than ever. We never had the safety net that we should’ve had in the U.S., but there’s no doubt that the fascist movement is eager to dismantle that which does exist."
Diana, your comment amplifies the heart of Joshua’s message so beautifully. You’re absolutely right—turning off empathy is not just an individual choice; it’s a step toward normalizing systemic harm. Compassion is not only a value but a lifeline that preserves our collective humanity.
The Pandora’s box Joshua describes is such a haunting yet accurate metaphor for what’s at stake. When we dehumanize, we erode the foundations of care and connection that sustain us all. As you said, blaming victims only serves to uphold the very structures of inequality that oppress so many.
Thank you for reinforcing this vital call to action. Conversations like this remind us how much power lies in choosing empathy and collective responsibility.
Capitalism has successfully dehumanized many of us and it will continue to do so. We need to dismantle it before it kills us all😞
I recently visited a friend who lives in a large apartment building. There were 4 floors of the building dedicated to a parking garage - sheltering people's cars - yet somehow we "don't have enough housing" for the unhoused.
As always, your writing offers much needed clarity to counter the dehumanizing propaganda that uplifts a blatantly broken system. Thank you!
Very insightful article on what the ultimate goals of dehumanization end up being. Thanks for sharing.
J.P., your eloquent call for compassion and systemic change is a powerful testament to the inherent dignity of every human being. Your vivid storytelling—from the tunnels beneath Penn Station to the stark juxtaposition of wealth and vulnerability—paints a heart-wrenching yet deeply motivating picture.
The courage you show in confronting the insidious forces of dehumanization and inequality, and your unwavering belief in a world built on care and connection, shine through every word. Thank you for giving voice to those often silenced and for challenging us all to do better, think deeper, and act with integrity.
May your writing continue to inspire the ripples of change it so urgently calls for.
Well said.
Thanks for the thoughtful analysis.
glad you linked this from your latest article. i moved to new york last summer from the midwest and have struggled with the tear between coldness as coping and feeling all of the negativity every single day. i still do but it’s heartening to hear others express all of the same sentiments that i have and to redirect blame where it belongs. i’d love to hear more about where to go from here
Beautifully stated.
The hampster wheel of telling ourselves and others that we need to earn care while simultaneously believing that some people have reached a level of success that they don't owe humanity care is a devastatingly effective trap.