Guilty Rich White Man Syndrome by Robert Socha

A terrible malady in the United States of America infects the upper classes. The plague’s detrimental effect on society began in earnest during the Great Society of President Johnson, and the following decades have only exacerbated social norms.

I call this disorder Guilty Rich White Man Syndrome, or GRWMS for short.

The funny thing about it is that you do not have to be rich, nor do you have to be white, to suffer from this disorder, but you will most probably be the product of modernity. GRWMS is when someone who has never suffered want or attained substantial wealth sees the poverty and inequitable situations many people endure and intends to effect change for the better. The ailing provocateur knows that something must be done to alleviate the injustice but is unwilling to open their pocketbook for the service willfully, so they demand their government work for its alleviation. Some of these sicknesses include poverty, drugs, homelessness, crime, etc. These plagues, a pox on our households, continue unabated and are exacerbated by woefully inadequate, underfunded, and inept governmental programs. Segue: because of governmental bureaucracy, they can never solve such ailments. Especially since Jesus said, the poor would always be with us. (Matthew 26:11)

Scrooge had a similar take on the government’s role in helping the less fortunate. When he scolded the men raising money for the poor house, he suggested those in need take advantage of the government-funded resources to help them through the struggle. “The evil in society comes from indifference towards fellow people and a reliance on a governmental system that does more harm than good.[i]” Only after the revelatory visitations was his mind transformed to understand that philanthropy is a duty of those able to contribute, and he gave those same men whom he chastised a substantial monetary gift to help them make provisions.

This philanthropic endeavor lends adherence to the Proverbs’ instruction: “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.” Proverbs 3:27-28 KJV

I alluded to a few plagues ailing our society above. Still, after watching “Sound of Freedom” over the weekend, I have been provoked into action, especially concerning sex trafficking and sexual slavery. It is incomprehensibly appalling that the United States is a leading destination in this detestable trade! Additionally, we must intentionally address the Fentynol drug crisis plaguing our cities. The federal war on drugs notwithstanding, it is not acceptable to merely languish at the images of those unfortunate souls captured by the drug’s intoxicating allure and imprisoned by its addictive properties.

“All hard work lends to profit, but mere talk lends only to poverty.” Proverbs 14:27

It is easy to isolate from these horrific truths of children being stolen and sold into sexual slavery and desperate people being demonically bound to addictive substances and ignoring them, for the devastation they reek is too terrible to discuss and too horrific to comprehend. Alas, devastating they are, and millions are enslaved by their greed and captured by their alluring escape from life’s doldrums.

It is not enough to talk about it and discuss the devastation. There must be action. As Patrick Henry urged, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me…” I am not going to sit idly by and talk about things. I will continue acting and hope some willing souls will help in these noble endeavors.

I do not know what may come, but I am already making phone calls and trusting the Lord will open windows of opportunity to accomplish what is in my heart, believing the Lord to make a way. “A man’s heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

In these trying times, may we all have ears to hear, a heart to believe, the will to obey, and faith to act.

[i] ‘A Christmas Carol’: Sending the Poor to Prison – Economic Opportunity Institute Economic Opportunity Institute