Insight from a Psychotherapist: There is no Serfdom without Serfs. Wealth disparity makes for lousy service (and mental health).
My husband and I often quote The Simpsons and say that we fill the void of not having children by ‘sleeping in late, foreign travel, and gourmet food.’ The pandemic left us with just a lot of sleeping but now that we are vaccinated and moving forward (as best we can), the two other pleasures seem to be experiencing Long Covid symptoms, specifically in customer service.
Going out for a meal, I notice with much more frequency the increase in unprofessional, poorly trained staff. The food quality being not quite as good. The customer service lacking. If you travelled during the summer of ‘22 we all have a story or seven of unbelievable lapses in basic human decency.
Some may say the reason for this deficit is because “its easier to stay at home and receive benefits” but I think that is missing the point about service jobs. They are historically underpaid and under appreciated so maybe the people who excelled in those positions had enough of the stress and left the profession for myriad other options.
The point is, when I’m going out for a $200 meal I don’t want to have a terrible experience. At $20 or $2000 — no one wants to feel like they wasted their time or money. However; with the marketing of luxury, active lifestyles being sold for millions all over the world, one has to wonder what supports such elegance? If the shops and restaurants, spas and salons, et al. aren’t staffed, or poorly staffed, is that luxurious?
The solvable issue ostensibly is recruiting the workforce, paying a livable wage, and providing housing that keeps them within a reasonable commute of their work: if people cant afford to live in the communities [they serve in] they will leave. Yet here is where so many areas find themselves: catering to and courting the wealthy, without considering the people who are expected to facilitate those lifestyles.
We can no longer address mental health without acknowledging the negative impact of inequality on the individual psyche. Young people will not be hopeful when they see the disparity within our society, and so few solutions on offer for them if they don’t have rich parents. Being suicidal is not just about wanting to end your life, it can also be about not wanting (or being able to afford) the life you have access to — and the powerlessness to change that.
A system built on serving the wealthy cannot be realized without those willing and able to serve. It seems obvious, paying more in taxes would be one of the most direct ‘charitable donations’ a person (of substantial wealth) could make but I understand government programs do not always deliver. However, it is in the best interest of those seeking the luxury their wealth affords them to support or create programs, private or public, for middle and working class people in the areas you live. Your lawns, lunches, and massages will all reflect that investment, or lack thereof.
