Since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, I’ve been reading history.
I’ve read about the Black Plague. I’ve read about the rise and fall of Rome. I’ve read about the history of England, France and medieval Europe. I’ve read about London. I’ve even read a few books on US history.
I’ve learned a lot from these readings.
I’ve been able to better understand society today by studying past societies.
I’ve learned about government leadership. I’ve learned about power. I’ve learned about wealth and poverty.
I used to think that modern society and people were dramatically different.
We’re not.
Over and over again, I see the same stories play out over thousands of years.
Power and wealth are concentrated among a small minority. Much of it is passed down from generation to generation. This happens within the wealthy class, the military class and the government class.
Occasionally, someone breaks through and become wealthy or powerful through might, luck or inventiveness. But mostly, the leaders from Marcus Aurelius to Kings to Emperors to Churchill to JFK to Trump all were born into wealthy, powerful families. Their “rise” might have something to do with their work, but clearly they had significant advantages that directly led to their positions of power.
In the UK and the US, just look today at the backgrounds of our wealthy citizens and our government leaders. It’s eye opening to see how many came from a long lineage of wealthy, established rulers.
Here’s my other striking observation from reading history:
The Poor Always Get F***cked Over.
In ancient Rome, poor people were peasant farmers, laborers and slaves. hey did the hardest work, ate the worst food and had the most difficult lives.
In medieval times, the poor farmers often worked land they were not allowed to own. They were taxed heavily to pay for whatever the monarchy wanted. They were conscripted to fight wars. They were mistreated and abused with few options for escape.
In industrial London in the 1800s and 1900s the poor lived in overcrowded, disease and filth ridden slums. They worked horrible, dangerous jobs for meager wages. They had miserable lives while the wealthy and ruling class enjoyed luxuries beyond imagination.
So today, during the Covid pandemic, when governments are touting “Build Back Better” and protestors are decrying social imbalances, workers rights, pay gaps and inequitably distributed resources, no one should be surprised.
It’s naive to think that the pandemic “changes everything”.
Sure, there’s been some short term upheavals like lockdowns, government assistance, extended unemployment benefits.
We even have “free” vaccines in the US (paid for by the tax dollars of every working citizen).
But through this entire pandemic, the poor suffered. Many were declared “essential workers” and had to work. Garbage collectors, cops, nurses, delivery drivers, etc.
Those who had the ability to work from home or not work at all and collect decent unemployment benefits, are finding that these options are quickly disappearing.
Those of us, including me, who thought – this pandemic might get us Medicare for All, Universal Health Care or even Universal Basic income, were simply having pipe dreams.
Why?
Because The Poor Always Get F***ed Over.
There is a way out.
Don’t remain poor.
The way I escaped poverty was to work jobs that paid more, to live frugally and to save money by not spending as much as others around me.
I took jobs that were very difficult but that paid more than jobs which would have been much more comfortable for me.
I didn’t try to “change” society to make it more fair. I tried to make myself more valuable to my employers so I would be paid more money.
Becoming a professional salesman was a very hard adjustment. I couldn’t sell shit when I was a kid. I had no negotiation skills. I had little self confidence. I was a terrible public speaker. I was introverted, shy and awkward.
I wanted to be a surgeon. More appropriately, I should have been an engineer or a computer programmer.
Instead, my path lead me to being a college dropout working in tech sales and management for companies as small as 3 people and as large as 7000 people. At times, I was the only sales rep and other times I led teams up to to 200 people.
If someone wrote a history book about me, I think it would show that I was determined, I worked hard, I focused on the money and I had a few breaks along the way.
If I could offer one piece of advice to any young adults at the beginner of their careers, I would say – focus on maximizing your earning potential right now.
If I could go back in time, I’d probably become an investment banker or a tech executive. I would have dedicated my twenties and thirties 1000% to work. I would have relocated to New York or Silicon Valley. I would have worked 80 hour weeks. I would have delayed getting married.
And then, after 10 years, I’d have been wealthy enough to walk away from it all and do whatever I wanted.
I would have no longer been Poor and F***ed Over.