Our View: Quid Pro Quo, Throwback Thursday, Editorial Cartoon

There is a lot of snow. There is more snow than most of us have ever seen in the Eastern Sierra, and we’re sick of it. We’re especially sick of shoveling. As the tyrannical rule of the snow drags on, I seem to be hearing the same complaint repeated over and over again. “Why don’t young people shovel snow for old people anymore?” Back in their days, a neighborhood kid was always quick to help out for a buck or two. Able citizens have always helped less fortunate citizens as an act of camaraderie. Those who are younger or able-bodied have always done labor for those who are older or disabled. It’s the neighborly way. It’s the natural order. More importantly, it’s the right thing to do. Right? So why doesn’t it happen anymore? Where are the snow shovelers and the lawn mowers? Doesn’t anybody care anymore? Are we all too self-absorbed to care about our fellow man? The phenomenon of people doing the right thing is referred to as mutual aid. Mutual aid is defined as a voluntary, reciprocal exchange of resources and services for mutual benefit. Mutual aid consists of people giving what they can and getting what they need. It’s a beautiful practice of solidarity. Here’s the problem... mutual aid is more common in a healthy, bountiful society – and that makes sense. In order to exchange resources and services, people must have resources and time to spare in the first place. After all, mutual aid relies on people giving what they CAN – not what they CAN’T. Let’s just cut to the chase. We do not have a healthy society. The wealth disparity in the United States has climbed steadily since 1970. The cost of living keeps rising, but wages stay the same. In fact, the value of minimum wage is the lowest it has been since 1956. This means people have to work harder just to survive. They have less money and less time. The average person now has less resources to share compared to previous years, and it’s getting worse every year. People don’t have time to shovel the neighbor’s walkway when they’re too busy working a second job or repairing clothes they can’t afford to replace. The good news? Mutual aid is more common in a healthy society – but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible in our current conditions. In fact, mutual aid is even more critical during hard times. In the long run, it can only help us build better systems. But the secret ingredient in mutual aid is that it must be mutual. So, if you want to get back to the ‘good old days’ when people helped each other shovel snow, then you have to give something in return. You may not be able to shovel snow, but there are other ways you can give back to your community. For example, giving your vote and your voice to combat poverty and inequality is a step you can take toward creating a healthy society where neighbors help one another. So next time you find yourself wondering why no one has helped you, try asking yourself how you can help others. Do the right thing.