Dave Ramsey Was Right| The Stimulus Did Not Change My Life

But for many, its effects may have been profound

His Disconnect and Greed Exemplify the Religious Right

Dave Ramsey, a darling of money-fixated, evangelical Christians everywhere, received a hellish amount of negative attention recently. I doubt it bothered him much; in fact, he probably enjoyed it.

Maybe I am over-generalizing, but I don’t think many of the folks who support his business would be overly concerned by his remarks, either.

The public outrage resulted from his tone-deaf and derogatory comments about Biden’s pandemic relief plan that includes some direct stimulus payments to Americans (that as of this writing, some are still waiting to receive).

I don’t believe in a stimulus check because if $600 or $1400 changes your life you were pretty much screwed already.

You were pretty much screwed already, King Ramsey muttered from his gilded perch with disdain, looking down with disgust at the commoners below.

He has a smugness to him that is common among those assured of their superiority over others — as well as the Christian Right in America.

A smugness that could only belong to a man, perhaps, that has convinced himself that he will have a smooth passage to the Promised Land when he departs this earth. If that is, in fact, what he believes. Considering that he has built a business empire worth an estimated half-billion dollars, it seems that he may have spent significantly more time invested in worldly matters rather than those of the spirit.

The Common Game of Poor Shaming

If his not-so-compassionate reminder that we are all screwed, anyway, if we could benefit from $1400 wasn’t insulting enough, he doubled down, rubbing a bit of Dead Sea salt into the wounds of millions of regular working Americans adversely affected by the economic slowdown. He said:

You got other issues going on.

Wow.

And who cares? So, according to Mr. Money, himself, you do not deserve assistance from Uncle Sam because you probably have some underlining issues. For example:

You have a career problem. You have a debt problem. You have a relationship problem. You have a mental-health problem … Something else is going on if $600 changes your life.

What is he getting at — aside from just being a dick?

Many workers have lost their jobs or experienced complete financial ruin due to the global pandemic, but the idea of government assistance — even during a crisis of biblical proportions — is apparently off-putting to this billionaire, God-fearing financial coach.

This is a good example of the American Capitalist zeal that equates a person’s true worth with how much is in their bank account and their job title — rather than any inherent value of being human — in and of itself.

Catastrophic loss of life and financial stability

What about the thousands that are dealing with the loss of a family member or even the breadwinner? I know people whose loved one has died because of this virus. Others are still struggling to get back to normal after experiencing a bad case of it.

Losing someone unexpectedly to this virus can cause all kinds of unforeseen emotional problems and shake the foundations of the strongest families. According to statistics at the time of this writing, the numbers are mind-numbing for infections and deaths in America and abroad.

In an effort to utilize non-fake news, I consulted Fox for these vital statistics: In the U.S., all 50 states plus the District of Columbia have reported confirmed cases of COVID-19, tallying more than 30,539,760 illnesses and at least 553,138 deaths.

The John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center seems to agree on this, despite Fox's repeated claims that academia has a liberal bias problem. At least the two sides agree on this.

That is a story for another day; the point I am trying to make is that the financial strain people are facing goes way beyond the economy and unemployment rates. A sobering thought is that many people are probably using the stimulus to help bury their loved ones.

NO Big Government except for certain things

What is surprising is how the Christian Right so zealously embraces this notion while pretending that its raison d’etre is Jesus Christ and his teachings.

Aside from their anti-abortion stance, these bible-thumping rabble-rousers seem more concerned that the government might subsidize the impoverished vis a vis their income taxes. It is also no secret that the American evangelicals embrace the Party of No (Yes, the party of the disgraced former president).

Evangelicals who have funded Ramsey’s fortune and enjoy an impressive influence in the States with a lot of red in them seem to also gravitate to the Republican party.

These lovers of Jesus who also supported America’s disgraced former president, with whom I assume Ramsey counts himself a member, often defy logic with their hypocrisy.

What the Christian Bible Says

I am not a biblical scholar, but I am familiar enough with The Book to know that Jesus taught:

• compassion for the poor
• compassion for the sick
• to live a non-materialistic life
• to distrust the illusion of money
• to focus your life on non-worldly things
• try not to be greedy

The Bible is certainly open to many interpretations.

Many believers would probably attack my five simple claims above, despite the numerous quotes in the Bible that I believe teach compassion for the sick and poor, non materialism, and the belief that people are of value — even those who have “issues” and “other stuff going on.”

Whether it’s the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus healing the sick, feeding the poor, or chasing greedy money changers out of the Temple, the Christian Right will find a way to turn the other way — instead of “turning the other cheek.”

They have no qualms about their tax monies going to increase spending for the largest military on earth. I support a strong military, but when is it enough? Do we really need another nuclear aircraft carrier? The U.S. Navy is already larger than all the navies of the world, combined. Yes, you read that correctly.

The Party of No — Except for Failed Programs that Benefit them

The Party of No cries foul when the government wants to use tax money to subsidize the soaring costs of healthcare in America or issue food subsidies or housing assistance to the country’s poorest.

They seldom object, however, to enormous subsidies and funding for the largest mass incarceration system on the planet — right here in the country with the most freedom.

The same is true for America’s never-ending war on drug (users) — despite the overwhelming evidence that these initiatives have failed (You might recall the recent opioid epidemic). The amount of money that is funneled to federal, state, and local “crime-fighting” organizations to continue fighting this failed war on drugs is beyond reason.

Despite the waste of tax money on these programs, you rarely hear The Christian Right making a fuss about that.

Freedom — The Most Abused Word in America

Increase spending for nutrition programs for the poor (formally known as food stamps), however, or propose forgiving student loans or governmental regulation of the mind-boggling increases in healthcare costs, and an army of conservatives and evangelicals come running screaming “Big Government” and “Freedom.”

Always “freedom,” the most overused word in the political vernacular of this country — on both sides.

The powers that be have to keep saying it over and over and over again so the people (especially those lacking education) will believe it. After all, it’s kind of hard to argue we have more freedom here when we incarcerate more of our own people (the majority for non-violent offenses or crimes they have yet to be convicted of) than our age-old nemesis, Russia.

All animals are equal but …

That’s kind of like saying “all animals are equal but some are more equal than others,” to quote George Orwell whose terrifying vision of the future is beginning to seem like a walk in the park compared to contemporary society.

Like radical conservatives who refuse to acknowledge climate change, these Godly warriors would argue that the scientific data is skewed, the information liberalized, the news is fake.

I realize I am overgeneralizing here to make a point; please accept my apologies if you are an evangelical or member of the Christian right who does not support a larger military, America’s system of mass incarceration, and the drug war.

The math is pretty clear in my mind. The vast majority who anxiously pushed for a stimulus check do not expect it to “change their life,” but every bit counts during a time of financial uncertainty and massive loss of life.

For some, it may actually change their life. A few hundred or a few thousand dollars, sadly, does make a big difference in a country where most people can’t afford a $1000 emergency.

Dave Ramsey doesn’t practice what he preaches

In fact, the man who wrote the bible on Christian money management, King Ramsey, himself, enjoyed the government-supported right to file for bankruptcy when his real estate business crashed (before God called him to focus on financial coaching). This privilege gave him a chance to start over and achieve his half-billionaire status today.

Of course, this doesn’t stop him from being against bankruptcy today (after it saved his ass) — and he certainly doesn’t approve of any student loan forgiveness (most student loans are not eligible to be discharged in bankruptcy — unlike the millions of his real estate debt that was wiped clean).

Why?

What is the real reason for his opposition?

Why would someone who benefited so immensely from U.S. bankruptcy law be so against bankruptcy — and especially student loans — when the former are not even eligible to be forgiven in bankruptcy court? Could it be … Satan?

Nope. It appears the reason is far more mundane. The freedom thing, fear of big government, and shame. And perhaps the unconscious fear that his wealth decreases as fewer people struggle with money and don’t need his snake oil?

Well, you guessed it. It encroaches on our freedom (to be poor?):

Maybe President Joe Biden can forgive student loans, and maybe he can’t, but one thing’s for sure: Waiting on somebody from the government to fix your money problems is no way to go through life. Regardless of who is in the White House, the responsibility for taking control of your money is always entirely in your hands.

Is it, Dave? What about Jesus? Doesn’t he have some control over this, too? Are people poor, perhaps, because the light of Jesus hasn’t blessed them?

I digress, and I don’t mean to make light of this situation. I do take offense to Ramsey’s remarks (even though I have forgiven him).

Ramsey depends on a constant stream of money-stressed customers — as law enforcement depends on illegal drugs

So, waiting on the government to give you a helping hand is no way to go through life, according to the author of “Baby Steps.” Dave wants people to feel the shame — hot and as merciless as the fiery hell that certainly awaits sinners and nonbelievers alike.

So don’t depend on Big Gov, peeps.

Unless you're a younger Dave Ramsey … broke as hell because the real estate market went south and you have dozens of devilish creditors calling for their loans to be paid. He didn’t hesitate to take advantage of America's generous bankruptcy program back then.

Back to the point about hypocrisy.

It still makes you wonder why? Why, Dave?

Why are you so against the stimulus, student loan assistance, and bankruptcy? Is it because you fear that these policies will take a sliver of your millions? Do you have nightmares about fewer people struggling financially in this country?

It would make it harder to peddle your half-ass financial advice, wouldn’t it?

It’s kind of like the position the DEA agent is in regarding the war on drugs. If the government finally admitted criminalization isn’t working and thus dismantled the war on drugs … what’s the DEA agent going to do? His job, in a sense, has suddenly become obsolete.

And all those millions of dollars going to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to fight this war that is causing more societal damage than the drugs, themselves? What are they going to do? The same goes for the ginormous prison system.

Maybe a lot of people like Dave are against policies — not because it is the right thing or the moral thing. Their opposition stems from good ol’ American greed.

It just doesn’t fiscally make sense for Dave’s business model to go around admitting that bankruptcy is often a viable solution, and that student loan debt could be forgiven under certain circumstances (or at least become eligible for bankruptcy like the millions in debt Dave racked up).

You're gonna suck … your life is gonna suck

After all, why is a loan for education treated differently than real estate debt or even federal taxes? These are questions that Dave and people like him don’t want to answer — any more than the implication above that they profit off people’s misery.

Of course, Ramsey would never admit that. He will try to make you bristle with shame for doing the same thing he did to get rich — depending on a government program called bankruptcy:

The point is that you’re looking to the government to fix your life, and as long as you wait on Washington, DC, to fix your life, you’re gonna suck … Your life is gonna suck.

Sorry, Dave.

I’m sorry, but you suck.

You couldn’t just go quietly into the night and enjoy your millions. You could have retired a long time ago and be sitting on your own private island somewhere by now. I can picture you in a hammock… sipping a pina colada (virgin, of course), reading your bible. Maybe blessing some folks at the country club or gating community with pro-bono financial advice.

Instead, you had to insult those less fortunate than you. You had to get on the national “news” and make fun of people who were anxiously pushing for the stimulus and demean them. That’s not very Christ-like of you, and I am disappointed.

You may have offered some sort of apology by now. Maybe you haven’t Maybe you offered a CTA (call to action) to purchase your products disguised as some half-ass apology or clarification. I don’t really care. I don’t have time to go look for it.

I have bills to pay.

Key takeaways

• Dave Ramsey sucks
• He sucks because he said that people who need the stimulus think it will change their lives
• If they think it will change their lives, something must be wrong with them.
• Dave Ramsey made millions off the Christian Right and evangelical Christians
• Dave Ramsey preaches against depending on the government, but a governmental program called bankruptcy saved him from the hell of poverty. Now he is against bankruptcy. Less poor people = Less financial peace = less business for Dave.
• Jesus, recognized as an incarnation of God on earth by Christians, spent his short life, according to the Bible, teaching people principles that are diametrically opposed to the policies and actions of the Christian Right in America.
• The Christian Right claims that it stands for Christian principle; however, they blatantly oppose Big Government helping the poor, sick, disenfranchised, et al.
• They do, however, support BIG GOVERNMENT spending when it comes to the military, the drug war, massive incarceration in “the land of the free,” and massive tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy.

If you are still waiting on your stimulus check, visit: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment

To find out information for applying for food & nutrition assistance in your state, visit: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-directory

To find out more about the harmful policies of America’s current war on drugs, visit: https://drugpolicy.org/

To help me make a living as a freelance writer and content creator, visit: https://paradigmcontentsolutions.com/ or email [email protected] for a consultation.