I have a little bit different take on it. There is a part of me that has some sympathy for Henderson. He probably does find his money stretched in multiple ways. However look at what he is getting for that money. Someone to mow his lawn, to clean his house, to watch his children. He gets to live close to home, send his kids to a private school and has a secure job. Yes he has to struggle to balance his budget but he is not balancing the budget to survive. He is balancing his budget to thrive.
This is not an attempt to be critical of Professor Henderson. He is probably doing what most of us would do in his situation. You see no matter how much we get it is never enough. We spend it and then want more. We think that if we just get a little more of this or that then everything will be alright. That is never the case.
This is not even limited to money. If we are married then we think if my spouse would only help around the house, or be more sexually available or be more considerate then everything will be perfect. Or if we have kids if they would only clean their room, or stop back talking or get better grades. At work if only the people were nicer, or a bigger office or a longer lunch break then I will be satisfied. The truth is that even if you got all of those things then you still will have unmet desires. You will simply want more.
All of the knowledge that I have access to reinforces this concept. As a scholar I know humans constantly want more and more resources and this desire leads to social contact. As a social observer I am fascinated on how professional athletes who are paid big money for a dream job of playing a game could ever conceive of going on strike. As a Christian I am well aware of the doctrine of human depravity which suggest that we can not contain our greed and always want a little more.
There is nothing wrong with wanting more. It does not have to lead to unending greed. It is a desire that can help us to work to make the world better. We can use it to better our world through innovation or activism. But it can rob us of current happiness since we do not learn to be satisfied with the good things that are already happening in our lives. When we forget what we already have in our desire to accumulate more then the same desire that can lead to a cure or solution for poverty, AIDS, racial hostility, teenage pregnancy, cancer, unemployment can also lead to depression and ingratitude for what we have already accomplished and gained in our lives and our society.
I guess that is what I would tell Henderson. The loss of the tax cuts likely will cause him some financial difficulties. He may have to mow his lawn and put more time into taking care of his kids and cleaning his house. Given the demands of his job these are more significant losses than those of us without such a job may appreciate. But if he looks at what he does have and is grateful for it then he will have a healthier outlook on what is happening. Does not mean that he has to stop striving to better his life and the lives of his kids. But stopping and smelling the roses is also important if we are going to live a full life.
Sincerely,
Trouble-Maker
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