Issn: 1934-9556 Journal: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Volume: 48 Issue: 2 Pages: 148-162
Authors: Wolfensberger, Wolf
Article ID: 10.1352/1934-9556-48.2.148
Like most of what I have ever read, listened to, or seen from Wolfensburger, this article contains WAY more than what initially appears, even when one concentrates and reads for meaning.
To begin with, this article decries the "coming" state of affairs. For some, this will be entirely familiar, as it will only represent a larger scale version of their current experience. For others, though, Wolfensburger will once again be branded a "heretic" - but from his comments, he finds himself no stranger to this, and even refers to himself as a "pariah" after comments he made in 1976 and later again 1992.
For sure, the guy doesn't mince words, and his sarcastic and highly evocative observations of those who run this show we call "post-modern society" and especially too those who I have heard others call "PLODs" - People who Live Off Disabilities - make one chuckle at the same time as one tries not to despair.
Wolf really knows how to lecture, something that is in some ways an art form that is in grave danger of dying, in this world of short sound bites and tweets, where if you can't say it in a sentence or two, you've lost your audience already. It helps that he numbers his paragraphs and points. He gives us eight reasons, for example, why we should expect that economic recovery will not occur, or will not last long if it does. I'm thinking that a few of his reasons are more along the line of decrying the moral decadence Wolf sees in post-modern society (not that I disagree with him), since I'm not sure these have any bearing on an economic recovery - items f and g particularly, where he talks of "an increasingly decadent, nonfunctional and bureaucratic society, with ever fewer functional systems and people in it"; and "an increasing sentiment to make medically dependent people dead...". The scariest, though, of his reasons, (e) talks of an increasingly sick, elderly and dependent population...By 2050, the elderly are predicted to be almost 30% more of the population than young children...no amount of bail-out money can overcome this demographic reality!" (p. 149). This I know has solid empirical grounds and economists certainly speak of the effects of this demographic imbalance with some concern for those who are dependent upon the state for support. This will include today's parents and many current taxpayers. Alas, it may not include me, as I will be 98 if I make it to 2050.
Wolf then talks about borrowing money from other countries and future generations, and how the US is squandering its future with bailouts to ne'er-do-wells, selling infrastructure and means of production to foreign countries, how Social Security is a big "Ponzi scheme", and "more of the same" attempts at solutions.
In great understatement and wry humour (though sarcastic) Wolf states that he doesn't see "any sign that the different interests in society and human services are willing to acknowledge that major sacrifices will have to be made on everybody's part, though there has been plenty of willingness to sacrifice other people's interests" (p. 150).
Wolf also observes that "interest groups" are more inclined to hold rallies to "protect their jobs" than to advocate for the "people they serve".
As if getting more bitter and sarcastic with each passing word written, Wolf writes "Some people would rather sacrifice a few dozen group homes than their enjoyment of a live symphony performance, or the display of unintelligible or morally offensive paintings or sculptures." (p. 150)
The worst part of all, is that like always, Wolf is just serving up the truth as he sees it, and he does so without denial, obfuscation, mincing words, or using what he refers to as our human tendency to deceive ourselves.
More on Wolf's article (the impact on human services and his prescriptions for change) in the next instalment of my blog.
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