Those in favor of government aid programs and high taxes to fund them often claim that without such federal involvement, individuals would not step up to take care of each other on their own. Well, that narrative is being challenged by none other than a millennial.
That’s right, a young person of America’s new ‘selfish’ generation has led the charge to provide a better standard of living for a Detroit man in need of transportation to his job.
As of Monday evening, Evan Leedy, a 19 year old Wayne State University student, has helped raise more than $90,000 after setting up a GoFundMe site for Mr. James Robertson on Sunday. The 56 year old works a $10.55-per-hour wage factory job in Rochester Mills, Michigan, which turns out to be a 21 mile round-trip walk to and from his Detroit home.
Robertson no longer has to endure this commute on foot through neighborhoods such as the 8 Mile area to get to his job thanks to funds that poured in from hundreds of individuals who succeeded in raising enough for a car and insurance. That’s more than government aid could do.
He described Detroit’s public transportation as unreliable, often unavailable since the buses cutback. Robertson said about a new federal program through Detroit’s bus system that might pick him up at home and drop him off at his job, “I’d rather they spent that money on a 24-hour bus system, not on some little bus for me. This city needs buses going 24/7. You can tell the City Council and mayor I said that.” Mr. Robertson was a classic victim of government incompetence until private individuals took matters into their own hands.
Todd Wilson, the manager of the plant where Robertson is employed, says Robertson sets the bar high for fellow employees in terms of work ethic. “I set our attendance standard by this man,” said Wilson. “He’s never missed. I’ve seen him come in here wringing wet.”
Since government has failed to provide a common sense consumer need, the Detroit man has been getting occasional rides from a banker who saw him walking regularly during his own daily commute. (Yes, an evil capitalist banker — of all people!) Thanks to the student’s campaign, other people have offered to buy Robertson a car and pay for his insurance and some have offered to drive him for free.
Apparently, individuals can be generous without government coercion. Imagine that.
