Benefits and the lack of benefits

AR is throwing a benefit show for her sister who has been diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer. Her sister has big medical bills to contend with and hopefully this will help. The bands donate their performances and get more exposure, the bar gets customers, the crowd gets to see a cool show and give a little money to help someone they may or may not know who is in need. When it works, it works out well.

I used to see lots flyers for benefits for the well-known causes: Habitat for Humanity, Animal Shelters, benefits against AIDS. Over this past year I have started seeing more flyers for benefits for individuals, often for people who can't pay their medical expenses. It is nice to know that these people have friends who want to help them. It is sad to think that they are in such a vulnerable position. It is a moment to be grateful for having a job with benefits and wonder what happens to people who don't have jobs, benefits, family, or friends to raise money on their behalf.

I guess this is what conservatives want instead of taxation and government agencies. If locals think something is important they can come together and raise resources for it. It would become clear what the priorities of a community are. If you can't attract volunteers and you can't raise money, your cause must not be so urgent.

Still some important things require resources beyond what individuals in a community can offer. I think it would take lots and lots of rock shows to raise money for a library or a school or a bridge.

And it seems wrong to have a woman's life hang in the balance of whether or not people come to a rock show.