from the blog:
January 1,
2013, I suggested that there was a specific commandment that was not on the
table. I called that commandment, the
Coveted Commandment. Why? Because I believed then as I do now, that the
10 commandments aren’t all there is, and that there had to be at least one
other commandment that should be on the table to help us improve the quality of
our lives. I believed then, as I do now,
that there is one commandment that is purposely being kept in a vault, or a
secret location that could help change the lives of so many wonderful
people. I believe that this is the
commandment that can inspire more people to focus on making a better life for
themselves and their families. And what
is that commandment? Thou Shalt Build Wealth. [2]
Initially, I looked at back Moses, who having spent 40 days
and 40 nights on Mt.
Sinai
For example, Hurricane Katrina[3]
(2005) exposed several flaws in the government’s response to those who were victimized by
disaster, particularly here in Louisiana
Hurricane Katrina exposed our government selective response
from national to state, as well as local, that participated, or contributed to
the further devastation of citizens who were made homeless, not by their own
hands, but due to a failure of a levee system[5],
only to be further impacted by egos and bureaucracy
that implemented road blocks to rebuilding citizen’s lives. The long and short of it, 6 years later, many
residents are still being short-changed, or denied access to either their
homes, or monies to rebuild, while millions of dollars sit in either federal,
state or local coffers, waiting to be distributed for as many as yet to be
developed projects.[6]
To be unable to point a finger is nothing short of insulting
to those who are current victims of political stonewalling. To be unable to get what is rightfully the
owners’ full value for their properties, or to be able to return to their properties
because of the bureaucratic wranglings, suggests that governments hold their
constituents in low regard, and work intently to suppress those who have the
least amount to mount an offense, or even a defense for what is rightfully
theirs.
In 2012, two hurricanes struck again in the United States Gulf
Coast [7],
with more of a direct hit on south central Louisiana Sandy [8] struck the central east to northeast Atlantic
coast, having its greatest impact on New Jersey
and New York
Like Hurricane Katrina, residents of the latest two storms
are still fighting not only the government, but their insurers and their
mortgage companies to regain some semblance of control and normalcy.[9] Why?
Why indeed, are victims of another disaster, who in the time of the
proverbial storm, or, in the time of devastation, do those in need, are often
turned away, or put on hold until those in power, get theirs first? Correct me, if I am wrong.
Let’s be clear, I am expressing a perception of
unfairness. But I can do so because I
was a victim of the very same antics of the mortgage company holding my
insurance check for my home and then demanding that I pay a note. Or that while the mortgage company held my
insurance check, and then demanded that I repair my home, with the very funds
that they held out of my reach.
I can also relate to those whose homes were devastated by
hurricanes, while the government received monies on my behalf, and then
demanded that I and hundreds of others provide proof of ownership, proof of
insurance, only to deny me the full value of my house through a sham set of
policies and appraisals.[10] I can relate to those who were impacted not
only by a natural disaster, but a man-made disaster, when levees, designed to
protect our properties, gave way, and flooded over 50% of New Orleans
So as we look at residents impacted by Hurricane Isaac, and
Hurricane Sandy, we should understand that history is repeating itself. That while victimization by disasters is
unavoidable, that to be victims of governmental bodies, insurance companies,
mortgage companies or bankers, is inherent as a result of disasters, or so it
would seem. What seems to happen, from
the three storms referenced here, is that the compulsion to ensure that victims
of disasters, will be the last to benefit, or will be the last to be made
whole, while those who are least impacted, those who hold the gold, if you
will, seem to work tirelessly, and perhaps needlessly, to keep victims from rebuilding
their lives, lest they, as victims not only be made whole, but actually exceed
their pre-storm value, by and large, achieving wealth. Why?
Why is this necessary? I don’t
think it is necessary, but this is how wealth is built, maintained, and
ensured. Victimization be damned.
I don’t want anyone to be sorry for the victims of Hurricane
Sandy, Hurricane Isaac, or even Hurricane Katrina. To be sorry is to show emotion against
objectivity in the quest to build wealth.
Those entities who have subjected us to what we perceived as unfair
treatment were doing what they have always done. And for those of us who were victims of these
storms, we should have learned our lesson from history. We should have learned
our lesson from previous disasters such as Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Hugo,
Hurricane Camille, or Hurricane Cecile.[12] We should no longer put ourselves in harm’s way. No, not in the way of storms. We should not continue to put ourselves in
the way of those who use our tragedies, or our investments to their
benefit. We should not put ourselves in
harm’s way of lenders, insurers, or even governmental bodies who take advantage
of us by implementing road blocks, while we try to rebuild our lives.
The purpose of this blog was to answer the question: Why is the Coveted Commandment coveted? While I can give a generic answer, the answer
is really within each of us. Many of us
may conclude that it is greed. I can’t
disagree, any more than I can agree. I
contend that the Coveted Commandment is what inspires each one of us. I contend that when we buy our homes, we are
looking to build wealth. When we insure
our properties, we are looking to protect our wealth. And that, when bankers, insurance companies
and governmental bodies put up roadblocks, they too are building and protecting
their wealth. The only thing about it
is, when the wealth is distributed, as victims, we are not first to get a piece
of the pie. As much as we maybe
entitled, it is virtually a crumb, or a morsel of wealth that we may receive,
if that.
The object of the game, so to speak, is to build wealth, and
for those of us who are on the lower tier of the wealth building spectrum, this
is our baptism by fire. We should learn
from these experiences, because no one is going to change how they achieve
wealth because of one or two storms that destroy our homes. No one is going to change their goals to
build wealth because one or two people loose their lives. Unfortunately, we are not on that planet. Nor, are we on that list of importance to
those who hold the greatest wealth.
We are not on that planet that empathizes, sympathizes, or
exercises compassion. If we have lost
our homes, too bad, read the fine print of your loan papers. If we have lost our livelihoods, too bad,
read the fine print of the insurance policies.
If we have lost a few thousand dollars out of our lives, no one
cares. It’s in the fine print of the
Constitution-Somewhere in the Pre-amble, or one of those Amendments to the
Constitution: Thou Shalt Build
Wealth.
For those of us who have suffered any type of loss, whether
by fire, tornado, hurricane or earthquake, it is in the fine print, that your
neighbors, your family members, or your livelihood, will be forsaken at the
risk of building wealth. That is how America
It’s in the fine print-Thou Shalt Build Wealth! It’s in that part of the contract, or
agreement that we sign, but rarely read.
It’s in the fine print that the holder of the note may, at their
discretion, withhold, deny, delay, or redirect, as they see fit, any and all
that they control. That is why the
Coveted Commandment is coveted-It’s in the fine print. And the moment we complain about the
obstacles that everyone puts in our way to rebuild our lives, they can point to
the fine print. It either implies, or
specifically states, that the holder of the note is protecting their
investment, because, they are building wealth.
Our challenge, should we decide to accept it, is to get back
up. To take on every obstacle thrown in
front of us. Our challenge, should we
decide to accept it, is to call every representative that purports to represent
us and call them out on their representation.
Our challenge, is to call every lender that holds the note, and sit on
hold until someone comes to the phone.
Our challenge, should we decide to accept it, is to call our insurance
providers and push them to the very limits to comply with our small print. The small
print that they didn’t read: our
pedigree. Let them know that we are in
this game to win. Let them know that whether
it is our homes, our businesses, or our families, we will overcome every
obstacle that they can throw in front of us.
Because, whether they believe it or not, we too are determined, to build
wealth. It’s in our fine print: Thou
Shalt Build Wealth.
It’s our time.
It’s our call.
It’s our move.
Let us get back to doing what we do best: build wealth. Le
us embrace the Coveted Commandment: Thou
Shalt Build Wealth.
Best wishes and remember the Coveted Commandment: Thou Shalt Build Wealth.[13]
[1] The Coveted Commandment: Thou Shalt Build
Wealth © 20 13 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr. http://thecovetedcommandment.blogspot.com/
[2] The
Coveted Commandment: Thou Shalt Build Wealth © 20 13 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr
http://thecovetedcommandment.blogspot.com/
[3] http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hurricane-katrina-facts-and-information.html
[4]
Hurricane Katrina Disaster Response-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_government_response_to_Hurricane_Katrina
[5]
Hurricane Katrina and Levee failures http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2006/01/index.html
[6] How has
money from Katrina been spent? http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0827/Katrina-anniversary-How-well-has-recovery-money-been-spent
[7] http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2013/03/hurricane_isaac_fema_reimburse.html
[8] http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/hurricane-sandy-suffering-continues-article-1.1284125
[9] http://www.hammondstar.com/articles/2013/03/07/opinion/columnists/8133.txt
[10]
Discrimination during Hurricane Katrina http://understandingkatrina.ssrc.org/Gilman/
[11] New Orleans
[12] http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/outreach/history/
[13] The
Coveted Commandment: Thou Shalt Build
Wealth © 2013 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.
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