As I type this, it is Christmas Eve and NBC has its annual airing of It’s A Wonderful Life. It’s one of my favorite movies and I usually find myself watching it on this night. Most everyone knows the story of George Bailey (played by Jimmy Stewart) if they have seen the movie at least once. I bring up another angle to at least explain why neither Scrooge, nor the Grinch, are the best analogies for certain people at this time.
The focus here is on the boardroom scene. The board is trying to decide what to do with the Building and Loan after Geroge’s father died of a stroke. Potter, who was put on the board by George’s father in an apparent appeasement attempt, wants to dissolve it and add to his collection of assets in Bedford Falls.
Potter brings up the example of how the Ernie the cabbie was able to get a loan to build a house from the Building and Loan while the bank rejected him.
“You see, if you shoot pool with some employee [at the Building and Loan], you can come and borrow money. What does that get us? A discontented, lazy rabble instead of a thrifty, working class. And all because a few starry-eyed dreamers like Peter Bailey stir them up and fill their heads with a lot of impossible ideas.”
George replies with one of the greatest comebacks:
“Just a minute, just a minute. Now, hold on, Mr. Potter. You’re right when you say my father was no business man. I know that. Why he ever started this cheap, penny-ante Building and Loan, I’ll neverknow. But neither you nor anybody else can say anything against his character, because his whole life was…Why, in the twenty-five years since he and Uncle Billy started this thing, he never once thought of himself. Isn’t that right, Uncle Billy? He didn’t save enough money to send Harry to school, let alone me. But he did help a few people get out of your slums, Mr. Potter. And what’s wrong with that? Why…Here, you’re all businessmen here. Doesn’t it make them better citizens? Doesn’t it make them better customers? You…you said…What’d you say just a minute ago?…They had to wait and save their money before they even ought to think of a decent home. Wait! Wait for what? Until their children grow up and leave them? Until they’re so old and broken-down that they…Do you know how long it takes a working man to save five thousand dollars? Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you’re talking about…they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn’t think so. People were human beings to him, but to you, a warped frustrated old man, they’re cattle. Well, in my book he died a much richer man than you’ll ever be!”
To Potter, a “thrifty, working class” is a spendthrift community indifferent of morals that spends extravagantly–particularly at his holdings. He believed the ‘rabble’ should continue to ‘wait and save their money’ for nice things even if the goal posts continue to move on them. Some people today feel the goal posts are being moved on them for things such as housing, education, and a prosperity.
Most people like to compare rich people in today’s world to Scrooge or the Grinch. I feel that’s a little unfair to both. Yes, both were greedy and miserable for two-thirds of their stories and it could be argued that the latter attempted to take away ‘luxuries’, but neither would be considered strong advocates of consumerism. Potter would rather see you spend the paycheck at his department store after taking his bus to get there if not deposit it at the bank he would soon take over in the movie.
There’s a reason that the American Film Institute once rated Potter sixth among its all-time villains (and George ninth among its all-time heroes). Maybe instead of comparing people like Trump, Musk, and others to Scrooge; maybe a better comparison is Potter. Scrooge and the Grinch ultimately get reformed in their stories. Potter does not. It is unlikely that Trump and Musk will change from their chaotic ways anytime soon which is unfortunate. (Besides, how can one call Twitter a public forum if it’s owned privately and on the whims of an infantile adult?)
Where does this all lead, you ask?
Remember last year’s message where I quoted Margaret Mead? One might consider George as part of that small group. It would be that small group of townspeople who would come to rescue George at his hour of need. The residents of Whoville celebrated Christmas not with presents, but by being present. One could argue it took four spirits (remember Marley) to turn Scrooge.
Hopefully, one looks at the 2022 World Cup and realizes that one does not need to spend $220 billion to get a seat at a Monopoly table where they play with real cash. What does Leicester’s 2016 Premier League title mean to a Leicester fan compared to say the last three Manchester City have won to Man City fans? We expect the likes of Argentina and France to win the World Cup every four years, but does that mean teams like Croatia, Australia, Japan, and [insert African country here]should not dream about such glory? While LAFC won MLS Cup with the sixth highest payroll, they faced the team with the second-lowest in Philadelphia (who nearly won it).
Despite the darkness, there are always those who seek the light and realize that life is more wonderful than it looks at times. And to paraphrase Ted Lasso, life is a gift, that’s why they call it the present. It is the presence of small groups at times help others see the light of what a gift life can be and that we don’t have to go to the richest person or club to enjoy it.
May you have a safe and healthy holiday season and we hope to see you at the other end of New Year’s Day.
