I am interested in the illusion of worth that money gives to individuals since money in and of itself is dead. It is comprised of metal or pieces of paper mixed with cloth. It is only the human agreement as to how much the paper or metal is worth that allows us to purchase objects with it. On the other hand, people, animals, plants, the earth are alive. We and they have inherent value. When people choose money over life, we are all in trouble.

The people in our current administration, along with other self-serving people in power around the world, value by far money over life. Here the wholesale firing of thousands of government workers doing important jobs in the name of saving money is proof enough. Cutting food programs to children, programs to help women, slashing aid to those who need, tearing immigrant families apart can be added to the very long and ever-growing list.

People who make decisions such as these choose money for themselves over the well-being of others. Money gives them a veneer of value, of self-worth, of being better than others, of having the right to deceive and do whatever they want. Strip away the money and they are exposed as needy, greedy, and self-serving. It is interesting to ponder the image Donald Trump would project without the veneer of power his money gives him.

It is important for us, as taxpayers, to decide where our money should go. I think we can agree it should go back to us through employment, Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, education, social services, housing, and the arts. Our money should help us all.

Another area of concern is the use of the word ‘hysterical’. I read in letters to the editor and hear some in government calling those who are protesting the current money and power grab “hysterical.” I wonder, are the confrontational farmers, who voted for Trump and now can’t sell their crops because of his tariffs, hysterical? Or the retirees worked up because the Social Security benefits they have contributed to their whole working lives may be cut? Or the countless others who have lost access to their jobs, food, or education?

I certainly don’t remember that word being tossed around about those who attacked the Capitol on January 6th, and they, without doubt, looked hysterical. Or Elon Musk brandishing a chainsaw with glee as he was about to undercut thousands of hardworking Americans? And how about the people willing to foment a civil war when Trump lost in 2020? Hysterical could certainly be applied there as well.

This word “hysterical” was created in Victorian England to describe women who were emotional because every avenue to self-expression and power was denied them. (In fact, the word “hystera” is Greek for womb or uterus.) The terms hysteria and hysterical were created by men in power who would rather demonize women and hold onto power than understand what women needed and work together with them to adjust society accordingly.

Now, as then, curiosity and compassion are required to understand the needs behind people’s emotions, no matter where on the political or personal spectrum. Instead of calling names, we need to understand and then create a society in which everyone is empowered, a society in which everyone’s needs are met — no exceptions.

Marian Kelner is a teacher and writer living in Greenfield.