Secret Millionaire

Have you seen this new program? It's been on for a few weeks now, I think. And it's been nagging at me for at least that long. I refuse to watch it, but I've seen trailers. That said, perhaps my judgments are unfair since I'm basing them solely on 45 second clips. Still...




The premise is these wealthy folks (really, super, ultra wealthy) "give up" their life of luxury for ...wait for it... SIX WHOLE DAYS to go be poor. Of course we all know how the tug-at-your-heartstrings fairytale ends: the millionaires write a check to the poor people's charity, and hundreds of lives are made better because of it. On the surface, I get that. But here's the thing. What is the real purpose of this show? To bring awareness to struggling areas of our nation? I think that's how the press release would read. Let's be honest though. It's to make us tune in, cry a little, then feel warm and fuzzy watching the poor people receive their handout. And the ratings will soar, because Americans want to feel warm and fuzzy, and we want to feel like in the middle of financial crises, there's hope.

Here's my beef. You saw this coming. These "secret" millionaires are suddenly supposed to "know what it's like" to be destitute or impoverished after six days in a roach-infested apartment eating at soup kitchens? They have a finite glimpse into this window through the comfortable lens of their multi-million dollar eyes. They are going home in less than a week. I can think of few things more degrading, disrespectful, or condescending than to parade into someone's life of poverty, throw some pity money at them, and then fall back into your lap of luxury.

I could perhaps buy into this show if these millionaires made a permanent lifestyle change; if they sold some of their toys, rolled up their sleeves, and started implementing policies and programs that MATTER in people's lives. I really feel there needs to be a more even distribution of wealth in our country, although we all know it would be political suicide for anyone who attempted to legislate it.
I don't begrudge these folks their financial status for a minute. But when they step into the spotlight under these circumstances, then yes. Yes I do. They say this show will "remind us all that the greatest gift we can ever get is the chance to give." Also, "ABC will break down barriers, and close the gap between the haves and have-nots." Really? REALLY?? The chance to give $45K (on national television with all of America watching you) is really awesome. And when this show is over, and the gap has been "closed" for one week at a time, then what? What's the follow-up plan here? Who's going to stick around to empower these people once the donations run dry? Who's going to fight for social policy change that balances out this completely inequitable institutionalized poverty??

The racial component also eats at me. Here come the rich whites, into the poor black neighborhoods. One clip shows the millionaire white woman referring to two senior citizens, black women, as "seriously so cute" for the work they're doing with youth and music programs. Let's try some real adjectives, like "courageous" or "dedicated" or "selfless". But CUTE? I wanted to slap her.

Bottom line: I'm happy to see some deserving charities receive donations. I am disgusted at the feeling of exploitation that this show seems to exude. Do we need radical change in our social programs? Absolutely. Is this a 100% bad way to do it? I'll settle for 98.5% bad.