Mcknight Pros And Cons

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The citizens of Golden Heights Centro, home to Romero Estrado, provided for Romero’s basic needs each day. Members of the community provided him with food, haircuts, took care of his social security and even bought him drinks. In exchange for his care, Romero swept the sidewalks in front of the shops. It was a cycle that worked; Romero was a part of the community. The community provided care for Romero and in return he was considered a citizen of Golden Heights Centro. Communities differ from industries in such a way that, “A person who has been labeled deficient can find a hammock of support in the collective capacities of a community” (McKnight, “Regenerating” 260). Romero is an impeccable example of an individual who was labeled as deficient…show more content…
There are many systems currently in place that illustrate the concept of disabling help, “crime making correction systems, sickness-making health systems, and stupid making schools” (McKnight, “Regenerating” 257). What McKnight means by this concept is that criminals who are caught go to prison and learn from other inmates how to steal better. Hospitals try to make individuals well, but instead the patients are exposed to a variety of infections or that children in schools are passed along so teachers do not have to deal with them another year. Institutions that were meant to help are failing individuals who are not exact molds of the people they are supposed to be providing aid too. Society simply passes the problem on to someone else, instead of using the systems in place as they were intended. While they might have been implemented with care as a goal, all that is being provided is a service. However, what distinguishes care from a service is that, “care is an act that is an expression of love” and “services are something one pays for” (McKnight, “Professionalized” 234). What solidifies that Seferino is representative of industrial thinking is that there was no relationship there was only a service being provided. Seferino told Romero that his work has value beyond the care his community is providing for him. Seferino put a price on the work Romero was doing and implied that Romero’s life would improve if he got paid fifty cents each day. Seferino’s intent to do well was clear, but he implemented a plan that had a disabling effect on Romero. Romero initially contributed to his community in return for care but after the money, Romero was providing a service and his role of a citizen was replaced with the role of a client. Care without a relationship is simply a service in

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