Schnorrer Syndrome

The Yiddish term schnorrer has come to mean many things. Urban dictionary lists synonyms as freeloader, beggar, sponger, moocher, and my favorite, “Someone that always shows up just in time for a free meal.”

We have all dealt with schnorrers. They are the people who want the benefits but are unwilling to pay for them. They are the folks who are pleased with getting away with something, going around the system, or paying less than their fair share.

My neighborhood has a voluntary homeowners association whose primary task is to maintain the common landscaping. I am always upset by the schnorrers who get good prices when they sell their homes, but won’t pay the $75 a year to help make the neighborhood look good, even though that good looking landscaping certainly assisted in the sale of their homes.  

And while these small schnorring annoyances may bother me, I wish I could see them as the exception rather than the rule. Of the 152 homes in our neighborhood, only about a dozen don’t pay. They are the unfortunate exception, not the rule.

Or are they?

I am worried that the schnorrers’ numbers are increasing. There are more and more people who want the good stuff, but don’t want to pay for it.

Politicians are now pandering to the schnorrer voters. Why should states like Illinois, which is deep in debt, increase income tax? We can do more with less! Except that we can’t. I want good schools, but I don’t want to pay teachers. I want police, fire, and public works services, but I don’t want to pay the taxes. I want healthcare at a reasonable cost, but only if others can’t access it. I want, I want, I want. And he debt mounts up!

We should be able to provide more, with less, they tell us. Under the guise of financial responsibility and efficiency, they find reasons why they shouldn’t have to pay, but they should still receive their free meals. My grandmother used to say, “You get what you pay for.” Yet, more and more people want to get what others pay for. Their version might be that a free lunch is worth is what someone else pays for it.

The schnorrer rejects the concepts of duty and obligation. The idea of social responsibility is a critical part of our social fabric. Schnorrers justify their miserliness by pointing out their own traits in others; if some entitlement programs have some schnorrers, does that mean no one should get assistance? Should each of us have to build our own roads, sewer systems, and schools?

I want my children to be generous. I want them to understand that their taxes take care of them by taking care of all of us. We are all better off when we are all better off! We have an obligation to pay for what we take or use. We have a duty to take care of those who take care of us. We have a responsibility to take care of our communities! Rather than being stingy schnorrers, I want them to the people who will help, give, and look out for those who struggle.

Does that make them suckers? Does that make me a sucker? I would prefer to be a sucker than be a schnorrer. I’ll be the nice guy, even if I finish last.

Fight the schnorrer syndrome. The Yiddish word that is the opposite of schnorrer is mensch. A mensch is a good person, the kind you’d like your children to find as partners and friends.

If some people are taking advantage of welfare, we should not cut welfare. If some bad teachers are protected by tenure, we should still protect the good ones. The system should not be focused on foiling the cheaters, whiners, and schnorrers.

There will always be schnorrers. Let’s make sure they remain the irritating exception rather than ruling the rest of us!