Rags to Riches: A social experiment

I briefly caught part of the Oprah show today and the story I saw surrounded a social experiment. Transcripts and information are available from the Oprah website on three separate pages: page one, page two, and page three.

(Picture from oprah.com)

The story surrounded Ted Rodrigue, a 45-year-old, periodically homeless man for the past 20 years. In a documentary "Reversal of Fortune," filmmaker Wayne Powers tells Ted that he wants to make a film on what its like to be homeless, but he also had other plans in mind for the documentary.

One day while Ted was sorting through a dumpster for bottles and cans which he used to obtain money he found a briefcase with $100, 000 cash, which had been planted by Wayne.

"There [were] a lot of emotions all at once," Ted says about finding the briefcase. "I thought I was going to get shot. I thought it was drug money. Then I thought it was a prop for the movie, and I would have to give it back. It didn't sink in for a good half an hour—then I knew [it was mine to keep]."

Wayne says that he was inspired to create this film as he said he often had daily interactions with homeless people asking for money and he thought, "'What would happen if I actually was able to give someone $100,000 and the free will to do with it what they wanted to do?'" he says. "Would that turn their life around or would it create more problems?"

Wayne stated that they searched for a participant who could pass a psychiatric evaluation, a medical and a drug test, who ended up being Ted. Wayne states that he was at first optimistic about the money as Ted talked about change. He wanted to get an apartment, a job and was happy. Furthermore, Wayne felt that maybe this opportunity would really help Ted turn his life around.

Ted received financial counselling and support however unfortunately old habits die hard. Ted continued to collect cans and bottles which had supported him for many years. Slept on the floor within his hotel room and was generous with his new found wealth. He paid friends' debts, bought a car for a friend, a expensive truck for himself and got married.

"You never think…the money's going to run out sooner or later," Ted says. "At the time I was living in L.A., and I thought with having that money, I could go back to Sacramento and reunite with my family, and that it would change everything. It did for a while—I had more friends than I could count."

Ted stated that not only is all the money now gone but he is now in further debt. Ted states that "I thought it would erase all my problems. I thought I would never be homeless again," he says. "But, like I said, I made a couple of bad choices."

The bad choices surrounded the car purchased, getting his teeth fixed, turning down job offers and giving so much of the money away. Additionally his marriage, as his wife left when the money ran out.

"It was a frustrating process, in a way, because I think that there were a lot of opportunities sent Ted's way," Wayne says. "And while you're with someone, and the closer you get to them, and the more that you kind of root for them and understand them, the more frustrating it gets when those opportunities are passed by. I think that it shows that, from a personal story, people that are homeless, there are certain demons inside them. … I think alcoholism plays a part of that. I learned that in providing somebody with the necessities to be able to turn their life around, a car, a telephone, a roof above their head, a driver's license, all the things that we hear is what somebody needs to be able to turn their life around, it still, unfortunately, in this particular case, was not enough.

"Back living on the street, Ted says, "I'm not happy, but I'm contented."


Unfortunately it appears as though in this case, all the money did was cause more problems. In regard to further debt, 'friends' and generally bad choices. I found this story particularly interesting as while I was travelling I often saw homeless people and I wanted to give them something, whether it was money or a warm jacket (it was winter when I was travelling). However, I was constantly told by other people that it wouldn't make a difference etc. It is sad to think of Ted's outcome and that in this case his old habits did die hard. However this wouldn't necessarily be the case for everyone in this situation. Even so, this documentary provided an interesting look into social experiments.

If you saw the show, please feel free to comment on any thoughts you may have surrounding this story. Additionally, any comments or thoughts are welcome surrounding any aspect of this blog/post.

Thank You,
Zoe.


References:
The Oprah Winfrey Show. (2007). Rags to Riches: Controversial "Reversal". Harpo Productions.

The Oprah Winfrey Show. (2007). Rags to Riches: A Homeless Man's "Reversal of Fortune". Harpo Productions.

The Oprah Winfrey Show. (2007). Rags to Riches: Did Money Change a Homeless Man's Life?. Harpo Productions.