My Like-Hate-Hate Relationship with Dave Ramsey

I cannot go to sleep in silence, so I usually have talk radio on as I drift off. Most times, the cadence of the talking head becomes the white noise I need. But sometimes I actually listen to the conversations. As much as I hope for Clark Howard, Dave Ramsey happens to be the head that's talking when I go to bed. Gradually, I became aware of his philosophies. He has many, but I'll focus on just a few: 1) Get Rid of All Debt - I really like this one. As someone who wants the points my credit card awards, or the cashback my other credit card awards, I feel like I'm always a month behind. I pay off my balance in full each month, but by then of course, I have lowered my bank account and have less to spend in the current month. I do wonder what it would feel like to pay just the bills for my current living expenses. I plan to give it a go, but I won't buy Ramsay's book or go to Financial Peace University. "Where debt is dumb, cash is king, and the paid off mortgage replaces the BMW as the new status symbol." Yep. That's how he signs on. It's catchy, no? 2) Prosperity Christianity -- I really hate this ideology, but Ramsey totally pushes it. He signs off talking about Jesus Christ, and he often refers to being born again. He believes in "keeping more [of your money] so you can give more." He hates the term "income inequality" because it feels like communism (or socialism -- people like Ramsey don't understand these distinctions) I am not against getting out of debt. I'm not against giving more. But I do feel like he believes anyone can work their way into a prosperous life. And I do feel that he regards his money as a gift from God. Let's follow that logic: If God loves you that much, what does it say about people (men, women, children) who have little or nothing? Does God hate them? Oh, and get a job. Does your job not pay you enough? Get another job. Ramsey sees things from the perspective of a middle-aged white man. In my book, that's rarely a good thing. 3) Shill, Shill, Shill! - This show does not "go to commercial". Instead, Ramsey promotes the hell out of everything. There are wonderful dentists in Granbury, Texas (which is waaay out in the country) who are the best. Dentists. Ever. He has a list of endorsed local providers who sell everything from insurance to credit protection (which is the next biggest ripoff after payday loans). They must, of course, pay him a stipend for getting that type of promotion. They may be good, but credit protection? Expensive home safes? It doesn't matter. He doesn't care. He gets money for this shilling, and I'm sure his audience responds appropriately. I have problems with that. People believe Ramsey. They do exactly what he tells them to do. His advice is powerful. So when he sells, sells, sells, I get very uncomfortable. It is unseemly. And craven. 4) Nepotism - His daughter, Rachel Cruze, is his "children and money" expert. She goes on his tours (yes, another opportunity to sell), speaking to large groups of people, like in a venue where you'd expect Lady Gaga to perform. His fan base is friggin' huge. Rachel is an articulate young woman who is also building up her Ramsey cred by appearing in tandem with her dad and co-authoring a book which he shills often during his show. 5) There are Wonderful Consequences to Invoking Jesus Christ - Do you know how many callers to his show tell Ramsey that they heard about him through their pastor/reverend/priest/deacon? Many, many, many. Apparently, this is part of the counseling many couples get before their weddings. I even heard a woman call in who said she got his book from her daughter who went to pre-marital counseling and passed it along to her parents. It's insidious. So the bottom line -- I cringe too much to get a good night's sleep. He says pompous things that make me want to slap him. So enough with Dave Ramsey. I will get a white noise machine, even if I have to put it on my credit card. It's worth it.