Oh, Orrin...

"I hear how they're so caring for the poor and so forth," Hatch said in remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday, in reference to Democrats. "The poor need jobs! And they also need to share some of the responsibility."

Really, Senator Hatch? Really? Does the phrase "you can't get blood from a stone" mean anything to you?

You know what, Senator? I understand your position. You were the first in your family to go to college and you worked your way up the occupational ladder until you got to the Senate. You've worked hard for what you have; why should you be asked to give more back?

And these poor people who won't get jobs - such laziness! I mean, everyone should be willing to work for less than a living wage, no matter how many children they have. Work two jobs if you have to!

I'm sure the fact that you are white and male didn't hurt you as you applied to college and for each job you've held. Not to mention that you were smart enough to avoid criminal charges in your youth. To avoid being diagnosed - or worse, actually afflicted - with a disease or disability.

You weren't born to old money, sir? So you were born on second base, then, and got batted in? Because make no mistake, Senator Hatch. Not everyone is born with the privilege from which you've benefited. What privilege? The privilege of being white and male.

Maybe poker is more your game. It was this analogy that really made me understand privilege, so perhaps it will work for you. Jack and John are playing poker. Jack doesn't know it, but the rules for John are different than the rules for Jack. It's very subtle and very hard to pick out, but over time, Jack has amassed a pile of money while John has much less. It's not that John is a bad player. The rules are different for John, and it's much harder for John to keep up. So hard, in fact, that John starts to wonder if the rules are holding him back.

After hours of playing this way, the dealer finally says "Hey! This isn't fair! You guys can't really compete with each other unless you're playing by the same rules." Jack, being a fair-minded man, says fine. Let's play by the same rules. Now we have a level playing field." John, also fair-minded, says "No, we don't. If you agree that the rules robbed me of the chance to keep pace with you, you must also agree that it's only fair to share what you've won so far with me."

Jack leans back in his chair. "But this is mine! I won it. We'll start playing by fair rules now, but it's not my fault the rules worked in my favor before. Why should I be penalized?"

You aren't being penalized, Mr. Hatch. You have more than you could ever possibly need. Neither you nor your children nor their children will ever have to worry about being one paycheck away from homelessness. They will never have to wear used clothing. They will never have to take showers at the Y. They will never know what it means to literally not know where their next meal is coming from.

But that's what happens to people who don't have your privilege. Whether it's the color of their skin, their gender, their background, or their physical ability, many people can't just get jobs. (I don't know whether you've noticed, but there aren't a hell of a lot of jobs out there. Trickle-down economics hasn't.) They can't keep up.

But you can, can't you? And it isn't your fault that the rules favored you. You just happened to be born in the right skin. Congratulations.

Wouldn't it be nice if you shared some of your good fortune?