By Dawn Corrigan

VOICE OVER:

Hoarding. A nightmare that touches millions. It threatens health. It destroys livelihoods.

Good evening, I’m David Muir. Welcome to a very special edition of Hoarders. Tonight we’ll investigate wealth hoarders—those individuals who desperately hang on to resources greater than the GNP of entire nations—and learn how they can get help and change their lives.

I’m joined by two experts as we confront a hoarder and try to help him make a positive change.

AOC:

Hello. I’m Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

RONAN FARROW:

And I’m Ronan Farrow.

DAVID MUIR:

We’re live in Medina, Washington. We just received clearance from security and are approaching the house. [FRONT DOOR SWINGS OPEN]

Jeff, thanks for letting us into your home.

JEFF BEZOS:

My pleasure. I’m always happy to discuss the Day One Fund. [SPOTS AOC AND FARROW] What are they doing here?

AOC:

We’re here to help, Jeff.

JEFF BEZOS:

What the hell is this, Muir?

DAVID MUIR:

We’re doing an exposé on hoarding.

JEFF BEZOS:

Look around. This place is immaculate!

DAVID MUIR:

Wealth hoarding.

JEFF BEZOS:

Oh.

DAVID MUIR:

Let’s begin. Alexandria, how common is this problem?

AOC:

Stats vary. At the low end, people estimate there may be a million hoarders in the U.S. At the high end, 20% of the population. My theory is, if you look at how the middle class is being eroded

DAVID MUIR:

There are more than we think?

AOC:

Absolutely.

DAVID MUIR:

Jeff, you seem troubled about this.

JEFF BEZOS:

I’m not troubled about my wealth. I’m troubled about you being here under false pretences!

DAVID MUIR:

Ronan, is there a clinical explanation behind why people become hoarders? Is it genetic? Are the kids going to become hoarders, too?

RONAN FARROW:

We know compulsive hoarding does run in families, and there’s probably a genetic component.

DAVID MUIR:

With that in mind, let’s bring in someone who can speak to Jeff’s family situation.

[MACKENZIE BEZOS ENTERS]

JEFF BEZOS:

You’ve got to be kidding me. Kenz, why are you doing this?

RONAN FARROW:

We all just want to help, Jeff.

DAVID MUIR:

MacKenzie, tell us what led you to join the Giving Pledge.

MACKENZIE BEZOS:

A few years ago I began to feel incredibly weighed down. We had a typical house full of stuff, with a garage full of boxes. But then, when I heard about those pregnant women in the warehouses, I’d go out to the garage and stare at the boxes and think about them having to be on their feet all day. I mean, I’ve been pregnant, too.

JEFF BEZOS:

Give me a break!

DAVID MUIR:

A break is just what those pregnant women needed but didn’t get. Alexandria, is this anything like an intervention for substance abuse? Where you get the family together and say, look, the kids aren’t coming over anymore unless you make a change?

AOC:

There’s always a rock bottom. And that might be the kids can’t come over. It could be anything. The biggest hurdle is to overcome the shame.

DAVID MUIR:

Ronan, you’re nodding your head.

RONAN FARROW:

There are a lot of misconceptions about hoarders: they’re weak, they’re greedy, they’re stingy. In actuality, most hoarders are high functioning, intelligent people. Just look at Jeff. But somehow their thought processes got off track.

DAVID MUIR:

Alexandria, is this a true disorder?

AOC:

Definitely. It’s well understood within the psychiatric profession. What’s missing is general understanding. Because historically, acquiring wealth was seen as desirable, it followed that hoarding wealth was even more admirable. So it’s been undiagnosed.

DAVID MUIR:

Let’s cut to the chase: can hoarders change?

AOC:

Absolutely. But it takes a lot of commitment on the individual’s part, and bravery.

DAVID MUIR:

Jeff, what do you think?

JEFF BEZOS:

People don’t understand. They think you’re greedy. They think you’re cruel.

RONAN FARROW:

And I imagine for years you’ve been asked, why don’t you just give it away?

JEFF BEZOS:

Finding ways to get rid of this much money is harder than it seems!

AOC:

What if you paid your employees more money, and offered better working conditions?

JEFF BEZOS:

Oh no, I couldn’t.

DAVID MUIR:

Why is that so hard to consider?

JEFF BEZOS:

It’s like a newborn baby. The wealth is like that to me sometimes. It’s mine, it’s my preciousss, and I tend to it and look after it.

DAVID MUIR:

Would it be fair to say you love it?

JEFF BEZOS:

Yesss.

RONAN FARROW:

It’s an emotional attachment.

DAVID MUIR:

I can relate to that.

RONAN FARROW:

I think everyone can.

AOC:

Hold on …

DAVID MUIR:

Alexandria, you’ve been observing wealth hoarders for a while now. What’s the one message you want people to take away from our show tonight?

AOC:

Change is possible. Don’t be afraid to seek help!

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Dawn Corrigan has published poetry and prose in many journals and anthologies. She lives in Myrtle Grove, FL, and works in the affordable housing industry.