The flooding is over and with
a little help from Mother Nature things will get back to normal. From experience I have to tell you…they don’t
get back to normal for a long time. The
price that you pay is not just in cost of items and repair of houses, it’s also
in the stress of family relationships both personal and financial.
In a society that values what
money can buy more than the things money can’t buy… we are trapped in a daily
cycle of work, bills, and rising costs.
Money cannot buy back the time-spent worrying about things… and the
emotional toll that brings nights when you are unable to sleep. When this all kicks in…it shakes even the best
of relationships.
When you add poverty to the
mix the situation becomes unbearable. I
have heard about “flood insurance” but the cost of this commodity is far above
the ability of many people to pay and so they throw the dice and hope it rolls
in their favor!
That is what I have done over
the years…I have never won. (I am not good at gambling) The only thing it has taught me is to just
carry on.
The compounding factor is
that people in my rural area who have low paying jobs or retirement benefits…
are also most likely unable to find full-time work that pays enough to have a
car on the road and to travel to it.
Part-time jobs do not make it when you factor in the cost of gas,
repairs and insurance. In Madison
County’s case you have to factor in that there is no bus service, hilly
terrain, and almost no industry.
The majority of people work
in school systems or health care, or local governments. Good paying agricultural jobs with benefits
are few and far between. Madison County
ranks number 3 in the state for lost population… no wonder why.
Continually badgering people
who get food assistance is just ridiculous.
Even our friends to the north in the more populated area who work for
places like Walmart do not have adequate pay to live. When they retire...what?
The Amish families have moved
into the vacant farms and have returned to basic life. But are we as “a people”… willing to forgo
our current life style of easy communication, entertainments, work saving
devices and… most importantly education of our children?
The flooding in my case has
been caused in a great part by lack of adequate infrastructure repair. But I cannot afford more taxes and once again
it is industry that pays taxes and provides jobs that allow the citizenry to
pay taxes. It is a “catch 22.”
So when it comes time to vote
this fall in local elections…think about it… we need younger more in tune
thinking. We need Change! We need to be
proactive rather than reactive… In our comments on line via social media like
Facebook that are hateful to hard working retired or poor people…. remember but
for the Grace of God you might one day be in their situation… and if costs and our
society continue… your children may be in this situation!
So help your friends… be kind
to your neighbors and family… and think about the future for everyone… Where are we going as a society? How can we improve? And more importantly… how long can we carry
on without sincere change?
***Here is a great video..great historic pictures..worth a watch!
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