ARE YOU SERIOUS-response 4

The prologue and forward for Someplace Like America, Tales from the New Great Depression,  grabs a reader’s attention before they even realize.  I wanted to read so much more after just a few pages of this beginning.  This book takes the view of America from the perspective of the common people.

America.  Our country is supposed to be one of the best places for immigrants to start a life; so we are told.  But, in reality, our country is not this land of freedom.  How can it be a land of freedom and salvation when the very seams of the country are fraying?   

When we built our country, we had such hope.  We built so factories for our men and women to make a living and to provide for their families.  We had beautiful farm lands to feed us.  But what happened?  How did our farm lands disappear?  Where are the crops? Have we all just decided that it is okay to let our farm lands be turned into strip malls?  Is it okay that we outsource our steel to foreign countries?  While we allow this to happen, where are the people who worked on the land or in those factories go?  They can’t pay their bills without a job; can’t feed their family without the crops.

Our country is a country suffering.  Look around.  Families and individuals alike are reduced to sleeping under trees, in the alley ways.  Displaced workers and farmers, no longer able to afford housing take to the streets.   The very men and women who help protect and serve this country are also not safe from this horrible outcome of America. 

Our nation does little to nothing to help the poor.  They are shamed upon by the upper-class.  How dare these people sleep outside!  Call the police the rich say.  The law doesn’t protect the poor homeless ones.  They don’t care.  The rich want the streets and parks to look nice. 

Do you think a majority of homeless and displaced individuals enjoy how they live?  Having to beg for food?  The homeless have come to fear the cops, because they know that they can be taken to jail and locked down.  Shame on them for losing their job!  Perhaps they would steel have a great factory job if our government didn’t outsource it to a foreign country.  Damn them.   Land of the free my ass. 

Come to the land of the free.  Well is there anything free here at all?  Medical care….don’t even count on it.  Having job security….not in this century and having a place to call home….NOT.  But, hey if you live in a third world country, America will come to you.  We will feed your people and clothed them.  We will provide medical care and education.  Are you serious?

How dare our government rush to the aid of other countries and ignore their own people?  How is it that the politicians and “high” ups turn their noses down on the less fortunate, but are so willing to write a check for an international cause?  It is a crying shame this game Washington likes to play with us.