see url: https://theintercept.com/2017/12/16/hard-times-in-trump-country/
Interesting article and view...well worth a read, in my view. Shows the
difference between the big city perspective and that of the small town
or village out in the country, both in terms of politics, viewpoints and
attitudes towards race, work, poverty drugs and the government. In a
place where there are few jobs and high unemployment, fining people for
not getting a job, is one solution advocated by an interviewee. No
advocation of self help or co-operation to develop work projects which
are low capital and high labour intensive, and which help the local
community and develop the economy. No sign of it in the article either,
which makes one wonder if such a concept does go on.
The effect and influence of drugs, opioids in particular appear to drain
some of the population of their ability to think. Drug addiction
appears to be a big problem, with little being done to overcome it, by
the state or the private sector. The usual answers to immigration
questions, and race equality and integration and separation from which
all societies suffer. Such a beautiful countryside too, with so much
potential. This is the land of the free, which Trump and the American
Dream so much wants to impose on the the rest of the world to enjoy.
What happened to all that entrepreneurship, that individual enterprise,
that not only surviving but overcoming all obstacles attitude which once
prevailed in the US? Now, the only risk taking being done, is by large
corporations being subsidised by the state and taxpayer to get funding
for opening enterprises or keeping open enterprises which are bad for
the environment, whilst the social and welfare care for the local
population is cut back to fund it, under Trump provisions. The
confusion amongst what was once the white working class, but now
unemployed, and disabled who are forced to live on state benefits is
quite stark.
Still, at least some of them have got motor vehicles and colour
televisions to keep them happy and occupied...
Long live the land of the free:-)...
ATB
Dougie.
