years ago

How things have changed in the sixty years since I left this farm for college! Our former American middle class is on its way out.  A few predator types at the top of the economy have decided to corner all of the world's wealth.  Every one else is on a slow slide to the bottom.  So much so that my farm organization, Farmers Union, decided to feature a former ranch kid who told and sang about his issues with bipolar disorder, especially the extreme depression part of it, at the National Convention.  He has had a real struggle with trying to stabilize himself to the point he could live a decent life.  It was a heartfelt and wonderful session.  It touched me.  Part of the reason though, was that I thought that his fight against depression individually applied as well to the generalized depression we Americans fight on a daily basis.

He ended with some of Roger Miller's long ago hit: "King of the Road".  I thought 40 years ago that this was just a fun and bouncy hit song.  This time it was different.  I heard the pain under the bouncy lyrics:"  . . .trailers for sale or rent. . .rooms to let, fifty cents. . .I smoke old stogies I have found, short and not too big around, I'm a man of means, by no means King of the Road. . .third box car midnight train. . ."

But this won't do.  People living like this need a hand up.  And that means someone to give them that hand.  That means us.  We must take back what has been taken from us, so that we can.  We must live now as if helping and looking out for others is the most important thing we do, because it is.