WSJ-Povery In Rural America

"We've got money...it just ain't enough money."

Truer words have never been spoken. A few years old, but a good quick overview of just one community's story...out of many others.

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Hope everyone has had a good weekend. I am in the process right now of setting up a meeting with some other authors who are interested in having their voices heard. I hope to have some guest content up within a few months.

SGAF

High Speed in the Low Speed Lane

"A modern business enterprise simply cannot function today without fast, reliable broadband internet service. Cities have it. Rural America by and large does not, at least not without significant expense. If the countryside can be wired as effectively as the city is, then arbitrage in land values and labor costs will quickly improve things for us folks out here in the sticks."

-Stephen Smith

From the NYT opinion article "Solving the Problems of Rural America"

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/30/opinion/letters/rural-america.html

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I think Stephen hit this one on the head (by the way, there are a lot of good opinions in this piece which show the "true colors" of rural poverty). High speed internet access is one great hope for rural America. Access to this opens the world to both online learning and online work to those who live out "in the sticks". As virtual and at distance jobs continue to permeate society, there is a glimmer of hope for rural areas who seize the opportunity to give their communities access to this precious resource.

SGAF

Rural Food Poverty

Imagine having to drive 30 minutes to the nearest grocery store that has fresh vegetables. To some in the third world, this may sound like a luxury...access to fresh vegetables and fruits there is often non existent. But in the first world, many take such a luxury for granted. In the rural areas which dot America's countryside, however, it is all too common of an occurrence. "Food Deserts", as I once heard a government report refer to them, are areas where fresh groceries are a drive away. I live in such an area. Though it may not be a struggle for those who work and commute to the city anyways, for the elderly, disabled, and young who aren't able to make the trek often, sustenance is often based upon cans and packets. Time and time again, we have seen the effects a poor diet can cause...so why then is more not being done?

Cost, as always. Providing locations close to the rural's most vulnerable populations just isn't a good return on investment for most businesses. So once again the poorest of the poor fall through the cracks. So what, then, are the rural poor supposed to do?

SGAF

Rural Homelessness and "The Uncountable"

https://www.thenation.com/article/rural-homelessness-housing/

Not a huge fan of the news outlet this is from...but it definitely hits the proverbial nail on the head with this article.

Homeless folks have always leaned on each other in rural communities. Heck, folks in general depend on each other here regardless of homelessness. But as family and community structure continues to dissolve, the issue of homelessness is likely to only worsen in the rural sections of our great nation.

There are no simple answers...but something must be done outside of the major cities to help those who truly need help.

SGAF

A Real Pain in the Ass...

My wife has a family history of colon cancer. So, in 2016 her doctor recommended to us both that a colonoscopy would be a reasonable safeguard. At the completion of the procedure, he informed me that a small precancerous lesion had been found and removed...and that he believed a follow up procedure would be warranted in 3 years to ensure her well being.

We scheduled the procedure over a month ago. Today, I called and received word that her colonoscopy would cost us nearly five grand out of pocket.

$5000

Why?

Insurance doesn't seem to think it's necessary. What? A person with family history doesn't need another colonoscopy for 5-10 years even if precancerous activity was found in the last procedure?

My patience is wearing thin...

SGAF

Healthcare=Jobs=A Never Ending Struggle

https://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/has-employment-become-the-goal-of-the-us-healthcare-system

A good read on the paradox of the US health system. In essence, the healthcare system provides so many jobs, and so much revenue, that it has become the new "banking industry"...too big to fail.

But what happens when the costs become so large the masses can't afford them? What happens when the "market" crashes, as it is bound to do?

Food for thought, which will be looked at later in much more depth.

All the best,

SGAF

A Not So Happy Welcome...

I have created this site with the intention of chronicling both my story and the story of others (mainly in the US) who are facing a new "first world poverty". Though it in no way shape or form mimics the true poverty of the third world, it does present an ongoing concern and conversation which we must have with ourselves. Through this lense I hope to share experiences, resources, and research on a topic which affects us all.

All the best,

SGAF