I believe the heavy of this does way on our political forum, it tends to cater to what draws attention or votes or both. It wasn't long ago that they broke up ma bell for being a monopoly, yet they have done nothing to alter companies who are taking advantage of the necessities people need to survive.
As much as I didn't want to have touch on this topic again, I have no choice but to try raise consciousness. I had received several calls and letters asking can they turn off our gas if we have young children in the house, are we safe this time of year. I can't pay by bills, I am already holding down 3 minimum wage jobs. The stories ongoing, I look at this as a crisis that hasn't been seen since the great depression. I call it a bit of history repeating itself, a step back into the Mc Carthy Era. There has become a steady increase from those who have and the have nots. For all those who have not read nor lived when people gave there lives for the union, will fail to see what a good union stood for, equality, a fairness for all. You cannot rid life of the problems unless you start with one and work your way up.
We cannot instill morals in a pill, it is a life learning process and the break down of our system that has weakened a social bond. The bottom line is everything is about money, the profit margin, stock holders etc. Unfortunately the middle class are suffering right along side the low income, in an emergency pull your own retirement funds only to be penalized, tax upon tax of your own money. Only those capable of hiring a good attorney seem to be able to bend the rules.
I can' t tell you how many families have lost members due to fires, since I posted the local family within miles of my own home. Many People have resorted back to wood and coal and electric space heaters and still others who are using furnaces can hardly afford the up keep to maintain a safe heating device.
The lowest of income can receive grants but even that goes so far in helping with the high rate of energy bills and the middle income are receiving very little if any help. When more then half of a working families income is going to fuel bills, how are they to sustain a healthy surrounding for their children. Who will halt the greed, who will care about the innocent who are to care for the children who can't for themselves.
This is a direct comment from my local politician, she runs a Dental practice in town and is also on the local council. When speaking of the plight of local transportation problems, her response was that she was aware that it was a problem but they made a choice to live here in a rural area.
Some made choices others have had the land passed down from one generation to the next, true they choose to make rural America their home but they didn't choose to be slighted by the government as this is one of the few counties with out public transportation, they didn't choose illness, they didn't choose to lose their jobs.
Many will commute hundreds of miles for the minimum of wage that barely covers expenses. Others will try and live off the land and many will suffer, especially the children.
In eastern Pennsylvania another family has suffered from a fire, though they have not said what is the cause of the fire only that ten people were trapped and killed and two managed to escape early Thursday from a house engulfed by flames near Brockway, a town of about 2,000 people situated about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. The gas was shut off since 2005 and they were using space heaters to heat the house.
Unfortunately there are so many more of these stories just waiting to happen children keeping warm by unsafe electrical appliances. Maybe the fuel company thinks that these people are expendable, maybe these fuel companies believe they are God and can keep necessities away from those who need it. These fuel companies care very little about extending help, they are turning away money because the payments aren't as much as they want to recieve, greed they want and mroe, it seems they prefer to shut off gas to peoples home rather then help them.
I don't necessary want to signal out companies, but I know for a fact that that their stock holders are not doing without, who suffers? society suffers, children suffer and the world who will never get to know the children they suffer.
I believe whole heartily that our country is desperately over looking the working poor. I am not sure this presidential election will make any difference, as it will be much of the same. People who can't even relate to what is really going on around them, it as if they want to breed a separation of the classes.
What can we do? Write to our politicians let them know without change they won't recieve our votes, write to our fuel companies the puc and anyone who will listen. I find this appalling and to close to home to ignore
My prayers go out to the family and survivors. Anyone who cares to follow up on the story can view it at http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08098/871121-54.stm
Standing alone we are one in the wind, together we are a wall that cannot be bulldozed down, stand strong stand together, allow your voice to be heard. The tears of many children depend on us.
May God help those who can't help themself.
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