No Wonder Heather Was Tired of This World

The world today has become a world of the super wealthy versus the people. I read an article recently that 1/3 of residents of New Jersey are living below the Federal Poverty level. New Jersey is not alone in that. Too many are struggling to get through each month, cutting as much as they can from their budget just to be able to keep a roof over their heads and food in their mouths.

Do you want to know why suicides and overdoses are on the rise? I can tell you, quite simply, that most people can't afford to live! They are tired of struggling, knowing that at any given time, another huge increase could mean the difference between getting through each month and not. People talk about cars being a necessity. Yeah, they really help. I don't personally drive because I have back spasms. They are random and I never know when one will happen, but if it were to happen, I would be as dangerous as drunk driver behind the wheel. However, if my back wasn't messed up, I still wouldn't be able to afford the car insurance prices today, let alone buy a decent car. It wouldn't happen.

This morning, I saw another article where many of the makers of the drug to reverse heroin overdoses has now more than doubled in the past couple of years. It's just not the addicts that the pharmaceutical companies don't care about, it's those suffering from any life saving treatments! How about those with diabetes. Well, they have raised those prices to the extreme also. I see people asking other to pray that there is a cure for cancer. Why would the pharmaceutical companies ever do that? Cancer is a huge money maker for them! Who do I blame? I blame our elected officials who gave the big pharmaceutical companies exemption.

What do I mean? Have you noticed all their warnings? Well, our government told them as long as they share what can what could go wrong, well, they can't be sued for it. Who cares if the medication can actually kill the users? Well, not the politicians. (Note, I am not talking Republican or Democrat - in my opinion, they are all guilty!) Go ahead, watch a commercial for a prescription drug. The abc drug could be the end of your medical condition problems. Warning: and then they go on for the rest of the 50 seconds in a minute long ad to tell you all the ways it could kill or maim you.

I hear other politicians say that we need to offer hope to those suffering from mental illness. We are going to give them some beds, etc. to help out. Well, it won't be this year, it will be years down the road. But, when these same politicians are told that people can't afford to live, well, that's not my problem. Someone else can figure it out.

Over the years, people have joked that politicians should have to wear uniforms like the NASCAR drivers. I don't feel this is a joke. I think they should be required to display for all to see whose pockets they are really in. Forget their fancy suits, let them wear jumpsuits like the drivers and when they are out in public, they can show who owns them. Believe me, it's not the people.

So, what can we do as a people? Well, we can start treating people the way we want to be treated. Trust me, our elected officials really don't care about you. They care about their bottom line. Not the people they are supposed to. We need to start showing compassion. We don't know what they are going through. We don't know if that person can really afford the necessities of life. We don't know if they have given up the struggle and just want to find an escape. Don't be so quick to judge.

Racism has gotten out of control. I don't care what color you are or what your religious beliefs are. We can try to make the world a better place by opening our hearts. Show compassion, show love, show an ear to listen. Don't count on your politicians to make the world a better place. Take the steps to make the changes that you can.

Instead of supporting all the cookie cutter corporate businesses, go find a local Mom and Pop shop. Support someone putting a roof over their heads instead of a business trying to increase their millionaire status. Yes, the big box stores are convenient, but they aren't in the business of helping - they are in the business of increasing their bottom line. Period.

I will end this rant now, but I hope you take a few minutes and read and share this. We need to make this a better world if we want to end suicide and overdoses. No one is going to do it for us. Go ahead, support some local businesses today. Instead of going to a fast-food place that is exactly the same around the country, find a locally owned and run business to stop and get your burger. When you need to do some general shopping for household things? Again, shop locally owned and operated businesses. How are we going to take control of our country and our world? Start in your own neighborhood and work from there.