If you can't beat'em, join'em.

We are changing? We are changing all right! Here in our little rural community things are evolving nicely. Retirees forced back to work. Their life savings disappearing like some sick version of 3-card monte, only played with 2 cards. Those about to retire thinking about staying in the workforce.Contractors are turned into day laborers. Property values? Depends if my neighbors are in foreclosure or not. These pressures placed on the young families is not something they deserve. I do not wish to sound negative not everything is down. Taxes on vehicle registrations I hear have not changed from last year. Good thing I couldn't afford diesel fuel last summer or I might have actually put some miles on the truck. Same goes for property taxes if they have not increased. Increased taxes on an item that has lost tremendous value and continues to do so. Beautiful.

At least the pretending is over, no need to hide the fact you are laid off, fired, downsized, while debt is super-sized. I hear it is much worse for some of the other states and countries. Buy a toaster, get a free bank! Hell, even the Realtors are finally admitting "things have been slow". Says a great deal about a profession the combined numbers of all the teachers in this country. The difference is we need teachers. Maybe more than ever. The kind that teach and inspire. I believe we could all use a strong dose of inspiration these days. We need leaders that think. Whether they are friends, relatives, or elected officials. Time to wake up, folks. We are a world community. Religions, factions, clubs, bingo clubs are just divisions of the same. Wake up and look around you.

If we continue as we are I will not feel sorry for us, for we let it happen. I do feel sorry for the others we ignore. Not when we ignore ourselves. Maybe I'm wrong. Just avert your eyes. Cover you ears. It will be all right. "They" will protect you as long as you don't cause a fuss. I am going to find a bag of potato chips and watch a sitcom. If you can't beat'em, join'em!