Homestead mailing list

["Melody O." <melody AT crecon.com>]

At 10:42 AM 2/3/05 -0700, you wrote:
>>   Because of SS and such, many people have become cynical of family and 
>> community that used to look out after the elderly.
>
>I think people have become more selfish since the days of FDR but most 
>people still care about family. Community is still strong in some small 
>rural areas but in cities exists only in a few pockets. Many urbanites have 
>neither family nor community. The poorest people often lead desperate 
>lives, dependent on soup kitchens to stay alive.

Interestingly enough, I have had conversations with family members and
friends about Steve and I having my mother (who has innumerable health
problems) and my brother (who has had severe back probs since the 80's but
has just recently gotten much worse and has rendered him unable to work)
come and live with us on our land in Arizona.  People are shocked that we
would do that, and one friend mentioned how Steve must be such a patient
man.  

A year ago, my father and I were talking (he and my mother are divorced)
and I mentioned that some day, when my mother has either better health or
has died, I would like to move far away from civilization.  He asked why I
needed to consider her in my plans.  That really surprised me.  

Another time I told him (my father) that my niece (his grand-daughter) and
her husband (who has a tumor by his pituitary gland) could really use some
money to help with them and their two small children (ages 3 & 1).  He had
been out of work because of surgery and constant pain.  I know that he has
it to give, for he is well-off.  He responded simply, "Aren't they going to
get on Medicaid?"  And he never offered anything to help them, even when
Medicaid denied them, even when he knew that my nephew has to have $1000
shots monthly to keep the tumor from growing.

It seems to me that because people are so strapped with taxes and social
security payments they truly believe that societies problems rest with the
government rather than with them.  They pay their taxes so their loved ones
should just go on welfare rather than ask family for help.  I am just not
so sure that society is better now than it was pre-FDR.

Best wishes,
Melody