One might think that the bringer of some better way or
better resouces would be greeted with gratitude. No. Don't expect
it. Not even
if it is really needed.
You may as well be writing from Iraq.
Poor but proud. Fits traditional Ozarkers, too.
There is a story that I believe to be true about an elderly lady who
lived in our neighborhood. A team of students from the university
were doing a survey of the hill people of southern Missouri. As they
questioned this lady, they quickly realized she was by their
standards very poor. They told her that she would qualify for many
government programs then available. She listened politely to their
suggestions and then replied, "But that would be taking charity,
wouldn't it?" The students were nonplussed.
Alas, a dying breed. A substantial percentage now take all the
government money they can get.
Ironically, a strong majority vote Republican. The Republican party
has a reputation of being the party of small government, of low
taxes, of minimizing government programs, of leaving people alone to
enjoy traditional American freedoms.