LIFE IN THE FAST LANE - OR NOT

     Every once in  awhile one dreams of a different life, of what could have been or might have been. I have wondered what it would have been like if we never had to worry about money, always had what was needed to help the kids, give as much charity as we wished - but that was never to be. But I am grateful, for we were always able to keep that roof overhead, food on the table and clothes on the back and as time went on, even add in a few trips, small, simple, but there and grant a few wishes.
     But what about the young couples today who now face a disastrous tax liability, whose deductions are slashed, destroyed, gone, even as the Fat Cats loll in even more obscene displays of wealth, build humongous homes while there are so many without a home. I remember when NYC was rife with homeless, sleeping on the benches of the transportation centers, on the sidewalks, in doorways and then for some years the problem eased somewhat but a few years ago there began a growth again, and one walked by as people slept on the sidewalks, surrounded by bags of belongings and signs asking not to be disturbed.         Even here, in West Palm, we began to see more homeless, more people pushing wagons loaded with bags, sitting by libraries, inside and out, and each time I see this I shudder. No place to lay one's head. No place to be alone. No place to do anything, be it take a drink of water or suffer thru a cold. This, to me, is awful.
     Even worse, I see no better future opening up. Corporations have been granted permission and  free rein to be even greedier than ever. Just what is it that makes men desire to build up money stores in some bank account, serving no one and no purpose other than to give them further bloated salaries and bonuses. Money for expansion, for raising the wages of the regular workers, for better benefits - uh uh, no way. Why?
     As for homeless, we are creating even more of a situation. We have ICE going after any and all illegal immigrants, be they violent criminals who rightfully should be deported or someone who did not notice that  a light was out on the car. Stopped, off they go, families torn asunder, children crying for parents, families left with big income holes and an inability to continue to pay rent or taxes and out they go, on the street. When nabbed and turned back over the border, they are often walked across the bridge and just left, no money, no clothes, no nothing and in Nuevo Laredo, a dangerous and violent place. The echoes and images of Jews thrown out into no man's land, left to die of hunger and thirst, of exposure, as no one seemed to want them, of the refugees of the world today, as they are forced out of countries and into others who are often just as poor and destitute and unable to absorb more needy people.
     And in the meanwhile, hope is dimming for a  better world in the near future. The United States is a long way down the road towards isolation, towards cutting off trade with others as it raises difficulties and hinders free trade. Its influence is waning as people have begun to write it off as just about a Third World country, what with the filth that has come out and the open selling of the country down the road as long as one got power and enriched one's bottom line. Indicted or arrested people are trying to weasel out with more lies, we find that now Pence has suspicion hanging over him - not really a surprise - huh! guess his wife let the boy play outside without supervision!
     There is no more truth in the halls of the country. The White House briefing is a joke, either useless or rife with lies. Trump lies and Sanders swears. The media and free press is attacked. The President is described in words that should never have been able to be attached to a supposed leader. Politicians sell their souls. Hypocrisy reigns. Our country's back yards of parks and monument areas are being decimated - I believe, illegally as well and everyday it seems as if a new court case is opened against the government. We have a Supreme Court now that will hark back to the Dark Ages and one wonders when it will all end and at the end what will be?
     What is life in the fast lane anyway? Certainly the news is coming so fast down the track that we are all living in a fast lane. I believe we would all prefer a lane where things go smoothly, where hope is generated, where one can win and achieve the better things in life, raise a family, enjoy life, without stepping over and on everyone else. 
     And folks, some of us are in Act III of life, but consider those who are in Act I and II. Do we not owe them some hope, some good future, some fast lane dreams? Do we not owe them the possibility of the American Dream where each generation improved over the previous one? Think about that and how we can revive that  dream.