by Nancy Lynam

Created on: July 12, 2008

This upcoming winter of 2008 should prove just how prevalent poverty is in this country. With the cost of the basics just to live, I believe there will be high casualties due to the rising cost of gas, food and heating oil. I also believe that there is a segment of our population who don't have a clue about those who suffer from the lack of such basic needs to survive.. Where money exists, these basic needs are taken for granted. It isn't until stock losses occur or other investments fail that the wealthier folks feel what the average person suffers much sooner.

There is already an ongoing problem for senior citizens in this country who find it difficult to pay rent, buy food and also prescription medications. I have often read where a choice to either eat or take meds is a constant battle. In some instances, meds aren't taken as prescribed so that they can alternately eat. How pathetic in this day and age to find one's self in such a predicament at the "golden years" of life.

People who work for minimum wage don't have much incentive to work when the price of gas and/or a gallon of milk is nearly equal to the net hourly wages. Now, with the price of heating oil escalating by the day, it is just one more thing thrown into the already trying mix of basic needs just to exist.

There was a recent story in our local newspaper about a man who robbed a bank for a very specific amount of money. He was successful in getting the money, but he got caught shortly thereafter. He told the police that he needed that exact amount just to pay his bills. This is truly a sad story. I think we shall see a lot more crime in the upcoming months as people become desperate. During this warm weather of summer, it is less likely to be in the forefront of our thinking to be concerned about how to pay for heat in this upcoming winter. I fear for many who might actually freeze to death.

There are programs out there to assist people with heating oil needs, but from what I have read, the amount of oil offered to an individual is about one hundred gallons. If you have ever heated with oil, you will know that one hundred gallons of oil doesn't last very long. While the gesture is a good one, it is not the solution.

It concerns me that we, America, spend so much time, effort and money helping other countries...some of which don't necessarily want our help, while many of our own people are in desperate need. I also believe that our country needs to tap into our own oil resources as to alleviate the outrageous cost of gas and heating oil. Our dependency on other countries is unnecessary. The money spent on space programs could easily be spent for those living on this planet. No one is our life time is going to live on another planet, and if they do, only the wealthiest will be able to do so. Progress and futuristic research is all well and good, but not at the expense at a nation that is supposed to be the richest, strongest and most powerful. What does it say of us when we can't take care of our own business?

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