Edana Kitzmann , Minot

Yes, there have always been social functions in the community to do when someone does not have to work six days out of seven (in a week) to survive, with church on Sunday. Survival means pay the rent, food, transportation, medical expenses (when there is no insurance), household bills (whether buying or renting a home), etc. (even with a spouse or roommate). Why would someone have to pay for all of that? Because that is what living is about (in America).

Having diversions and/or distractions from the reality of low wages, lack of employee benefits, high rent or mortgages, high food prices, high gas prices, etc., doesn’t fix it. Reality of discrimination AND high cost of living isn’t fixed by diversionary activities or distractions. Anti-discrimination laws were put in place a long time ago, and putting in earplugs to not hear the rejections and using blinders to not see it doesn’t fix or make discrimination “go away.”

Old age, race, religion aren’t the only discrimination that takes place.

A “known fact’ that someone requires the transportation or food or assistance or job is that bit of knowledge of all it takes to cause what is to be called an “inefficiency” (you know… discrimination). But don’t call it discrimination because that is “against the law.” Just call it “we’re too busy” (to do a good job) or “nobody wants to work.”

So if a distraction or diversion makes high cost of living and low wages “go away,” I have the answer. It’s called working to pay my own way (bills). Most people don’t know any other way but to work.

If “ignore it” works when you need gas in the car or food on the table and you don’t have work to remedy that, let me know how that goes in your life.

Because fun in my home (TV, music, talking on the phone, crafts and hobbies) is abundant, but none of that pays for living expenses. So, diversion and distraction (busy-ness) pays your expenses? I’ll let you get back to me on that, OK?

Keeping America alive and well equals productivity by employment that pays enough to survive AND afford diversions and distractions.