Barbara J. Hamby

Signs of the Times

It seems ironic that I was born the year the so-called “Great Depression” began, so I was too young during those hardship years to really be aware of what was happening. Because my father was employed continuously, I was protected from the harsh problems around us.

I knew that hobos came to the back door for a meal now and then and my mother always fixed them something, which they ate while sitting on the back steps. She kept my sisters and me inside so we never got a really good look at them.

From our front step, I saw the line of cars, loaded with people and all their belongings, heading from the dust bowl to our California fields. But I had no idea of the misery they were suffering.

Now that we seem to be in a similar situation, couched in the softer title, “Recession,” I’m old enough to be retired with an adequate (for now) income and living comfortably in a senior community.

But, unfortunately, technology brings pictures of the many individuals and families who are suffering now, right into my television and/or computer screen.

This afternoon, on the Oprah Winfrey show, Lisa Ling took cameras to homeless shelters, tent cities, and other havens for the many people who’ve lost everything and are living in those places, or in vehicles, or on the streets. It’s easy to generalize and find fault with those who formerly had six figure incomes and now have nothing, and who should have prepared for hard times.

For many years the American way has been to live as well as possible whether or not we could afford the many luxuries with which we indulged ourselves and spoiled our children.

Now we have a new young president, who is energetic, enthusiastic, and seems bent on making all our lives better. Bailouts, health insurance and many other ambitious programs are a start. I hope he succeeds, but it’s not easy, and may be impossible, to re-allocate wealth more evenly. Human greed is powerful and those who are infused with it will not give up easily.