I had a note from a reader this week. I wouldn’t call it a letter since it was unsigned. It took me to task for essentially being an entitled, spoiled, rich witch who complains about the garbage piled on the street. Don’t I understand there are people who didn’t have a way to haul stuff to the lumber yard during the townwide cleanup, to take it to the dump since then or are unable to pay someone to haul it off for them?
I get that. But the city went around the streets and picked up the garbage and old furniture set out. The thing is, there are things being placed on the curb that ARE NOT GOING TO BE PICKED UP. They will sit there until the end of time.
And saying someone is too poor to deal with their broken furniture and old appliances is akin to saying they are too poor to bathe. It’s a cop out. Maybe you don’t have a pickup truck or a trailer. Maybe you are unable to move the items. But they sure as hell got out of the house and to the curb.
So, ask for help. Check with the FFA and see if there are some kids looking for a volunteer project. Check with your church. Ask at the branch of the Latter-day Saints on Main Street, maybe some of their youths are looking for mission work in town. That became a thing when COVID was keeping everyone from traveling. Ask a neighbor or a friend for some assistance. It isn’t like they don’t know you need help. They can tell because there are appliances on your lawn.
The writer goes on to say some people – I guess that’s me – need to know what it is like to live on less than $1,000 a month to see how it feels not to have a way to haul off the trash.
Well, I have been there, too. It has been a minute, but I can remember well having a household income of $624 a month and kids to care for. It isn’t easy or fun. But it doesn’t have to rob you of your self-respect, either. Only you can do that, and only you can fix it.
Speaking of fixing it, I want to speak for a minute to the keyboard warriors who are so quick to run down Watonga. Is it the greatest place on earth? No. Is it chock-a-block with entertainment and easy jobs that pay a boatload? No. But for the love of Pete, at least the city management and council are trying.
There are lots of other towns where the taxes are lower. But many are quietly fading into oblivion because the infrastructure is fractured and nothing is going to change because there is no money for repairs. That’s what taxes pay for. At least here the work will get done and pave the way for new residents and businesses to move in and lighten the load on all of us. A rising tide lifts all boats.
And for those who post that they regret everyday having moved here, good news. I checked and the roads are open in all directions. Pick one.