how in the heck are we supposed to live these days

[Their Other Mother]

A note regarding aide to third world countries: My husband & I have been involved in Uganda for almost 20 years and it has been the most frustrating thing I've ever encountered. Giving food, money, medical supplies & equipment in large quantities directly to the "officials" dosen't work - it only makes them richer and never or rarely gets to the people we are shown on TV who are starving or dieing of AIDS.

Micro economics seems to work better at this point (giving to the hurting individual directly so they can start their own little buisness) That is to say it works untill they begin to get ahead and then alot of them get greedy themselves - because that's what they see from their leadership.

In our experience When we feel like we are making progress in one area some how, someway the rug gets pulled out from under us. Until this last 18 months, only Ugandans could own property there. We have spent tons of money buying land via a local reputible person, made improvments, (fresh water wells for the comunity, fencing, orphanage/schools etc... only to find that someone else laid claim to the property. They don't have things like Title Search. To build something you have to use specific builder, engineers, surveyers who all want a % of the deal and not a small one. It sounds like you can build stuff cheap but once everyone starts wanting a % forget it! We were offered free land from the governor of one town to build some soccer fields for the kids at a local orpahnage. We took an American engineer and went over only find that the property didn't have 1 level acre on it and was flooded for 4 months out of the year. We would have had to completly re build that project every year!

Another thing, time is different there! You set a meeting with someone at 9:00am and they might show up by 1:00pm

We have resolved to going over anually, carrying as much clothing as possible to give to the needy, cash to those who can & will use it wisely - we hope - We buy chickens to give to families so they will have eggs to eat and sell and some for eating. Do we make a difference to the masses -NO - but like the starfish story - we make a difference to that one!

People talk about cutting off aide to third world countries and others feel sorry for the poor starving people. I could be wrong but I don't think it would make a bit of difference to those people, as they don't get what we would like to think they are getting anyway.

I could go on and on, about how women and children are treated but this is long enough.

Just my experience and I try not to get cold hearted but there it is...

 

[kisat]

Quote:
That's a really great, and valid, point. I'm one of those that seem to be cutting back on my intake of food, just so that it will last longer, and as bad as that is for my own well-being, what else is there to do? The food is the one that mostly gets cut short because you've got to figure out which you can live without more and food or gas are the ones get cut out. Everything affects everything else. Can't get groceries cause no gas. Can't get gas with no money. Can't do this without that and so on.

But, that's a such a great point too in that I have a few Amish books (and luckily enjoy making things from scratch) and they have some really fantastic recipes in them to sort of help with food. Once you stock up the staples, you may have to invest more time into it, but living off the basics are the only way to go to keep food in your house longer. My fear thoughts? What about the people with food allergies that can't eat certain staples? Especially if they're low-income on top of it? They'll suffer just as much.

And I bet that a lot of people are going to probably be cutting back on heat, electricity, etc., bills just to afford gas and food now. We almost had our power cut off for four days just because we couldn't afford the electricity last month and don't get paid until the 28th - we barely use it as is. We would've been without power for nearly a week. We're lucky that they extended it - and can live without it - but what about others with life support in the same situation? What about the ones that will end up saying we can do without the heat just to be able to afford food and gas - if that. That's pretty scary. As someone said before, it's almost like it's a way to weed out those of us who can't afford it. So what'll happen then to all those people? Really hard to think about. Very hard to get ahead right now.

 

[kisat]

Quote:
That's something that's pretty fun. I found my dad's old reel radio - talk about old school

- and once I figure out how to get it to work, I played a lot of the old reels and the quality is fantastic, but there were some old comedy shows that were so much fun to listen to!

I do agree, but I think it's important for parents to also instill in their children those qualities. Most parents - I'm not saying everyone does this - would rather stick their children in front of the tv, than taking the time to foster an imagination. Even now, as much as I love working on my laptop - though mine is also used for my writing of stories - I will turn it off and do something that works my imagination. I do think that overall we have dumbed down a lot - no offense meant to anyone since I'm in that category on some aspects as well

- and need to make sure that the important things, like the imagination, are built up, versus discouraged. Even if needing to be forced upon them, I do think it's important to purposely tune out all the stuff going on and to tune in to the things that are really important. Most of my friends wouldn't even know that reel radios could exist, or that going up to the mountains can be just as much fun as going out to the movies.

 

[kisat]

Quote:
I think you meant this ...

http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

I watched it myself. Confirmed a lot of things that I already believed in. Made me question others and overall gave me a different aspect to things. Just a good movie to watch to get some different insights different sources.

 

[me&thegals]

Quote:
Wow--ditto! I've been asked by family what it would take to make me move. Nothing could make me move off my land--it provides my family with wood for heat, venison, lots of room for a garden, wild berries, wild asparagus, mushrooms, sap for maple syrup.

And what great exercise! Hey--I love yoga, swimming and xx-skiing as much as the next person. But, when certain seasons roll around we get our exercise by working hard, soaking up sunlight and fresh air

This thread has been scary and uplifting. I appreciate all the tips on where to make cuts and find more things to do on our own. Good luck, everyone!

 

[Oblio13]

Quote:
In Zimbabwe there was a saying:

"The poor people in America send money to the rich people in Zimbabwe."

 

[CarriBrown]

"The poor people in America send money to the rich people in Zimbabwe."

Sad but true. Some of my friends went to Romania with their church, and it's the same thing. The officials take donations to "distribute", but you know it never gets to the intended.
My friends stayed at an orphanage for a week, and they couldn't be with the kids unless there was an offical around. They are always watching... making sure NOTHING gets to those kids. So sad.
No matter how bad it gets here, it will always be worse someplace else. I thank God I was born here.​

 

[DuckyBoys]

I thank God I was born here.

Me too, every day of my life.

Regardless of America's shortcomings, they are nothing compared to many places. I would never want to live anywhere else.​

 

[amystours]

So far, I stopped reading on page 9, so forgive me if someone has already mentioned what I plan to say next.

Many of you know that I drive a horse and carriage and give tours of the historical area of my hometown. My boss drives up to Indiana maybe once a year or so to check out horses for the business. He buys his horses strictly from the Amish.

Anyway, are they feeling this "crunch" like we are? Maybe so, but I'll be willing to bet almost anything that they aren't suffering like we are. Spoiled? Yes, indeed, but wasn't that supposed to be the "American" way of life?? I'd sure go crazy without my internet and a/c, but hey, guess I could adjust!!

It's gotten bad down here. We are low income anyway, yet we make "too much money" to qualify for food stamps. Believe me, I've tried!!!

Anyway, my whole point was about the Amish. Maybe they have had the right idea all along!!

The Mennonites are a little more modern, but they still do quite a bit the "old" way.

 

[Rosalind]

are they feeling this "crunch" like we are?

Next time I'm back visiting my brother, I'll ask. I don't think so though. They're very self-sufficient. The ones who are really hurting are the Amish who run carpentry and furniture businesses on the side. But as far as businesses go, they follow something similar to a Shaker work ethic: If you use the talent god gave you, he'll send you more, sort of thing. So if they can't make enough building cabinets, they'll think of something else to do.

If anything, I'd imagine they are cleaning up and doing pretty well, as the grocery stores and all their competition at the farmer's markets are forced to raise prices but they don't really have to.

But like I said, I haven't been back to visit in a while. Ohhhh, I could really do with some good Weaver's sticky buns right now...And garlic-flavored deer bologna...And an apple fritter...and some dippy eggs...​