Did you see the NR story about Appalachia last month? Very sad. And the fact that food stamps/benefits buy soda and cases of soda are traded around as a currency for drugs and other illicit things is really stunning.
no, i didn’t, but it is depressed and depressing places like that [and Rome, NY which is supposedly a meth capital] that drugs and escapism flourish. do not know what the answer is, so much of life is depressing. i guess maybe just selling your stuff and walking across the country and praying is the best option! for now, i play the rosary app on my smartphone on the way home from work in the car. not quite the same but it’s something!