A plea, disguised as a rant...
It happens every day-- someone innocently replies, "Well, you'd better drive to the grocery store/pharmacy/laundromat/wherever, and get _________". In a nation as highly 'vehicularized' as our own is, it's incredibly easy to forget that tens of millions have neither a car nor access to mass transit. Sadly, many or most of those who do not are also poor, physically infirm, or both; if you are physically infirm, scratch off 'ride a bike' and 'walk' from the shrinking list of options. If the community you live in is fortunate enough to have a taxi company, you must then dip in to what little available cash you have to pay the fare. This is reality for tens of millions of us. Most of us still possess a modicum of pride and self-respect, so we seek to minimize even further the few requests for a ride that we are forced to make from friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and acquaintances; nonetheless, we eventually ARE forced to make them, and we surrender yet another shred of our dignity...
We know that the rich will never help people like us-- we absolutely KNOW it-- so it is to you, our fellow progressives, that we turn for a hand up. Keep fighting for mass transit for ALL Americans, no matter where they live-- buses, trains, railroads, light rail, whatever works best in a given area. I and all others similarly situated thank you for your efforts and stand with you in this basic struggle...
One last thought I'd like to leave you: the next time you 'run to the store', stop and ask yourself, "Is there someone I know who might need a ride there, too?". I can guarantee we do, and you won't embarrass us by asking.
Thanks!
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Bravo! 