The Effects of Governmental Decisions

The effects of decisions being made in Washington are detrimental to the everyday lives of common citizens. Today I participated in a recruitment program for a college in which the target population was the nearly 200 employees that will be laid off later this month from a local manufacturing company. Many see this as the proverbial nudge needed to get them to the college to complete the application/financial aid process, but others see this as an end to a familiar and safe chapter of their life. For the latter individuals, they are being ripped from their safety net at a time in which they were contemplating retirement. For those of us who are attached, literally, to email, instant message, texting, their Blackberry, and any other device that keeps us readily connected to anyone and everyone the age of technology is our second skin; however, today as these individuals embarked upon this leg of life’s journey they learned how disconnected they are.

The entrance exam is now computer based and for some this was a foreign and frightening concept---taking a test without pencil and paper. How could they accomplish this feat? If this is what is necessary to get into college, what will be required once in? For most this life changing event will be positive and they will close one chapter and begin to write a new one; however, do those making the decisions that result in events of days like today realize what they are doing? Are there faces to these decisions? I watch television and notice that often in the aftermath of destruction politicians often fly over in multi-million dollar helicopters to view the demise of lives and property and once in a while one will walk a few steps and shake a few hands and offer assurance that help is on the way. Perhaps they need to show up unannounced at events like today and talk to individuals with no preparation, no planned responses and sit down and eat a hot dog and hamburger and home-made brownies with us common folk and put a face with their decisions.

              - Melissa Harrell, MSCJ, BSCJ

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