It is a sad and frightening world out there this crisp September morning. As I commute to work each day, I often listen to 89.3FM WPFW which opens my ears to local voices calling into the 'community comment' hour with concerns about American life. This morning's topic was the declining value of the US dollar, and the subsequent rising prices of everything else. A single woman called in, complaining that even as a vegetarian, she recently spent $100 at the grocery store on a few vegetables for the week.  

As a 26-year-old single woman, I have a job that pays a decent salary, and I have only myself to take care of and feed. I don't necessarily like my job, especially coming from an amazing 2-year journey working in politics & religion, but I appreciate that I have a steady paycheck with health care. The expenses incurred from traveling back and forth to work, however, as well as trips to the grocery store to fill my single-person sized refrigerator, are really adding up as of late.

I drove the same car for 8.5 years until earlier this year, when I was in a position that if I didn't get a new car, I would likely find myself broken down on the side of the road on I-270 on my way into my new job. A reliable vehicle seemed like a luxury, but it was a necessity I chose to make. So, with the cheapest new car off the lot and a 3-year warranty, I am driving a new American car that I plan to maintain for the next 8.5 years or longer. I was not in a position to be able to afford a hybrid vehicle unfortunately, as those models are still priced higher than others for the new technology. But a regular new car payment every month is already kicking me in the ass as gas prices shoot up, and stay up, with no reprieve.

There's an imbalance here when things like alternative energy are a luxury, instead of the benefits being funneled down to those who truly need to cut costs. Paris Hilton and Donald Trump, for example, do not need to save an extra $30 at the pump every week, but a single mother of two could put that $30 to good use. The government bail-out of Wall Street, with no help for the middle and lower classes, is heartbreaking.

I'm praying for a miracle for this country. I am spiritual, but not Christian, and I fear America's self-made armageddon. I summon the Goddess to bring us strength, help us understand how to reap and sow and sustain, and help us to create fruitful abundance for all.