Hinterlands...New Wastelands?

categories: Cities, Federal, Government, Immigration, Jobs & Unemployment, States, stimulus, The Economy

Published May 29, 2009 @ 04:14AM PT

fish

Last Wednesday I hit a milestone: I entered my 48^th state since I began cross-country traveling in my RV 4 ½ years ago for my unconventional homelessness education endeavor, HEAR US. True to my commitment to see parts of America that have become obscure to Interstate-addicted travelers, I traversed empty Michigan backroads, enjoying the breath of spring erupting in winter-ravaged lands.

The current economic devastation has pummeled Michigan, with the understated 12.9% unemployment rate inadequately reflecting suffering of those without paychecks, or workers whose shrunken paychecks don’t begin to cover rising expenses.

Much has been written about the demise of auto industry cities like Detroit and Flint. I looked in New York Times’ archives and found a 1980 article where Ronald Reagan decried President Carter’s efforts,

“We may not be getting answers as to why eight million people are out of work…why we have seen interest rates at their highest rates since the Civil War…but we are getting plenty of diversions from the Carter Administration’s incredible smoke machine.”

Same tune, worsening problem, different century….

Meanwhile, on Michigan’s vacation coast, little towns try to hide the wear and tear of the tanking economy. I gas prices found myself wishing that I had cornered the market on the “for sale” sign, which sprout like spring dandelions in front yards of small, modest and obscenely humongous houses along my route. Tourist-dependent businesses on life-support view upwardly fluctuating fuel prices like scary storm clouds threatening to keep away tourists, the lifeblood of these struggling communities.

The loss of a souvenir gift shop or diner isn’t the most newsworthy topic, and few give it thought as the “for rent/lease” sign goes up where the open sign used to hang. The clerks, waitstaff and other workers become another layer on soaring unemployment charts. Some get lucky, finding sustainable wages in jobs that include benefits. How often this happens in today’s ailing economy is hard to say. I fear more households discover the experience of teetering on the brink of poverty, finding out that the safety net is nonexistent, and too often they can’t even turn to their families for help.

Perhaps most troubling to me was seeing the number of for sale or auction signs stuck in front yards of family farms. I looked at acres of untended apple and cherry orchards and lamented the terrible waste if someone doesn’t step in to care for these labor-intensive crops. Having talked with several locals on my travels, I’ve heard over and over again how the lack of migrant workers has devastated local agricultural related businesses. Sigh….

Seems to me that economic recovery will require multi-level herculean efforts, not decades more of partisan posturing. It will take more than my piddly spending to restore vitality to little towns that comprise America’s pulse. Buying souvenirs or leaving generous tips won’t make up for decades of neglect of non-urban communities. Here’s hoping that politicians and policy wonks get time to vacation in the hinterlands and stimulate the economy before they become the wastelands.

photos by the author

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Comments (7)

Diane,

Great post - very vivid. Is that $4/gallon recent??

I love the photo of the fish.

Posted by Leigh Graham on 05/29/2009 @ 07:15AM PT
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Truth be told, the gas price was from last summer. Prices are skyrocketing now, with Chicago suburbs hitting around $2.70, up from $2.12 less than a month ago. Makes you wonder where the extra profit is going...

Posted by HEAR US on 05/29/2009 @ 09:18AM PT
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Di, you talk about the lack of migrant workers...what's behind that? Is it a lack of workers, or a lack of farmers' income to pay the workers?

Posted by Jan Davis on 05/29/2009 @ 01:29PM PT
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I'd offer a few reasons:
!) Anti-immigrant sentiments (and penalties) have imperiled immigrants (documented or not)
2) Less immigrants are around--either not crossing the border or have gone elsewhere
3) Pay is always an issue, as are worker conditions, so that cloud looms over the agricultural world.

As a fruit eater, I am immensely sad as I see fruit unpicked at the end of a growing season. Sadder too is the plight of families being devastated by loss of parent/s and income.

Posted by HEAR US on 05/29/2009 @ 01:47PM PT
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Diane, My grandson wants to know. What is the story with the fish? Is it a mailbox?

Posted by Charlie Reed on 05/29/2009 @ 08:11PM PT
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Hi Charlie,

The fish is on the edge of Madison, MN. It's huge!!

D

Posted by HEAR US on 05/30/2009 @ 05:58AM PT
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Diane, thank you, I passed that on and now He wants to go to Minnesota!

Posted by Charlie Reed on 05/31/2009 @ 04:00PM PT
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Author

Diane Nilan, founder and president of HEAR US Inc., has over 23 years experience working impoverished and homeless families. Since 2005, Nilan’s cross-country journey to non-urban communities has focused on poverty and homelessness, particularly as it affects invisible families and teens. She filmed the award-winning series of documentaries, My Own Four Walls, children and youth sharing how homelessness affects their lives and their education. Her reader-friendly book, “Crossing the Line: Taking Steps to End Homelessness,” gives unique insights into homelessness. Her latest production, “REACH” empowers incarcerated parents to advocate for their homeless children’s educational rights.