The status quo is not working. The disease is on the rise and in blissful disillusionment we cannot pretend it is not happening. Related overdose deaths (about 300 people per day) and about 48,000 deaths by suicide in 2021 left housing inaccessible and the economic system for hundreds of millions. Gun violence will be the leading cause of death for children in 2022, and we do not appear to be self-correcting from the downward spiral to climate disaster.
In the boulder you can see the problem unfolding at the local level. None of us have been exposed to suicide or accidental drug overdose deaths of acquaintances, friends or family members. We see drug use (or signs of it) in public indoor and outdoor spaces . In public spaces, parking lots and sofas with nowhere to go, we see people suffering from homelessness. We are seeing families move out of their homes due to economic instability and a lack of affordable housing.
The diseases we see do not come out of nowhere. They are all expressions of how we have chosen to organize our societies, and while painful, they often contain valuable lessons about their causes and cures. A housing market that puts profits above the housing market will leave thousands homeless and millions unsafe. A health care “system” that puts profit above the actual care of the mentally and physically healthy person. And an economic system that leaves everything to very few people while the rest struggle to survive.
We have choices about how we organize our society. Living in a state of disillusionment, pretending that problems don’t exist or that you have no power to change them, hoping that one day you’ll see a different result. Or we can roll up our sleeves and face the problem, put people and the environment first, and work together to rebuild the system into a society where people can enjoy freedom without fear.
But be careful: when we turn away from disenchantment and face our problems, the road is not easy. Small victories are hard-earned and require the dedication of countless volunteers and organizers working nights and weekends. Those seeking change encounter disagreements, arguments, and uncomfortable truths about themselves. Those who currently benefit from maintaining the status quo, perhaps including you and me, are not going to make change effortlessly. You may have to give up something to make a change.
For example, in this study, if homeless residents in public spaces were a problem in our community, why would we not undertake a large-scale project to build housing to house them? Why? There is a space. we have the know-how resources can be found. What is stopping us from building the required number of homes quickly? What do we have to give up to make that happen? The same applies to affordable housing for seniors, workers and families.
One more thing: If drug addiction and drug use is a problem that affects our community, why not start free or very low-cost addiction treatment programs to help our neighbors? Anyone can imagine a program that provides housing, food, and financial assistance while receiving treatment for . It only treats the symptoms of the social trauma that lead to drug addiction, but it is at least a starting point for addressing the larger social trauma that underlies the problem. ?
We have to work if we want to live in a better community, one that works for all of us, rather than one rooted in anxiety and fear. We have the power to change that. you have the power to change that.
You have to move forward knowing that it won’t be easy, it will take time, you will lose some issues and things will go wrong. Be healthy and build a better future.
Doug Hamilton is a parent, lawyer, engineer and human being who believes in free public space and a more participatory society. He is a member of the Boulder Library of Champions. Contact hamilton1801@aim.com or @doug_c_hamilton on Twitter.
