The Dystopian Times, 17. Saving to Study.

It was cold last night. We slept with the window open, and I had to pull the covers well up. Sitting in my study, eating my breakfast, I was shivering. Using the mouse on the computer, my hand went cold. A small foretaste of the months to come.

I should try to fix my little laptop, so I can sit more comfortably in the winter-warm kitchen. But the money I had thought to save up to do it never appeared. I should also do something to my desktop, but the same problem applies. As it is, new, more pressing repairs have taken priority, and now they have to be paid. The usual running in circles, biting tails, when incoming money is less than outgoing.

Our daughter will soon be paid the three weeks she worked this month. Working in a cannery can be easy or it can be an inferno depending on where you're placed, who is your supervisor, and what companions are your lot. My daughter has had peaceful days, and she has had days when she was crying because she had to go to work. But she's stuck with it so far, and has struck a balance. For each nerve-racking day, she has had four or five decent ones. She has learned which supervisors to try to avoid, which jobs are more normal, and which companions are worth passing the time with.

She has also learned she had more muscle than she had previously thought, and more capacity of bruising. Working at night has taught her to sleep during the day, and working late afternoons, that it's nice to have a nice hot plate of food awaiting on return in the late night. This week, she'll learn to get up early, since she'll be beginning her work day at six in the morning. All of this in the name of saving money to keep studying.

And that is why we won't ask her for any money other than for gas. She needs to save up as much she can. Once upon a time, that could also be done by American students. Now, they have to mortgage most of their lives for an education. If they're lucky, they'll finish paying off their debts around the time they retire. I suppose socialized education has something to say for it. 

The United States is headed for a descent into further infernos, from what can be seen. The systemic racism will still be there whoever gets elected. Who wins in November will help determine if it can be eradicated over the coming years, or entreched some more. And the upcoming election is not clear-cut. Too many people still feel in need of a strongman, still believe lies if they fit their beliefs. Aside from that, closing of voting places, and delays with the mail-in votes, and possible tampering of voting machines, cast doubts on final results. The final numbers have to be overwhelmingly in favor of Joe Biden so that there is no doubt in anyone's mind. Because Trump will contest any results that aren't in his favor. 

No one knows what the day after the elections will bring. Perhaps by November 4th, the First World countries will be whittled down by one.