BRATTLEBORO — I want to be very careful with what I'm about to say.
This morning, I went out to my car to find that someone had broken into my car, literally for pocket change.
Yes, my car was unlocked - my fault.
No, nothing valuable was stolen.
I am still very angry at this situation, but probably not for the reasons you may think.
As bothered as I am that someone invaded my personal space, I am far more angry at the overlying issue.
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I am angry that we live in a country that has been controlled by corporate greed.
A country whose government has been purchased by the pharmaceutical industry.
A country who cares more about its bottom-line profits than the health of its citizens.
I am angry that there has been a war on drugs for 50 years, but only to get certain people elected.
The most dangerous drugs on the streets come from these companies' laboratories.
These companies just happen to fund these shit bag politicians' campaigns! Go figure.
I'm not a Republican, and I'm not a Democrat. Get money out of politics! Get money out of health care! Get money out of prisons!
I'm sick and tired of the blame always falling on people who don't have jack shit to their name, when the entire problem has been orchestrated by the people who have never gone without in their lives.
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I am by no means letting whoever stole from me off the hook, but this is a bigger issue.
We need a gut check in this country. We have been knocked down, taken advantage of, chewed up, and spit out by rich old fuckers who will kill us in the name of profits.
My fellow Vermonters! Aren't we all sick of the opioid crisis yet? Has anything been done?
Low-level arrests mean nothing - they are a revenue boost, relying on repeat offenders.
An institution like the Brattleboro Retreat can continue to fight against medical marijuana, while prescribing kids pills and creating addicts in order to receive funding.
Anyone ever heard of Mount Snow? The Sackler family, owner of the Oxycontin patent, is one of the primary shareholders.
Vermonters will scream and shout about drug addicts in the streets, but will they boycott a mountain owned by the manufacturer of the drugs? Of course not.
The Sacklers have created a crisis in our home, profited off the chaos, and literally taken our land from us in the process.
These people are the problem!
And no one says a word!
These people in the streets who are addicted to these drugs are just a symptom of the situation they have created.
It's time for the good people out there to take a stand against the rich and powerful to put an end to their endless greed.
There are too many good people in this world for everyone to feel so defeated - and so unsafe - while so few people have everything.
I hope this message can help at least one person out there see the bigger picture - and all of our misplaced hate in this world.