Winter of My Discontent

This has been one of the worst winters I can remember.  I think there have been winters when there was more total snow-fall but usually you would get periods between storms when it would warm up somewhat, give you a little "break" from the weather.... Not this winter, one big storm after another.  Throw in rain, hail and high winds and it makes me think there is something to the Global Warming problem.

Because of all the snow we have had it has been extremely difficult to navigate the snow covered streets.  Snow plows are seldom seen, sometimes it is literally several days before our neighborhood gets plowed.  It has been so bad that I am seeing a huge number of cars that have lost their driver-side mirrors from parking on snow narrowed streets where cars are parked on both sides of the street.  I see all types of people, young and old, mothers with small children standing on mountainous pile of snow at bus-stops, it is a wonder that they don't slip and either slide under the bus or end up in the street, this is all because the city does not force the businesses to clear their walks and the transit authority here in Grand Rapids does not clear their bus-stop areas.  Why do we put up with this nonsense?  Do they have to be a target of a lawsuit before they realize they are putting people in danger by their actions ?

Beyond the local apathy I notice a general malaise in most of us here in the U.S.  Why do we let the corporations who really run this country, use our representatives (including the President) to continue to take away our privacy, freedom and ability to earn a decent living?