Signs the economy is bad: October 3, 2019 edition

Welcome to another edition of "Signs the Economy is Bad" here at The Itinerant Librarian. This is the semi-regular (as in when I have time and/or feel like doing it) feature where I scour the Internet in search of the oh so subtle hints that the economy is bad. Sure, pundits may say things are getting better, but what do they know? And to show not all is bad, once in a while we look at how good the uber rich have it.

Welcome to another Friday and another edition of this series. Let's see what I've managed to find this week. 

Rural News

•  There are a lot of hospital closures going on in rural areas, and leaving a lot of people without health care access. Via UPI.
• In Iowa, they close down maternity wards in rural areas. Via Iowa Public Radio. That'll stop them from breeding one would hope.
• Now, I usually like stories about libraries and community involvement. In this case however, I have mixed feelings. This story basically highlights public libraries helping with "everything from free healthy-cooking and Zumba classes to seminars on how to prevent diabetes or administer Narcan, the overdose-reversal drug." Sounds good. Sounds noble. Sounds actually like stingy taxpayers who elect selfish asshole politicians that are not properly funding community health so they are dumping all of those needs on the already underfunded local public libraries and hoping the patch works. Story via The Rural Blog.
• What else is closing in rural areas? Grocery stores, as in local grocery stores. What's taking their place? For the most part, Dollar General Stores. Via Pew Trust. On a side note, our small town here has at least three of them, AND we still have a Walmart. Most other rural places Walmart would not even consider. The catch, by the way, with a lot of rural areas is they are Party of Stupid strongholds, for example, FTA: "“North Dakota is a red-leaning state,” Beadle said. “We’re much more free market than having government intervention. It really would take a drastic instance for the state to step in.” In other words, they'd rather starve, or rather let their rural population starve in a food desert than do something because that would not be "free market" enough for them, which when you think about it, is also part of the reason those hospitals in rural areas are closing too. But hey, you get what you vote for. 

Government News

So what has the government been up to?

•  Well, for one, they are working on privatizing those detention centers they are keeping children in. Story via Latino Rebels. In the U.S., folks want to make a buck anyway they can, and if that means making money off the misery of some children, that works too. For example, FTA: "Sheltering migrant children has become a growing business for the Florida-based government contractor, as the number of minors in government custody has swollen to record levels over the past two years."
• The I.R.S. has stated what most of us probably know: it is just easier for them to audit poor people than rich people. Why?  By their own admission, " its response is that it doesn’t have enough money and people to audit the wealthy properly. So it’s not going to." Story via Pro Publica. Just another example of "and justice for some." 
• The USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) is basically letting chicken processing factories with safety issues keep operating in order to speed chicken production. Story via Pro Publica. Hey, those chicken nuggets and the Colonel's secret recipe chicken ain't gonna slaughter themselves. Besides, chicken nuggets are mainly a slurry concoction, so if a human finger falls in the mix, who is going to notice? 
• Meanwhile, the Secretary of Agriculture tells small dairy farmers who are struggling there is little hope for them. Via The Rural Blog. Translation: he basically told them "sucks to be you, losers!" 
•  The common understanding is if you end up in prison, at least they are responsible if you have medical needs. Well, that is the "understanding." In Washington County, Alabama, the sheriff basically said fuck that, check if they have insurance, and then dump them at the local hospital so they do not have to pay for it. The inmate patient died. The sheriff pretty much admits that a few deaths will happen, because, you know, shit happens kind of thing. FTA: "Settlements have been reached in at least three lawsuits filed against the Washington County Sheriff’s Office over the past decade that claimed it failed to provide adequate health care in the jail, including ones in which inmates were bonded out just prior to hospitalizations. The jail still employs no medical staff." Story via Pro Publica. So yea, even having to pay out settlements, they do not give a shit down there. Pray you do not end up anywhere in their jail (or in Alabama for that matter).
•  In some positive news, the U.S. Army did meet its recruitment goals for 2019. Story via Telesur. Was it a lot of patriotic Americans signing up? Nah. It was just good old things are tight, the economy is bad, and hey, the Army may just be able to pay for your education in college and help you avoid college loans kind of thing. Seriously, "according to the head of the Army Recruiting Command Major General Frank Muth wars abroad are 'not really part of the discussion,' as the ‘sale’ pitch, based on his experience visiting 30 to 40 recruiting stations this year, is focused on the student loan crisis and the economic situation of U.S. youths."

In Other News of the Bad Economy

• Wall Street, equity firm and hedge funds keep buying up local small newspapers, piling them with the debt of the acquisition, then stripping them bare and closing them down when there is no more to squeeze. In other words, business as usual. Story via Truthdig. On the one hand, I get it that some of those local newspapers do the journalism no one else does for their area, but let us be honest here on the other hand. The locals clearly do not support them (or they might be able to stay afloat), and also being honest, not every local newspaper is worth saving. I've known some local rag sheets that really deserve to be shut down given their shitty quality of what they try to pass for news. 
• Once again, the U.S. is tops in something? What is it this time? In being cruel as heck when it comes to granting bereavement time to workers. Story via Salon.
• So, what can we blame Millennials for this week? Turns out they are now killing Amtrak's dining car service. Story via Boing Boing. Damn it Millennials, can't even have a decent service on a train without you guys messing that up too. 
• Crystals for things like healing are in high demand these days. However, read how these crystals are often mined in some of the worst conditions. Story via The Guardian.
• In Mexico, this one hospital will accept trade and barter in fruits, corn, and coffee for medical prescriptions. Medical service is already free, but you do need to pay for medicines. Story via Primera Hora (and it is in Spanish).

Uber Rich News

• Well, so you don't go saying we just look at the hoi polloi, the uber rich also have their problems in the bad economy. One of the big problems for them is selling a luxury apartment in Manhattan. Buyers can be picky, and they may not be plentiful. So sellers need to come up with new incentives to get people to buy. The latest incentive? Having an on-demand sommelier (that is wine steward for us plebeians) in the luxury apartment building on speed dial to call as needed. Story via Departures.