Rural Issues: A few things that tick me off

I listen to local radio. I catch Leland Vittert’s program on NewsNation in the evening when possible, but those days are few and far between because I’m rarely anywhere near a television at 6 p.m. unless it’s dark outside.

I read newspaper and magazine articles. I read e-newsletters, check websites and sometimes read news updates on social media if from a source I recognize and trust.

I have conversations with people with whom I agree and with people whose religious and political beliefs, upbringing, education and values are far from in line with mine.

I ask questions of people in their 80s and people in their 20s and of people whose ZIP code and net worth is not the same as my own.

News is news. Facts are facts. I’m interested in how that news and those facts impact people in demographics other than my own.

It is intriguing to see so many people jump on the bandwagon for or against whatever the person at the anchor desk tells them they should be for or against.

Sadly, few people truly look at world events through the lens of how the world is affected, but instead focus only on themselves.

It goes without saying that we all should understand how we are directly impacted by world events, but I see less empathy in society today than I did 30 years ago.

Many people talk the talk, but few walk the walk. I see less empathy, but more anger.

A comment made by an acquaintance on his social media page caught my attention a couple of weeks ago and it has been on my mind since.

He also pays attention to what is going on in the world and how people feel about it. He listed some things that people are ticked off about.

These are some of the things he mentioned along with some I hear, see and read:

• Bud Light.

• Wind turbines.

• Joe Biden.

• Donald Trump.

• Target.

• The debt limit.

• Tucker Carlson.

• Accessibility of Taylor Swift concert tickets.

• The Royal family — pick a country or kingdom.

• Elon Musk and Twitter.

Do you know what ticks me off? Here are a few things that do:

• Bull nettle, waterhemp and pigweed.

• Mice in the feed room.

• The price of a bag of chicken feed.

• Rising interest rates.

• Drivers who tailgate in a passing zone.

• A baler man who doesn’t call or text to tell you he’s not going to show up to bale the precious hay that has been cut, tedded, raked and is ready.

• TV weather reporters who in the midst of serious drought talk about how they hope it doesn’t rain so everyone can enjoy their weekend.

• Groundhogs digging around under sheds.

Real life problems.