Playing the Yuppie Game

I was looking to find a city in Texas that I could call home after my disastrous physical debilitation that caused me to leave Las Vegas in great haste for fear of my life!

I thought maybe I'd try Austin, Texas.  When I arrived on Greyhound, I discovered I had to take a taxi, costing $20, to arrive downtown.  There didn't seem to be any obvious bus transportation to the center of town from the very far north, where the bus station is located.

I tried a few motels recommended to me by a taxicab driver.  Nothing I could afford.  I then simply walked around on Congress Street; and discovered to my chagrin that I had entered Yuppie land.  The distinguishing features of being in Yuppie land is nobody wants to notice you.  They are intent on keeping focus on their own affairs, so that to them, you do not exist.  They enjoy the landscape of smart, new buildings or restored old ones to which they must go in to accomplish whatever they're about. Employees that I asked for directions from gave me the phone book and said, "Look it up!"

I went into a St. Vincent de Paul thrift store and asked where was the nearest homeless shelter and soup kitchen.  They needed to look it up, while I waited the ten minutes.  They simply reported it's on Noches Street, forgetting to add how I might get there.  Really, I didn't think they knew.  It was obvious they were not concerned with whether or not I was homeless.

The people on the streets tended to be young, upcoming.  Determined, they were intensely concerned to achieve their own projects, the most blatant by their actions and regard for me, even when I asked them a question, was "I'm out to get mine.  Get away; you can't help me!"  But they seemed to relate well to the one with whom they were walking or getting into their car or entering a plush address.

I understand that Dallas is similarly snobbish; and I know, because I've been there several times, that Oklahoma City, former home of Timothy McVey, is another city filled with snobs, disdainful of the common man or worse, the poor.  Santa Barbara, where I've stayed upon occasion borders on it but there's the beach which attracts the nondescripts and the local police to monitor their conduct.

The reason I found this circumstance in Austin so disconcerting is that I like some of the things Rick Perry has done during his tenure as governor of the state.  Yet, Austin is the state's capital.  How would he really feel towards the poor and indigent; toward the Latino kids who have entered the country in refugee status.  Would he be devoted to make sure that the Yuppies found it easy to exist in a world where they could avoid the poor and people in need of governmental assistance?  I don't know.  But I know that Austin is not the place for poor people to live.  Indeed, some persons let me in on the local secret: if you're poor, try San Antonio. but stay away from Austin!