As most know, access to social services is extremely important. Be them education, mental health facilities, unemployment benefits, or something else, they are all part of an intensely important social safety net that serves to aid the poor and marginalized. Necessary to urban and rural populations alike, social services must be incorporated in all communities. Unfortunately, however, Forgotonia was not provided with such aid.
Access to mental health facilities was extremely poor in Western Illinois at this time, there were none close to the counties in Forgotonia. Although the 16 country region was of considerable size, more populous than two other states, Gamm said, “the region was ignored when the State Mental Health Zone Centers were established.”[1] This is a massive injustice, and was infuriating considering the taxes the area was paying. There was no return on investment for them.
Furthermore, a press release from 1973 also stated labor statistics were not being taken in the area,[2] which would put people at risk of having no unemployment benefits. Seeing as it was already an economically stunted region where major industries could not thrive, the lack of access to unemployment benefits was hugely unfair and damaging to many people and families.
All of this speaks to a certain political issue frequently felt in rural communities across the country: a lack of political attention. Poverty, drug issues, and things of the like often have more attention paid to them in cities. More people know about the problems that exist, media outlets discuss them more, and it is easier to garner political support to address them. However, the same issues in rural communities are not always as immediately visible, known, or attended to. This is one of the fundamental lessons to learn from the Forgotonian’s, and it was very well illustrated with their lack of access to social services.
[1] Canton Daily Ledger, September 11, 1973, Western Illinois University Archive, “Neal Gamm Collection.”
[2] Forgotonia Press Release, 1973, Western Illinois University Archive, “Neal Gamm Collection.”