Sean Dengler.

As I drove through parts of West Des Moines while a sleeping baby rested in his car seat, I was astonished by the homes. Despite this trip being slightly unique because it was due to letting a previously crying, very tired baby rest, I have always been astonished by these types of neighborhoods throughout the metro.

My first thought is always about the home’s design. More times than not, it is a little eccentric for my taste. My second thought is the garage eating up the frontside of the house, and my third thought is who can afford these goliath structures? Not everyone can be a doctor or a lawyer. These neighborhoods are full of houses in the upper echelon of the six-figure price tag.

These homes are not the nice, affordable houses for a family looking for extra space. These houses dazzle with their mansion-like magnificence. Those who have a chance to live in these neighborhoods, are blessed. Seeing these neighborhoods of homes of massive grandeur throughout the metro and then rural and inner-city spaces not seeing this level of wealth being invested in homes is a stark difference.

Like the big corporate farming entities outpacing family farm options, having these vastly different entities exist in the same space makes the head spin. It is not that those who can afford it should not get a chance to enjoy their spoils, but what if those a little less fortunate could use a little help. Whatever the amount of wealth to spread around is better than nothing.

While this might be perceived as unfair and an unwise policy structure, the current setup is also a policy structure. Is this current policy best for everyone, where rural Iowa is hollowing out, schools are closing, having water quality issues due to consolidation, while only a few select areas of the metro are enjoying the benefits?

We all do better when we all do better. Driving through these neighborhoods gives me a sense of uneasiness. It is not due to the people who make the choice to live there. They absolutely should. There are beautiful masterpieces of homes. The worst part is knowing that while these areas benefit, others suffer to no fault of their own but a policy failure.

Maybe picking winners and losers is the best route for our policy structure, but I also believe the system does not have to be so extractive. There was a time in this country where it certainly was not easy, but rural areas were in a better place. All I have to do is think back to when I was a kid and having most of my needs for food, health, and education were being met within a ten-minute drive and how that is not the case anymore. For the generation above me, it was slightly more so during their time as a child.

A better system can be put in place, and we must never lose sight of it. It will never be easy to get to a better place because for some people, this current policy structure is working but not for everyone. We should always fight for a better tomorrow. Having an America where more people share in the spoils is an America worth having.

Sean Dengler is a writer, comedian, now-retired beginning farmer, and host of the Pandaring Talk podcast who grew up on a farm between Traer and Dysart. You can reach him at sean.h.dengler@gmail.com.