To the editor:

Barrington has a serious case of “Afluenza.”

From Psychology Today, Peggy Drexler PH.D: Our gender our selves — “'Afluenza' has been described as a disorder that coddles kids into a sense of irresponsibility and clouds a sense of right and wrong… symptoms used to diagnose are entirely real: low self-esteem, sense of entitlement, anxiety, impulse control issues…”

She goes on to say that the described symptoms are higher among kids of privilege and adults who have grown up bearing the same symptoms. Barrington sadly has familiar symptoms in parents and their progenies. It is a selfish and destructive force that can easily ruin a community.

“Afluenza” looks to be a large influence that is detrimental to our town as it is destroying Barrington’s identity and, hurting many of its citizens. We now have higher taxes increasing with every fiscal year by needing more and more funding for such things like later school start times. The special identity of Barrington’s history and what is left of its natural identity are disappearing with the destruction of older small communities that are gradually being replaced by way too large “mini mansions,” building laws being disregarded and, the clearing of rural open spaces to accommodate plat housing is now in the offing. 

Recently it was on the news that some parents have protested the doors of the high school being locked at a certain time. They complained that their children had to wait outside in the cold until the door was opened.  However some of these students did not have coats on and some wore clothes that would not protect them from the cold weather.  

Being on time is part of growing up.

Barbara Flanders

Barrington