Green Energy
I only met him once. He came to one of our meetings. An unemployment support group meeting, the name of which I won't say.
He was ten or so years younger than me. Like so many had hit a patch of bad luck a few years ago.
A very bad patch.
His wife had terminal cancer.
He was working for the township in the water/sewer department if I remember correctly.. At lunch he would run home to check on her, make sure she had her meds and whatever else was needed.
To save time he used the township vehicle, so he wouldn't have to run back to the office, swap for his car, run home, back to the office and back in the township car for the rest of his day.
His wife eventually passed away.
A short time later he was fired from his township job. For using their vehicle for personal business. For using it to run home at lunch and check on his wife.
Because he was terminated for cause, he couldn't collect unemployment. And in this current economy he couldn't get re-employed.
He had lost nearly everything and was losing his home.
When he was talking that night I thought this was a man in real trouble. I thought I had it rough.
He never came to another meeting.
Earlier tonight we learned a few weeks ago he put a pistol to his head and gave up.
Had we realized it was that bad any of us would have tried to reach out and talk to him. That's one of the reasons this group exists. To help each other get through this.
But we missed it.
And to a person were stunned to learn so.
Even now I still don't know his name. He was the gent that sat in that chair next to his buddy that night.
But I can still see his face.
I know his is not the only story like this.
Washington doesn't see his face. They don't know his story. They don't care. They're more worried about ten year old tax returns, who was running what when. Forcing us over the fiscal cliff if one side or the other doesn't give in. Who raised more money than who last month. More worried about getting the people to vote for them than worried about the people themselves.
This is not the America Our Fathers' left us.
When the weekly initial claims stats come out today, and the monthly stats early next month, keep in mind this man was never counted as unemployed. He was terminated for cause and couldn't collect so he never counted as unemployed/underemployed.
As far as the government is concerned, he didn't exist. Didn't fit their narrative and was of no use to them.
And even though this is what their inaction and intransigence is driving too many to. . .
THEY DON'T CARE
NOT A FUCKIN' ONE OF THEM.
But I can still see his face.
Even if I never knew his name.
- Updated Abbott And Costello
FreeThinke's comment at at my blog yesterday — after the release of the horrible job numbers for May 2016: ABBOTT and COSTELLO'S BRILLIANT EXPLANATION of a CRUCIAL ISSUE COSTELLO: I want to talk about the unemployment rate in America . ABBOTT:...
- It's All Upside Down
As of August 27 I will once again be counted on the unemployment rolls. Why? Because I got a job. Now, for all who have patiently listened to me rant and rave these last three years this is no time to be breaking out the good stuff. This is not the job...
- No Depression
New CBO Report Decimates 'Obamanomics': Real Unemployment Hits 15% “The rate of unemployment in the United States has exceeded 8 percent since February 2009, making the past three years the longest stretch of high unemployment in this country...
- A No Depression Updated Rant On Citidiots
So I called Citibastards today after the post below. My mom, a 73 year old widow, was going to try to hit her home equity line of credit to help hold off the wolves a little longer. The woman told me that she didn't see anything that would indicate...
- Too Big To Fail, Too
You have all patiently listened to me complain and bitch these last 14 months about the unemployment crisis in this country, especially as it pertains to me. So this is addressed as much to those about to be elected selected and sent for their turn in...
Green Energy
There but for the Grace of God. . .
I only met him once. He came to one of our meetings. An unemployment support group meeting, the name of which I won't say.
He was ten or so years younger than me. Like so many had hit a patch of bad luck a few years ago.
A very bad patch.
His wife had terminal cancer.
He was working for the township in the water/sewer department if I remember correctly.. At lunch he would run home to check on her, make sure she had her meds and whatever else was needed.
To save time he used the township vehicle, so he wouldn't have to run back to the office, swap for his car, run home, back to the office and back in the township car for the rest of his day.
His wife eventually passed away.
A short time later he was fired from his township job. For using their vehicle for personal business. For using it to run home at lunch and check on his wife.
Because he was terminated for cause, he couldn't collect unemployment. And in this current economy he couldn't get re-employed.
He had lost nearly everything and was losing his home.
When he was talking that night I thought this was a man in real trouble. I thought I had it rough.
He never came to another meeting.
Earlier tonight we learned a few weeks ago he put a pistol to his head and gave up.
Had we realized it was that bad any of us would have tried to reach out and talk to him. That's one of the reasons this group exists. To help each other get through this.
But we missed it.
And to a person were stunned to learn so.
Even now I still don't know his name. He was the gent that sat in that chair next to his buddy that night.
But I can still see his face.
I know his is not the only story like this.
Washington doesn't see his face. They don't know his story. They don't care. They're more worried about ten year old tax returns, who was running what when. Forcing us over the fiscal cliff if one side or the other doesn't give in. Who raised more money than who last month. More worried about getting the people to vote for them than worried about the people themselves.
This is not the America Our Fathers' left us.
When the weekly initial claims stats come out today, and the monthly stats early next month, keep in mind this man was never counted as unemployed. He was terminated for cause and couldn't collect so he never counted as unemployed/underemployed.
As far as the government is concerned, he didn't exist. Didn't fit their narrative and was of no use to them.
And even though this is what their inaction and intransigence is driving too many to. . .
THEY DON'T CARE
NOT A FUCKIN' ONE OF THEM.
But I can still see his face.
Even if I never knew his name.
- Updated Abbott And Costello
FreeThinke's comment at at my blog yesterday — after the release of the horrible job numbers for May 2016: ABBOTT and COSTELLO'S BRILLIANT EXPLANATION of a CRUCIAL ISSUE COSTELLO: I want to talk about the unemployment rate in America . ABBOTT:...
- It's All Upside Down
As of August 27 I will once again be counted on the unemployment rolls. Why? Because I got a job. Now, for all who have patiently listened to me rant and rave these last three years this is no time to be breaking out the good stuff. This is not the job...
- No Depression
New CBO Report Decimates 'Obamanomics': Real Unemployment Hits 15% “The rate of unemployment in the United States has exceeded 8 percent since February 2009, making the past three years the longest stretch of high unemployment in this country...
- A No Depression Updated Rant On Citidiots
So I called Citibastards today after the post below. My mom, a 73 year old widow, was going to try to hit her home equity line of credit to help hold off the wolves a little longer. The woman told me that she didn't see anything that would indicate...
- Too Big To Fail, Too
You have all patiently listened to me complain and bitch these last 14 months about the unemployment crisis in this country, especially as it pertains to me. So this is addressed as much to those about to be elected selected and sent for their turn in...