I've pretty much become exhausted arguing whose fault it is that we are in the financial pickle our government finds itself. It's a very simple situation. The last three republican presidents have benefited the people short term, with the country as a whole suffering and the last democratic president benefited the country's economy while the people, wait we didn't suffer. Anyway, I'm not here to discuss who got us into this, but some of the glaring atrocities that are present in today's world.
I'm currently unemployed and the job search is not only proving difficult, but quite eye opening. I've also noticed things in everyday life, including my own, that have made me question our countries values. Like I said, my own included. When people are in crises, their true colors shine through. Some embrace challenges and overcome them and others fold under the pressure. Then there are people like me who really just try and weather the storm, hoping the sun will rise again. It normally does, but in this climate, who knows? Below I'm going to mention some of the observations I've made during this crisis.
For the most part, people's lives haven't changed in the last three years. Unemployment has been on the steady rise for eight years, but nobody took notice until we had a black president, because it's felt in the white world, that the only people on unemployment and welfare are white. This is far from the truth. I only know a handful of people whose routines have changed over the past three years and to be honest it's not at all due to the economy, although they'd have you believe differently. I can tell you, being in the financial situation I'm in now is brutal and I've definitely had to give things up.
Social vices, such as drinking, smoking and dining are things most people in need refuse to give up. While I've cut down the amount I go out, I must admit, I have not given up my social life. I feel I can give up other things, like cable and Internet service. I can give up going out to dinner twice a week and my ability to do little things like buy lunch specials and eat half for lunch and eat the second half for dinner allows me to save enough a week to go out an extra night on the weekend. Thankfully I don't smoke or do drugs, so that isn't something I ever worry about.
Probably the oddest change is the pay scale for certain jobs. I remember when administrative assistant jobs were flooding Craigslist with pay anywhere from $18-40 an hour depending on the size of the company. Now these jobs are listed from $10-20. Oddly enough, babysitters are being sought for about $15/hour. Dog walkers are charging almost as much and in the city, even more. It's bleak for those out of work who were making good money, because they can be more easily replaced by recent college graduates who luckily still live at home. I applied for a job that was pretty much a slam dunk, but when I was told the pay was nearly half what my last job was and some weekends were mandatory, I felt it wasn't worth it. The irony is I constantly hear friends of mine with businesses who pay people these measly wages complain when they don't get top notch workers. The old adage, you get what you pay for is pretty accurate and always will be.
People who have lost thousands from their 401K programs won't take the remainder of the money out because of the penalties. I've heard a person tell me they lost $28K, but didn't want to take the remainder out, because they didn't want to be penalized $1,500. Something tells me this person isn't an accountant or even remotely intelligent.
I find it amusing when people go on and on complaining how they are worried about the economy because of what they hear about the stock market. When I ask them if they invest, they say they don't. So if the stock market doesn't affect your personal money, why does this scare you? I for one have never understood why anyone would invest in a company you have no control over and there success doesn’t necessarily equal an increase in the stock’s value.
Summer camps have me more perplexed than anything else. Especially for parents who don't work during the summers or at all. When I was a kid, I went to day camp once. It sucked. Every day was pretty much the same routine. The underpaid counselors were pretty bad. In my adult years I ran a camp and I can tell you, they are still pretty bad and your kids at these inexpensive day camps are pretty much neglected. Better camps and sleep away camps are different, because there is a family atmosphere and teens and young adults tend to want to be seen with respect in these settings. I also think the freedom and learning experience is invaluable and helps those children succeed later in life, especially college. It’s actually cheaper to get a pool membership and do daily things with your kids. Plus, play dates also allow parents to socialize, which is also healthy. Kids also will love “helping” mom and dad more than you can imagine.
So in this time of economic peril, why is it that nobody has changed what they do, unless they become unemployed. Maybe it’s the fact that we Americans have become so brash, that we take for granted what we have, but when we don’t have it, we act shocked. I took what I had for granted and I’m paying for it, but shocked. I think not. I saw this coming when W. was in his second year. I just never thought the American public would be so blind to let it go on eight years. Bush might not be to blame for everything, but a near 10% unemployment rate is entirely his fault and the fact that babysitters make more than new office workers is a result of careless government. His government. Sadly, the people that didn’t vote for him are just as punished as those who did.
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