Jobless, and Stunned

New Marx Times ^ | 1/9/03 | Herbert

[pabianice]

Left behind by the great Republican raid on the national Treasury are folks like Karelia Escobar and Joe Bergmann, middle-aged New Yorkers who have worked most of their lives but now find themselves traveling the anxious paths of the long-term unemployed.

With bills mounting and each day bringing a heightened sense of dread, they could use a little help. But the jobless are at the bottom of the economic heap, and the Bush administration's help seems always to go to the top.

Ms. Escobar is 43 and single, and lives in a small apartment in Queens. She has worked for a number of airlines over the past several years, most recently as a ticket agent for T.W.A. That job vanished with the World Trade Center.

"We were laid off Oct. 14, 2001," she said. "I haven't been able to find work since then. I've applied everywhere. I've gone back to school to improve my computer skills. I've learned another language. I feel very bad because I want to work so I can pay my bills. I've always worked. But now I can't find a job."

That plaintive comment is echoing from coast to coast. Unemployment is rising. And as the millions of jobless Americans (including many in the middle class) exhaust their benefits and run through their savings, they are finding themselves face to face with the horror of destitution.

[Republic of Texas]

I have as well. Most here probably have. I don't get all the whining.

[gnarledmaw]

You are right except that the most important word is "made". Past tense. Gone, as in, before debt economy and big government. Get rid of the source of the problems and you will see a lot less of that attitude and a less litigious society too.

[THUNDER ROAD]

Good Post ! And very well stated points !

.....THUNDER......

[Non-Sequitur]

Thanks. Hasn't happened yet but if it does, well, it's probably time to move on anyway. The glow wore off the job over a year ago.

[William Terrell]

The Preamble - without it, our Bill of Rights is meaningless

Good slogan. First time I've heard it. Did you come up with it?

[plain talk]

Yes, I stand corrected. They will continue to suck more and more from the "wich" and those evily, wascally gweedy Corpowations until those titties just dry up I suppose.

[antaresequity]

An interesting aspect of the paradigm, is that their exists to varying degrees, a corralation between the way an individual pursues a job search, and the way that same individual pursues "making his employer a profit".

Anybody who really "needs" or "wants" to work can find work. Anybody who dedicates their employment to their employer...will more than likely be employed. And, you won't find these individuals quoted by leftist editors..

In their mind they are either employed, or between jobs...the concept of a "state" of unemployement to the winners of capitalism is a foriegn concept...

[Theyknow]

Of coarse you are right. Thank you. The largest problem is that people generalize from and antidotal evidence. "My cousin Carl started drinking after he was laid off, if the unemployed would stop drinking they could find jobs." "There was a lady who bought lobster in line in front of me the other day, and she used food stamps, therefore the people who use food stamps all enjoy gourmet food." There is no way to persuade people that these are not accurate generalizations, until they need some help. There is no compassion anymore it's every man for himself

[dfwgator]

Whats particularly frustrating is fighting through regulations and red tape. I know Ive come up with a number of good ideas for companies that I know would make good money but have never been able to pursue them due to government interference.

This is precisely why the rich liberals like high taxes and increased regulations. They've already got thier's. The last thing they want is more competition that could threaten their wealth. So they create disincentives for others to start their own business, by imposing ridiculous regulations and higher taxes. Of course higher taxes are no concerns to them because they have tax shelters that take care of that. That's why the richest politicians are all 'Rats.

[AD from SpringBay]

I wonder if Karelia and Joe, who have worked most of their lives, saved money for most of their lives - in which case unemployment, while still a bummer, would be more tolerable and might possibly allow them to take less paying jobs to make ends meet until they find something better.

If not, I guess that's ok since Mamma Gub'mint can just open up another nipple or two for them to suck on.

p.s. - I've been unemployed since July, used four weeks of unemployement and then started my own thing - lots of time to Freep and ends keep meeting.