***WARNING WARNING WARNING - Very Long and Very Boring article that I wrote about my frustrations and naivity about our current economic crisis and what it means to me. BEWARE! ***
I woke up today irritated. Irritated that nobody has options, irritated that people are being taken advantage of, irritated that although i'm comfortable where I am, I know that job security has become a thing of the past.
I feel like i've done my part as an American. I know my family has and my friends have. We have paid our taxes, we have helped our communities, we have voted and we have FAILED. All of what we do to try to make our America a better place is worthless. We are getting our payback now. Welcome it with open arms, because it's not going to change anytime soon. My faith in our new President is strong, however it seems hopeless to even try to think positively.
When we were born, what is the path that we were asked to follow? Education, Work, Family. That's the golden rule eh? Get an education, get a great job and build and support a family. How is that possible? Unless you went into Healthcare or work at Wal Mart, you are not safe right now. I guarentee there are 100 people who would take your job and work harder for less money than you are. I guarentee that you are expendible. Nobody is safe. You think you keep that company running? Hah, companies are now realizing that because of the economy that they have an opportunity to reorganize. What does that mean? Spend less. Fire you, hire someone for half as much. Fire you, and replace it with outsourcing. Fire you, hire someone who will take the job without receiving health care benefits. Companies are using the failing economy as a nicer sounding excuse to get rid of you and cut their costs. "I'm sorry, the economy has hit us hard...and we have to let you go...good luck". Whatever.
Americans are desperate, we will work for pennies just to HAVE a job. And those who realize they can't get a job are forced to live off Unemployment, which honestly is probably more money than they would receive finding another position. So we've become an America that lives on unemployment, has no future and has no options. The most important people within our communities, educators and protectors, are paid the worst. They are laying off school teachers and police officers. How is this possible??? HOW DOES THAT ANSWER OUR PROBLEMS???
I pay my taxes. I have paid my taxes since I was 15 and got a job. I have given to my community, I have given to my government. For what? FOR WHAT????? Two Thirds of my money is being given to Defense, Social Security and Health Care. I am giving my money to a healthcare system that I don't even belong too! To a healthcare system that can only be afforded by the wealthy! I am giving money to a Social Security Ponzi Scheme that will not even be around when i'm old enough to benefit from it! The rest of my money, is being given to assist in the national debt, safety net programs for the poor (food stamps), scientific research, education and transportation.
Let's look over each of these. The National Debt. The National Debt was created by whom? The American people of course, we were given credit cards and didn't pay them, we bought houses that we can't afford and we were forced into a war that most didn't agree with. The Credit system has FAILED. But without it, where are we? Unless we have 100k cash, we can't buy a house? Nowadays the chances of you finding a house for 100k is nearly impossible, especially in communities that do not have failing school systems. Unless your credit score is 700, you can't buy a car? Fine, then we need to start providing those who don't have 100k or a credit score of 700, reasonable and effective options to travel and live.
Whats next, safety net programs for the poor. This is a great idea with no fact checking behind it. So many people are taking advantage of this system that it is worthless to give when so many people are just taking. We need to give those who are poor, more than just food stamps, we need to offer them ACTUAL MEANS TO IMPROVING THEIR LIVES. If you are born in the ghetto, get a horrible education because your communities schools are failing, WHAT OPTIONS DO YOU HAVE??????????? NONE.
As far as Education goes, we all know it's failing, we all know that schools are overpacked, teachers are overworked and underpaid, they always have been. Teachers used to be an inspiration. Now they are working two jobs in order to survive and students are acting out in ways that cannot be controlled. I wonder if the Government realizes that without an educated population, we are no better than most 3rd world countries. And then it all comes back to the Credit Crisis. If in order to get student loans you need to have established or GREAT credit, there will be less students going to college. And for those that do go, the tuition is going to be twice as much putting them into twice as much credit debt.
So my question is, why am I giving my money that I worked for, to an institution that is failing us? I would rather write a check to the school system myself, knowing that it will actually go to the facility that needs it. I would prefer to earn my money and choose what I want to do with it. I realize taxes have been around forever, but I think right now is a good example of how we have been played as Americans. We have been duped into believing that if we continue to work hard and educate ourselves and our families, that we would have a promising future. That is not true. Even those with the greatest credit in the world and zero debt and those who have masters degrees are screwed. So tell me, what exactly am I putting my money towards? Is it a promising future for myself and my family? NO. It's not. Not anymore.
But what options do we have? I guess we can all live by the mantra "Everything happens for a Reason"....."You lost your job for a reason" "You lost your house for a reason" "You lost your benefits for a reason" "You lost your future for a reason".....Good Luck.
