Well, on Memorial Day we are either about to have a payday or just still looking for work, but regardless if this following conversation sounds like the one at your house, I am here to tell you that you are in the majority.
The conversation only applies if you are not living in a tent or standing in a soup line but the conversation is real and happening in more homes than I even want to think about. On the 1st for seniors and the disabled, or at least those without retirement incomes, it goes something like this. OMG...how much will the bank take from the check this month because I overlooked that gas slip and didn't write it down or bought that blood pressure medicine, forgetting it would overdraw me again and those fees add up. You may mutter to yourself or complain to your husband, "I really didn't think
our retirement would resemble this situation.
Call it an economic downturn if you like but the truth is, It is a depression. When you run out of money on the 6th or even the 5th after getting paid on the 1st or 3rd, then the bills are too damn high !!!!!. You feel like you have carpal tunnell syndrome from all the coupon clipping and you have tightened the belt to the point you can't breathe.
You may be looking at the gas gauge more than the road and most of the time it is hovering on E.
You may be in default or just finished up with that foreclosure. The food prices are soaring and you do not get the Food Stamps. You run around turrning off lights and staying either too hot for comfort or too cold...(in the winter) depending on your demographics.
You don't mind the phone ringing bugging you about a medical bill, or the never ending phone call reminding you of this payment or that,,because that means the phone is still working. You can't figure out what a franchise tax or fee is on the blasted electric bill but it doesn't matter because if they don't work with you on the light bill, you will just have to borrow from Peter to pay Paul again. Is the cable off again? You say to yourself, I need to go an pick up a converter box but that sucker will only work if the light bill gets paid. Now let's see, what medication can I cut down on? The kid called
again today asking if we can help them as they got laid off and their power is already shut off. How did this happen? How could we have gone from doing OK and living month to month to day to day or hour to hour? You are trying to help raise or caretake, one family member or elderly family member and sometimes both with your family. Why? Because you have a guaranteed income and everyone is depending on you and then the hands are out but, in this case, we are still talking bill collectors and the blasted banks with their greedy fees.
We can't go out to eat anymore. We can't even afford the Colonel's chicken. I guess I will make cook up some bacon and beans and cornbread AGAIN...and listen to the kids say, "Can't we get a Big Mac today? You take a deep breath and remember to go to the zoo with the wee ones, it will cost you a bundle.
You may notice all the people bickering. You may get sick and tired of all the chaos all around. It isn't just you. It is your neighbors and friends and other family members at the breaking point. Every day, you may see or hear a new story about a near miss on a job opportunity. Everyday you hear someone saying, "I have no clue what to do".
Everday, you put on a fake smile and try and make things as normal as you know how.
You do know how because you have been broke before but never this long with no relief in sight. You may tell yourself, you are more fortunate than many because the woods near the backyard has become a tent city and your grandchildren and children
may have a larger classroom due to cutbacks in teachers and education. You tell yourself that we are on the road to recovery but you know deep down it doesn't feel that way. You wake up tired and you go to bed tired. it was't supposed to be this way. You may have lost your home or on the verge of it. You may be counting your pennies for that blood pressure medicine. No retirement. Out of answers Running out of time .
It can be worse though because there are people living in the streets, woods and eating hand to mouth or looking for soup kitchens. You live on the verge of this could be me, or this might be me. You may have seen overzealous cops like The Grapes of Wrath.
Yes I am sick of this financial time being called A financial Crisis or Economic Downturn.
If you are living on the edge this way, it is a depression. No one will ever convince me otherwise. Nobody waits for their money. Nobody wants to work with you and the banks and the insurance companies along with the Utilities are all greedier than ever.
It is sad and it is true for 95 percent of Americans. Yeah, just another holiday and carefully guarded budgets under a watchful eye to make sure there is food and shelter for another month. How do you tell kids, Sorry, can't afford to this or this. We will just have a hot dog and remember those who gave so much and reflect on their sacrafice but then we think of the military families today and veterans who are also still sacraficing and deserve better. The teachers deserve better. The average Joe deserves better. The Average Jill deserves better. They gave all so we can prosper and live in a country where we all have equal justice and equal opportunity but somewhere that bloodshed was ignored by the greed of the corporations and banksters.
I surely didn't see this depression coming. I think they should call it exactly what it is and quit throwing up the bright shiny object and start calling this depression exactly what it is. At least, back in the 30's they had the courage to tell people...Hey Folks you are in a depression. We don't care. You are on your own. Drinking folks get drunk and it is a temporary fix and Praying folks are clinging to their bibles and guns (As the President noted before). All said and done, the majority are hurting and have no relief in sight. We won't live long enough to totally recover from this thing or at least some of us won't and you young folks need to know, we are doing the best we can. Young folks can make a difference. We did in the 60's. You just have to look at us now and see yourselves at this age and remember, change does not happen with one person or one idea. If you get angry enough, you will know exactly what to do. Retirement was not supposed to hurt like this. We thought it was enough to help move the country forward back in our day. We did not see this demon called greed being overlooked and
almost encouraged. We pay for this one just like we took the heat during Vietnam.
Just think about your economic situation this Memorial Day. Please think of the soldiers who have died in endless wars and your elders who are sweating a life they had hoped would be easier. Make it better for yourselves and your parents. Write letters....Protest.....Get the message out that American is in a downward spiral.
Thanks to one of my commenters, I am posting this.. Still think it is not a depression?