BC: GRAPES OF WRATH REDUX
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Allow me add to the discussion. I'm about to be homeless, my gas heat is off, water soon to be cut, electric will go down on 12/28, and my phone is off, so is my internet. The internet provider sent out a tech to retrieve the modem who made a chiding remark that 'you can't even pay $40 to have the service?' He had a Spanish accent. And my landlord of 10 years sent me an eviction notice. I don't have a job, can't find one, one reason is I'm 60. Unemployment benefits ran out three months ago. And as a courtesy, I called up all the utility companies and told them the situation. They all said basically, 'well your service will be shut off unless you can pay.' And it was clear cut---everything is monetized, and you're talking to a 'service account specialist' who is at a computer screen of your account---she doesn't know you, you don't know her. You're an account number in a database. Same with the banks, and same every service you buy using a courtesy card, like food.
So, back to my story. I was told by 'everyone' to call our county social services. Gas heat not covered, electric not covered, phone not covered, water not covered, rent, maybe but I have to 'call them,' and word is that the amounts they help with are very low---not realistic. I don't have a phone and I don't have a family, I'm over 60 which rules me out it looks like.
Churches? Overwhelmed with the thousdands asking for help.
Friends? Tapped out or unemployed or about to be. One was put on part time because his employer didn't want to pay unemploymnet taxes, and then he was laid off, losing his house in the process.
so you have all these unemployed and destitute people using coffee houses for warmth, and taking showers at friend's houses. And in the midst of this, Congressman Alan Grayson sends out an email asking 'for ideas' for the new Congress to work on in the Spring. IDEAS? How about keeping people from freezing and starvation?
My opinion is, Congress and banks have declared total war on working Americans---the middle class included. I hate to be so blunt, but remember seeing old Black men walking the streets on a cold day? Welcome to it America, at least all but the elite.
How much indignity will Americans put up with? They are too busy shivering and starving to organize to react---this is by design my fellow Americans. Those Black men in big coats spend all their time staying warm, trying to deal with social services who say 'use our web site' for services. And now, working Americans, the middle class too, will see this way of life, and they will accept it, just like the supermarket workers. Suffering in silence.
Meantime, the 25 year old graduates from MBA schools---our KIDS---are turning the screws, under direction of their banking bosses, and being very well paid to do so.
Yes, the working American, the middle class American is screwed, but they don't have the power, and are so busy looking for work and food, they have nothing left. And this my friends, is the truth of the matter.
We're seeing an unprecedented war conducted by Congress and the banks against Americans.
Read the Grapes of Wrath, or watch some of Ed Murrow's broadcasts from the field during the depession---we're headed there, again, and for many, we're there now.
Think of Americans with no heat, electricity, water, is a total outrage. Who in Congress is taking up this cry? Is the president? No, cold and aloof, our president of the people is disapearing the very ones who gave him their votes. How crass, how cynical this man is.
As for job hunting, no more going down the road to ask for a job, unless you want to displace those old Black men who mounted your last set of Michelins. Instead it's 'visit our web site' where they get all your personal data, while having far too many applicants to offer you even an interview. And so over time, you fall down the wall, and become less and less qualified for anything but minimal jobs---and you will still have a cold house!
We're in such terrible trouble. I saw it when it was relatively good, so I have experienced the difference in my work life, from 'all is peachy' to eviction. I feel very emotional about where we are headed, and angry. But I spend my time job hunting on web sites. Today it took three hours to apply for two jobs, because I had to 'set up an acount,' then 'fill out a profile--that was like typing my entire resume into their web pages (no more just sending a resume---the IT professonals in HR have seen to that), and then writing a cover letter, then attaching my actual resume, and keying SEND. No more just going down to ask for a job---a 50's thing.
personally, I think we're going to see more and more theft and suicide, but from the point of view of banks and employers---if you can't get a job, then you need to 'de-rez' from the game, and that is what we are about see. But the media won't cover it, maybe alternative media will.
I know what i will do if it gets too tough, and I will save myself a lot of hell, which I see on the horizon. Imagine, you go home to find the water's off, or its dark, and without income, you can't do a damned thing about it. Just imagine this country descending like that, abusing its people, while the elites have the finest steak, liquor and, sex. What an outrage. What an outrage. |
