I Just Got Laid Off

Well the failing U.S. economy finally hit home, AGAIN, this is the second time in over two years I was affected by the economy. I was just laid off again on Thursday 1-15-2009, the first time I was affected was on 1-23-2007. Seems like January is a bad month for me.

The first time I was working as a freight broker making a nice income for my family. Then fuel prices started to skyrocket and the trucking industry was in turmoil, along with the rest of the country, as housing markets were in decline, foreclosures were on the rise and the stock market was on the downfall.

On January 23rd 2007 my boss came in and told us that the company was bankrupt and that we were all laid off. It took me a little over seven months to find another job, and not one that came even half way close to what I was making. It was about a quarter of what I was making, not even in my profession, but was only 7 miles from the house, so didn't use much gas to get there.

In July of 07 I took a job as a chef in a German restaurant making 8.00 per hour, now I had never cooked a german meal in my life, but the owner was willing to teach me. Well the hours were not nice either, I went from a Monday through Friday 8-5 job to a service industry job where I was working weekends and evenings when most other people were off. But I did it as I needed a job. I still kept looking and must have put in to date 350 resumes, with maybe 16 interviews from them and every one gave the same response, "we'll get back to you, we have others to look over".

Well I watch the economy affect this business also. I watched as we did 200 tables on the weekends and 50-70 tables during the weekdays, go down and down and down. Until just recently we were doing 20-25 tables on the weekends and 4-6 tables during the weekdays. No need for 2 cooks when the owner can cook for that many tables.

So if in 2007 it took me seven months to get a job that paid a quarter of what I use to make as a freight broker, and now the economy is even worse, how long will it take to find a job that will pay a quarter of 8.00 per hour.

Now our government just baffles me. I applied for unemployment. I qualify for $235.00 per week for 19 weeks. Oh by the way the maximum benefit amount in our state is $305.00, so on the advice of someone I go to DEFACS to apply for Food stamps and Medical insurance, and for a family size of 3 at $235.00 per week, I MAKE TOO MUCH !!!! Oh boy do I feel rich.

Now on Tuesday President -elect Obama takes office, during his run for the office, he made promises about creating 1 million green jobs, well that number has now been downgraded to 60-80 thousand, and he also promised to do an FDR style reconstruction of our infrastructure.

Well now is the time to HOLD him to his promises, as I know that many of you are facing the same things as I am. I know that with what I do on the Warriors for Mother Earth Coalition and on One Earth ~ One People ~ One Chance network I should be in line for one of the green jobs he is creating. There are many of you out there that also should be able to get a green job, also many of you should be able to get some of these highway construction jobs that he is suppose to be creating.

Obama promised to jump-start the economy with these jobs and programs, Tuesday he takes office, let's make him keep those promises !!!!

Just one man's opinion. As always, put the wind in your hair and keep the sun to your back. Be good and stay safe. Peace, Love and prosperity to all.

Good Journeys !!!