At Grave Risk

By BOB HERBERT
Published: February 21, 2011

Buried deep beneath the stories about executive bonuses, the stock market surge and the economy’s agonizingly slow road to recovery is the all-but-silent suffering of the many millions of Americans who, economically, are going down for the count.

A 46-year-old teacher in Charlotte, Vt., who has been unable to find a full-time job and is weighed down with debt, wrote to his U.S. senator, Bernie Sanders:

“I am financially ruined. I find myself depressed and demoralized and my confidence is shattered. Worst of all, as I hear more and more talk about deficit reduction and further layoffs, I have the agonizing feeling that the worst may not be behind us.”

Similar stories of hardship and desolation can be found throughout Vermont and the rest of the nation. The true extent of the economic devastation, and the enormous size of that portion of the population that is being left behind, has not yet been properly acknowledged. What is being allowed to happen to those being pushed out or left out of the American mainstream is the most important and potentially most dangerous issue facing the country.

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This is the environment that is giving rise to the worker protests in Wisconsin, Ohio and elsewhere. The ferment is not just about public employees and their unions. Researchers at Rutgers University found last year that more than 70 percent of respondents to a national survey had either lost a job, or had a relative or close friend who had lost a job. That is beyond ominous. The great promise of the United States, its primary offering to its citizens and the world, is at grave risk.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/opinion/22herbert.html?_r=1

I can't speak for the rest of you, but except for my 93 year old neighbor who lived through the Great Depression, these are the toughest times for everyone I know. The worst part is that there doesn't seem to be an end in sight, at least anytime soon. The fight in WI is not just about public employees in that state, it's about the erosion of workers' rights and the diminution of the quality of life that most of us have come to know.

;(

They'll unrec anything I post. But, who cares? What is going on in this country is far more important than who likes whom on a political board. This country is starting to resemble Rome in its declining years.

:eyes:

And another bump for a good post.

:hi:

This is one time, and I rec'd.

:eyes:

:hug:

I believe in freedom of expression. I have never placed on ignore, unrec'd or alerted; anything or anyone.

But, thank you for the rec.

;-)

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

:hi:

The MSM and the government is doing a terrible job of acknowledging the economic devastation in this country.

All we get from our Prez is more tax cuts for the wealthy and spending cuts that hurt the poor and middle class.

The sad part is that while politicians bloviate, people are falling through the cracks at a steady pace. Like the article says, 70% of people had either lost their job or had a relative or friend who had lost theirs.

just in time for the 2012 elections!

:(

Of course, the truth is the economy is improving since nearly going off a cliff in 2008-2009. Americans owe thanks to Team Obama for that, even if some people refuse to give him any credit.

For example, the unemployment rate is dropping and private sector jobs are multiplying but it's unfair and well nigh impossible to expect the U.S. economy to recover the millions of jobs lost under eight years of BushCo in two years of Obama.

Unfortunately, that's not the reality for millions of people who remain either unemployed or underemployed.

<<Unfortunately, that's not the reality for millions of people who remain either unemployed or underemployed.>>

Um, I know that. That's why I said the following in my original reply to your OP:

"Of course, the truth is the economy is improving since nearly going off a cliff in 2008-2009. Americans owe thanks to Team Obama for that, even if some people refuse to give him any credit.

For example, the unemployment rate is dropping and private sector jobs are multiplying but it's unfair and well nigh impossible to expect the U.S. economy to recover the millions of jobs lost under eight years of BushCo in two years of Obama."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=617337&mesg_id=617548

I work as a reference librarian out there. Every day dozens of local residents WALK to the library so they can use the free public computers so they can look for jobs. They can't afford bus rides, can't afford cars. I had a woman - maybe in her early 30s - CRY to me today when I tried to help her format her resume. She'd been coming to the library for two years straight (so she says) to look for a job. She hasn't had a lead in all that time that's led to a single interview. THERE ARE NO JOBS FOR LOWER-MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE in many areas of the country. What do we do with all those people? Let them starve and die?

Just because all your friends are employed doesn't mean the rest of us are. In fact, everyone I know is either unemployed, in the process of job retraining, working 2-3 jobs, or working at a job well beneath their skill set or earning potential. Your friends/my friends. Whose picture is clearer? Whose anecdotal evidence is more indicative of how things really are for the majority of Americans?

n/t

stress over your friends and family. These are the toughest times for a lot of people I know. Myself included.

they are now giving rise to the genuine anger, informed by the realization that it's THEIR oxen being gored.

You see, once people really start paying attention it doesn't take too long to figure out what the hell happened. They are figuring out how badly they've been lied to. An informed populace will ALWAYS work to our advantage.

People seem to finally star waking up from their apathy.

Important stuff that some are dedicated to whitewashing as poor and working people are flushed down the toilet.

We have a 30½% unemployment rate, and it's long past time to start a new WPA to put people back to work, and make basic health care a human right; 100,000 people die each year in the U.S. due to lack of health care.

Yet, we don't take care of our most vulnerable citizens. The irony is that now there are even more people in need thanks to the bad economy, but most states are cutting their programs due to lack of funds. In NYC Bloomberg's proposals will close 100 senior centers (where some get their one hot meal of the day) and daycares. Without the city subsidized daycares some parents would have to quit their jobs because they couldn't afford a private daycare for their children.

And don't let me get started on my governor (Christie)........

:-(

My conservative parents hate him of course. They said CT is going to be taxed to death. Of course, they are 63 and not really caring about funds to school districts and things like that. I have little kids (6 and 5) and I care, deeply. My husband works for a state utility and is in a union and I am very pro union. We disagreed about Scott Walker as well. Good post Bea.

Yep, I have Christie and he's the new darling of the GOP. Yuck!!!

:(



:hi:

from other highly populated countries such as China & India.
Just 15 years ago that was not the case. Now they have the knowhow
to make anything we can make here. Our country is going through the
painful process of adjusting to cheap goods and services available
from the newly industrialized labor force of 2500 million people.
But I am optimistic for a strong recovery although it will be slow coming.

Around this region the garment industry was big, now it's non existent. We produce very little, I really wonder how we are going to recover.