Despite the United States showing the world its strength, the American economy, ol’ friend, is crumbing within.
We have lost millions of manufacturing jobs to China without a chance of getting them back. Chinese workers are paid 35 cents an hour and their quality of work now is just as good as their American counterparts.
Is there a wonder why it is getting harder to find work? Even if you do find a job, you are probably getting paid a lot less than you actually deserve. Of course, if you’ve gone to college, you may be able to land a good paying job. Then again, you may have to wait several years. Example: I personally know a person with a law degree who worked as a cashier in a store. Since then he has gotten a better career-oriented job. Thank goodness for him, but you see, ol’ friend, what I’m trying to say?
So let’s say you’re not one of these people who can’t afford to go to college or you just aren’t college material for various reasons. Well, you need to work, so you find yourself working at one of these jobs. Well, that’s great. You have a job now, but you’ve found out what the 42 percent of homeless people who work in the United States already knew: You can’t afford a damn place to live. That’s right, my friend, you are now one of the so-called "working homeless."
If you do rent a place, in most cases you have to share an apartment or whatever with at least one other person. If you are in a relationship and you are both working, well then, that’s not so bad. However, what if you’re not in any relationship and don’t have any close friends or relatives to share expenses with?
You may have to go in search of renters who need a roommate. You can find these signs in most any store or laundromat: Roommate wanted, followed by all the rules you must abide by. No smoking, no drinking, no pets or vice versa. Are you starting to get the picture?
This government, whether you want to believe it or not, has got us struggling, barely keeping our heads above water, so we won’t have time to see what they are doing. Never mind that some of us drowned several times trying to keep afloat in this sea of bureaucratic refuse.
Several years ago I tried to rent a place to live after receiving my first disability check (after waiting a year for it). I was unable to work, didn’t have an income or disability, so I stayed with relatives or on the street. I was so happy to receive my disability check. I’ll finally have my own place again, or so I thought.
Well, never mind that I had enough money to pay the first and last month’s rent, plus any deposit they could throw at me. I couldn’t get any place to live because of my past record. Unfortunately, not a musical record. Seriously, I cannot still believe because I am an ex-felon — notice I say ex. I’ve served my time and paid back to society, but because of past history of drug abuse I am being punished now. I ask you, what the hell does one have to do with the other?
I can’t rent a place now because of my lifestyle 10, 20 years ago? That is our dear sweet government keeping us down. There has to be a better system.
Working people must have a way to at least have the opportunity to rent a place without an act of Congress.
I have noticed new condos going up all over town. Tear down the old ones, build new ones. Now, I know that this is just good business, but there has to be a way to salvage some of these old ones to make them obtainable to people starting out. ’Course, that’s just my opinion. I’m not a business genius.
Now, let us talk a little about the oil prices. Experts say the soaring oil prices haven’t yet hurt the economy. I can see the difference all around me. I hear people say the gas increase has made them cut back on other things they used to do.
There are, however, some experts who say the steep prices will hurt our economy. Who are we to believe? We cannot look back at history for an answer because we’ve never had a price rise like this one.
Gas prices have risen 47 percent since 2004. Tell me that hasn’t had an effect.
Now for the punchline. Both sides of experts are, in a way, right. The rising prices do not hurt the higher income Americans most. But it does hurt the lower-income Americans who must live on a tighter budget. Still, as gradual as the price hike has been, even the lower-income folks have seemed to have gotten used to them.
But this is wrong. They shouldn’t get used to something that is wrong or it will never change.
Having said my piece, I would like to welcome Israel Bayer back to Street Roots. Welcome home, Iz.
Semper Fi.