How many of you feel worse off than you did 5 years ago?

[SmittynMo]

Last edited Mon Sep 23, 2013, 11:15 AM - Edit history (1)

Will this country ever recover from the Bush years? There are fewer jobs now. Most new jobs are part time (and of course, everyone blames Obamacare). The pay rate has stayed level, or has gone down. So tell me, less jobs, equal or less pay than before, less hours? The middle class is disappearing at an alarming rate. What happened to the American dream? And now the GOP wants to cut billions from the less fortunate. OMG, when will this stop?

My salary has decreased drastically in the past 5 years. Some because of lack of jobs, some because of my age and trying to find a job. I am currently unemployed again, and have been looking for months. I had been doing IT contract work since 2007, and even that has been hard to come by lately. When I apply for a $10.00 an hour job, they see my previous salaries and trash my application. I've been rejected many of times in the past two months for these types of jobs. My goal is just to survive until retirement. If it weren't for my wife still being employed, we would be on food stamps, and lose everything we own. She's going to retire soon, as her company is putting pressure on her to leave. Once that happens, I'm afraid we'll be in the soup lines like the millions of people are now. 10 years ago, I was on a pretty good track to survive until retirement. Over the years any savings we had has dwindled down to nothing. Now it looks bleak, and I don't know if we'll make it. The economy is still in disarray, and I don't see a fix anytime soon. What has happened to the American dream? Is it still out there?

Please share your thoughts on this as I'm sure others have encountered this , especially in the age group above 50.

[leveymg]

1. There are millions and millions of us out there, rapidly losing hope as we lose everything we worked

for over a lifetime. It's a bit like cancer, we're slightly ashamed to talk about it and others don't want to lest it be them next time.

The problem is only worse by the fact that its "our" party that's in the White House and the Senate, so we are reluctant to even demand anything substantially change there.

I just don't know what to do.

[AllTooEasy]

31. NOT ME! I am absolutely better off!

5 years ago, I didn't have a job and my friends were dying or getting wounded in Iraq. Plus my house value and stock market were tanking. Even though I'm heterosexual, I was disgusted at the anti-gay laws in this country.

Worse off? Are you serious?

My stocks are twice their value. My house value is gone up to 95% of the 2008 value. It bottomed out at half. I have a job, and making more than when I was laid off in mid 2008. Plus, I have insurance.

I know I'm not the exception or alone. I know that there are millions who are worse off, but there are also millions who are doing better. Bush was a shit president and I'm absolutely embracing the improvement from his regime...and I do mean "regime", not "presidency".

Now, if you ask "Am I doing better than when Clinton was president?" - Hell no!

[barbiegeek]

68. Me too!!

[DFab420]

59. Are you talking about money or just losing "things"?

Because if you are talking about losing "things" under Obama I have a list for you..

1. DOMA
2. DADT
3. Iraq War
4. Laws not protecting LGBT Community under hate crime
5. Bush Doctrine
6. No Child Left Behind

I could keep going about the things we've all LOST under Obama, but I know how this site feels about lists

[leveymg]

61. That list is really just 2.5 items long. Not a lot for 5 plus years in office.

I was talking about little things, like losing our house. But, you can just prattle on.

[DFab420]

62. Yup I'm sure the gay community agrees that there has been no progress at all..

I apologize about the loss of your house, however that is why I asked if you were discussing financially or otherwise..

I wonder what Iraq veterans think about my prattling

I wonder what the gay community or women group or educators think about my prattling.

Again that you agian for saying that some good has come from this administration is prattling.. Obviously you are fixated on what affects you and yours alone. Nothing wrong with that, just now we know where you are coming from.

[SmittynMo]

2. Either do I

I sit at my PC every day for hours trying to find a job. All of my job submissions/rejections are kept in a folder. It's over 700 and counting, in 3 months. JUST to find ONE job!!!

[no_hypocrisy]

3. I feel worse. I haven't had a regular job for three years come next month.

[fasttense]

4. I know how you are struggling

We were lucky enough to own a farm when the crash hit and we have been growing produce and selling it ever since. But it's not a Job we'll be able to do in our 60s. Except if you sell retail, the pay is real crappy too.

But I'd be willing to march on DC in a nonviolent protest to show the RepubliCONS and some corporate Democrats how many of us are coming after them. I have enough money to get to DC for a couple of nights. Let's all show the politicians how many are suffering. I bet if just a 3rd of those in the same boat as you showed up, they would piss their pants

[Iwillnevergiveup]

5. Many households

are doubling up - I moved my 92 year old dad in with me 2 years ago, and that has really worked out well. Between his S.S. and his meager pension from former work as a magazine editor and then my pension, part-time work and S.S., we've got a roof and enough to eat.

Another option I see is a neighbor who rents out a room to a college student. Breathing room for all in that arrangement.

But between terrible availability of good-paying jobs, stagnant wages and the disappearance of pensions, these are pretty awful times for too many good people like yourselves. What your wife is going through is despicable - don't loyalty and experience count for anything???

I wish you both well.

[SmittynMo]

8. Thank you so much.

She wants to retire so bad, she can taste it. But we have to keep a roof over our heads. She knows this. My inability to find good employment does not help. To make it worse at work, employees are being told that if your number is above 83 (age + years in service), they are out to get you. Her number is 89. They are putting her in jobs that she is under qualified for, just get her to quit. We're hanging by a thread. Corporate America is terrible. And I have given up on the American dream. I NEVER in my lifetime would have thought this would be happening to Americans. But then I've never seen this country is the shape it's in right now. Thank you president Bush. You've totally destroyed this country.

[DFW]

36. I never heard of the "83" formula

By that measurement, I'm a 99. I hope no one tells the people that sign my paycheck!

[Alkene]

6. I am financially worse off than 5 years ago.

My feelings and life events this time span are too complex to labor on about, but my financial situation has been a slow, demoralizing grind.

My wife died in 2009 and that has been very difficult, making financial concerns a bit secondary. But I still have to eat, pay the rent and keep going.

I wasn't earning very high wages as a lab tech before the economic collapse, and afterwards the Governor ordered a wage freeze which covered six years. The union that represents my job title finally "won" us a 2% raise to be implemented, but that is mostly consumed by an increased pension burden. Not that that matters anymore as I am newly unemployed.

I am 56 years old, reasonably fit and have some savings, so I'm staying positive about finding work and getting by. I am rather depending on the ACA to take some of the pressure off. Needless to say, I am quite put out by the Republican party's latest shenanigans.

[cantbeserious]

7. Fatigued And Fed Up

eom

[JEB]

9. I am self employed and at age 61

I've never worked as hard or as long of hours just to keep getting by.

[Common Sense Party]

54. What type of business or industry, if I may ask? nt

[JEB]

57. I buy and sell antiques, collectibles, art and general junk.

Seems like a lot of my old customers either have a house full or no money or fear they won't have enough money in the future. Nothing I sell would be considered a necessity.

[hfojvt]

10. I feel better and worse

better because at least Bush is no longer President

worse because now his tax cuts are permanent

better because working full time since October 2011 gives me more money

worse because working full time gives me less time

better because I am 3.5 years away from retirement

worse because I am now over 50

worse because in 2008 I had a Democratic Congresswoman and Democratic Speaker of the House, and now both are Republicans

worse because in 2008 I had a Democratic State Senator and Democratic Governor and now far right conservatives have won sweeping victories and Brownback has brought Reaganomics to the state level.

[Divernan]

11. 5 yrs. exactly since the 2008 financial meltdown; my retirement savings gone.

Yes, I did my comparatively small bit to transfer wealth from myself to the one percent.

As a divorced Mom who put three kids through 2 & 3 college degrees each (they worked/took out loans too), I had still worked hard enough - 2 and sometimes 3 jobs simultaneously, to save for a comfortable retirement. I retired end of 2003 & had 4 pleasant, relaxed years until the stock market collapse. 80% of my savings/investments were immediately "disappeared", and all dividend income stopped, so I have been slowly dipping into my dwindling capital. I can survive and I appreciate that I am still better off than many, but am on a tight budget with no money for pressing house upkeep (do you know how much a new roof costs? a french drain to compensate for increased flash flooding? repaving a crumbling driveway?), let alone luxuries. So none of those repairs are being done. It is a struggle to simply pay my property taxes and hang onto my house. When I or my heirs sell it, it will be in the As Is, Fixer-up category. I took temp jobs on the Census and also w/ the Post Office over the holidays. At my advanced age, the physical labor was too much and permanently impaired my health.

I have one close family member who lost her house (and her life savings she'd used as a 20% down payment) to foreclosure - she had to move from Ft. Myers, FL (ground zero for the housing bubble) because of a job transfer and carried the mortgage for a year without finding a buyer, and gave up and went through bankruptcy. Another niece, who had a well-paying, professional, corporate job, was laid off, got divorced, used up her savings while looking for a job for over a year, and ended up living in a shelter with her kids for several months before finding another job (paying about 1/2 of what she earned before). Another family member has been ill with chronic Lyme disease for the past year - her employer-provided long term disability insurance carrier (Liberty Mutual) denied her coverage. Turns out Liberty Mutual routinely denies ALL long term disability claims, so she had to find a lawyer specializing in federal court/ERISA to represent her. This is the only kind of case this lawyer handles, and he said she had the strongest claim he'd ever seen. However, this has been dragging out for months, so she may end up losing her home as well.

Oh well, as long as the Too-Big-Too-Fail-Financial Institutions who finance campaigns and post-political jobs/board appointments for politicians of BOTH parties can still afford to hand out obscene bonuses, who are we worker-bees to whine and complain?

[KG]

12. worse. no real job in 5 years since housing collapse. I'm over 50. my future is rather bleak.

[Sunlei]

13. same as you, enough to pay the bills, taxes!! one disaster away from living in a tent.

Thank God I have a good horse and dogs and can build a fire, snare and fish

[LibDemAlways]

14. Husband was laid off in 2010 at age 59.

Took the only job he could find at a 40% pay cut. That company is now in trouble and he was asked recently to take another 10% reduction in salary. There was a time when working hard meant pay increases. Those days are apparently gone. I am 60 and a substitute teacher. I've been subbing for 6 years without a raise. There's zero chance that I would ever be hired for a full time position even though I am well qualified. The district pressures the older staff members to retire and replaces them with new college graduates. Some of those "retired" teachers have joined the sub pool, which is now so full that fewer jobs are available. Oh, and if a sub is called in for morning only, say 8-12, the pay is cut in half even though we are actually working 2/3 of a day. And, we are not officially employees, thus no benefits whatsoever. It's a racket, but one of the few opportunities available for older teachers. When I turn 62, I am immediately filing for Social Security. I will have more money every month than I have earned in years and I can keep subbing and still be nowhere near the earnings limit.

[grantcart]

15. sorry to hear so many are struggling

I too re entered the job market at age 50

There is no comparison between the two periods for me.

Bush's crashes wiped me out twice.

Under Obama things are prospering but I get major setbacks every time the Republicans come close to shutting down the government.

[Cleita]

16. Here.

I am retired but the COLA on my SS is not keeping up with the real cost of living. Now if they pass the chained CPI it will only be worse. I am willing to work although I'm 73 but every job available here, even Wal-Mart, has hundreds of applicants for it so I don't stand a chance. I make a little extra pet sitting while people go on vacation but that's not a steady income.

[LiberalEsto]

17. Five years ago I had a job

One month later I became unemployed.
Still unemployed.

[pasto76]

18. getting my first cost of living raise in 6 years in Nov, after losing $3 the previous 3 years

but I have had steady work since the stimulus. Thankfully for ft carson expanding like crazy I never had to work on a 'reduced wages' job for my local. Always prevailing wage (set, btw, by the -union- ironworkers in this state) We lost a raise in 2009, lost a dollar off the check in 2010 AND 2011. last year we were stagnant as everything else kept going up in price.

I did a promotion/raise last fall of 2.50 on the check. So only half of my wage increase in the past 3 years is a slowly improving economy. The other half is because I work my ass off. Which is also why I have steady work.

[magical thyme]

19. hanging by a thread, just like 5 years ago...

After my career ended following the high tech crash and 911, and several years in and mostly out of employment, I went back to school in 2007 for med lab tech. I tried one semester to see if I could hack it. Debated selling my mini-farm then, but instead bought into the "hope and change," and took out student loans and pushed ahead. I was delayed getting into the MLT program thanks to the blatant lies told by the school "advisor." And I should have listened to her emotional, manipulative, "Don't sell your hoooooome, just take out a student loan!" and run for the effing hills.

The class before mine was the 1st that every student didn't have a job lined up before graduation. Mine was the 1st where they couldn't find clinical training slots for all the students so had to jam half the class into the hospital the program was run out of, and mine was the 1st where half the class couldn't even get job interviews, let alone offers, after graduation. Those of us who did find work were hired per diem a couple days/week. At the hospital's mercy for scheduling which makes it very hard to find other work...

Before entering the program, I called HR at the local hospital. That rep lied to me and to a classmate about the starting salary at that hospital, overstating it by 25%.

The result is that after busting my butt putting in 18 hour days while I worked and was in school, graduating summa cum laude to boot, I have tens of thousands in student loans with no way to pay them off. The per diem lab tech job I got pays only 75% of what I'd expected, and is only 1-2 days/week tops. So I had to go back part time to the job that I had while in school...except at $1.50 less per hour with no raises in sight. And living "hand to mouth." Fortunately, I am increasingly able to grow some of my own food. I also learned to make "indoor storm windows" for the attic and sun room windows, which reduced my heating costs dramatically.

If it weren't for income based student loan repayment, I would have lost my home by now. I'm on a 10-day" vacation right now back to praying for enough "recovery" to be able to sell my minifarm over the next year or so. I have my eye on a little cottage on 10 acres a couple hours to my north.

I just need to hang on a couple more years to be able to add social security to my income. I'll be 60 in a few weeks.

[bvar22]

20. You have plenty of company.

US Wealthy Have Biggest Piece of Pie Ever Recorded
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/09/11-6

Rates of unemployment for families earning less than $20,000 - have topped 21 percent
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_JOBS_GAP_RICH_AND_POOR?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-09-16-08-11-23

Gallop: 20.4% of Americans now “going hungry”.
http://inplainsight.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/12/20460846-1-in-5-americans-struggling-to-put-food-on-the-table?lite

Study: "Trade" Deal Would Mean a Pay Cut for 90% of U.S. Workers
http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2013/09/the-verdict-is-in-the-trans-pacific-partnership-tpp-a-sweeping-free-trade-deal-under-negotiation-with-11-pacific-rim-coun.html

The Totally Unfair And Bitterly Uneven 'Recovery,' In 12 Charts – HuffPo
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023662029

Larry Summers Gets 'Full-Throated Defense' From Obama In Capitol Hill Meeting
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014553343#post1

Wall Street will get away with massive wave of criminality of 2008 - Statute of Limitations
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022516719

Income gap widest ever: 95 Percent of Recovery Income Gains Have Gone to the Top 1 Percent
http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2013/09/10/one_percent_recovery_95_percent_of_gains_have_gone_to_the_top_one_percent.html


Older Workers:.Set Back by Recession, and Shut Out of Rebound
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/27/booming/for-laid-off-older-workers-age-bias-is-pervasive.html?smid=tw-share&_r=3&

40% Of Americans Now Make Less Than 1968 Minimum Wage
http://seeingtheforest.com/40-of-americans-now-make-less-than-1968-minimum-wage/

50% of Working Americans NOW make less than $27,000/Yr.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023308914

Right now, forty percent of Americans make less than the minimum wage from 1968.
http://pac.petitions.moveon.org/sign/raise-the-minimum-wage-19/?source=search


Daily CEO Pay Now Exceeds the Average Worker's Annual Salary –
http://thecontributor.com/daily-ceo-pay-now-exceeds-us-workers-annual-salary




76% of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck
http://money.cnn.com/2013/06/24/pf/emergency-savings/index.html


New Rule (Passed by Congress and signed by President Obama) signals Kiss of Death for Pensions
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100694955


Corporate Profits Have Grown By 171 Percent Under Obama -- Highest Rate Since 1900
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/corporate-profits-have-grown-171-percent-under-obama-highest-rate-1900

Wealthy win lion's share of major tax breaks
http://www.boston.com/business/news/2013/05/29/wealthy-win-lion-share-major-tax-breaks/Ua0UyYle21EUXub7g1suCI/story.html

Half of America is in poverty, and its creeping toward 75%
http://www.alternet.org/economy/real-numbers-half-america-poverty-and-its-creeping-toward-75-0

Wealth gap widens as labor's share of income falls
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/wealth-gap-widens-labors-share-income-falls-1B6097385

As the Economy Recovers, the Wealth Gap Widens
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/rick-newman/2013/03/11/as-the-economy-recovers-the-wealth-gap-widens

Top One Percent Captured 121 Percent Of All Income Gains
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/12/top-one-percent-income-gains_n_2670455.html

Corporate Profits Hit Record High While Worker Wages Hit Record Low
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/12/03/1270541/corporate-profits-wages-record/?mobile=nc

THIS ^ does NOT happen by accident.
It is the result of carefully planned and implemented Economic Policy.

It requires careful preparation, marketing, buying the right politicians, message control, courts packed with Conservative Corporate Rights Judges, and the marginalization and suppression of any opposition.



You will know them by their [font size=3]WORKS.[/font]

[Phlem]

28. ++++++++++++++!

-p

[SmittynMo]

21. The GOP needs to read this information

before signing on the dotted line, reducing food stamps. I have a diabetic relative (single parent raising a child - his ex was a deadbeat)who's been looking for years to find employment. The only thing he has found has been a part time job at a retail store, living on medicaid/medicare. He just found the job, and his food stamps have been reduced to nothing because of that. I don't know how he makes it, as we cannot help him any more. He still owes us thousands. If the GOP cuts millions from food stamps, I'm sure he'll be living on peanut butter and bread and water.

And then to top this off, I read the other day of some congressman was bitching he was making 172K a year. WTF is wrong with this picture, and this country?

[SmittynMo]

22. Rob the rich?

Income gap widest ever: 95 Percent of Recovery Income Gains Have Gone to the Top 1 Percent ?

Perhaps it's time we rob from the rich and pay the poor, which is soon to be 75%, if not more. Raise their taxes to 75%. Redistribute to anyone make less than a combined income of 50K a year. The less you make, the more you get.

But the real issue is no jobs. Of the aforementioned 75%, I'm sure 70% are looking for work, trying to make a better life for themselves.

[Ino]

23. Much worse off

In the past five years, my income has been cut to 1/3 what it was before the 2008 crash. I'm now under poverty level. I had to give up the "luxury" of health insurance. Self-employed, 61, and hanging by a thread. Utilities and food keep going up though. I turn down the thermostat to 60 degrees to save money, then they raise the rates, so now I pay as much to be cold as I used to pay to be warm.

I stupidly thought when Obama was elected the first time that everything would now be all right. It's only gotten worse.

Maybe I'll be able to afford health insurance on the exchanges, but I doubt I could also afford the copays and deductibles, so what use is it?? I'm resigned to dying if something major happens. I just hope it's very quick and painless.

[winter is coming]

24. Five years ago, we had a steady income and good health insurance.

Now, we're scraping by on the fumes of our savings and have no clue how we're going to make it unless things change dramatically.

[GreenPartyVoter]

25. Age 42: Still feel the pinch of tough economic times. Husband is self-employed so

we live "paycheck to paycheck" and have no savings. God help us if he gets sick.

Happy that there have been strides made as far as Civil Rights and Healthcare reform (although I am still uncertain about that last one for now.)

Miserable because we have a Teapublican governor who is ruining my state and refused the expanded Medicaid, which I think we would have qualified for. And it looks like he will have a shot at returning to office because the Indy is running again, and we still use plurality voting methods. Wish that had been changed years ago.

Worried that I have two teenagers and no money to help them with college at a time when post-secondary education costs are astronomical.

[Warpy]

26. I'm greatly better

but my income comes from the stock market.

People out in workaday land are hurting, even though more of them are able to find work of some description, especially the under 45 people.

I recognize that a lot of people are as bad off or worse than they were five years ago. I also recognize where it is from: the Republican refusal to consider, let alone pass, any sort of a jobs bill.

The administration has done what it could, mostly right after they took office and got the anemic but effective stimulus package passed. Had they been able to get anything else passed, we would not be having this discussion. We'd be listening to the Republicans scream about inflation.

[Phlem]

27. Used to make $60,000

a year it's been 5+ years since a full time job and made $1,800 for this years taxes.



-p

[gopiscrap]

29. Sad to say, I do!

[rl6214]

30. Much worse off

Five years ago I was masking $65-$100 thousand a year, now I am getting by on just maybe 1/3 of that after suffering some debilitating medical problems and almost 3 years without being able to work. Combine that with thru the roof insurance costs. I had to sell off all of my recreational toys, boat and camper along with many personal items before finally filing for bankruptcy before I would lose my house.

Now this last year I was finally approved for disability after a little over two years of trying. Along with that came Medicare so I was able to decrease my insurance as a secondary. Now I have no co-pay when I go see the dr which is at least a couple times a month with the 6-8 drs I now have.

So yeah, much worse.

[BBbats]

32. I'm feeling it'

I used to do OK. I'm a musician with a partime job in a music/record store. Lost my medical insurance last year(just couldn't afford it anymore). Earlier this year I was jumped & got my arm broken.That put me out of commission for a while. Fellow musicians ran a fundraiser
which paid the surgery & hospital but there's still a boatload of bills. I have a dirt cheap rent that I can't afford to pay. The music store is dying. I had to take a pay cut & am down to three days work. I'm a pretty good player/ singer & still get some work but my van crapped out and I can't afford a vehicle. That's important if
you're a musician but gigs aren't paying much these days & it isn't worth driving


long distance with gas & tolls for the pay that's offered. I had a steel plate put in my left arm. It's sore when I play.As a result of my fall from being attacked my hands are banged up as well. Tendon strain in my left & carpel tunnel in the right. I can't afford therapy at $250 a pop.
I can only swing one of my three prescriptions right now.The music store is dying. I do have great friends who have been helping me as best they can. Lately I've been making under a $1000 a month. I can't afford my cheap rent or phone. I don't mean to be a cry baby, but I just turned 60 this year and I'm nervous about the future. Thank God I have no dependents or family. Yeah, I'm scared!











$100. As a result of my arm injury I had a steel plate installed. It's sore as hell when I play. Therapy is $250 a pop & I can't afford that.Don't have a computer or cable I use an old I phone.The fall from the arm injury also fouled up my Hands. Care tunnel is showing up in my right hand.a good month I do $1200 a month but lately it's been more like $800-$900. I'm getting to the point where the rent& iPhone are a major struggle. I just turned 60 this year & can't find a second job for anything. Can only swing one of my three prescriptions. I don't mean to be self pitying. I do have great friends who have helped me a lot,but I'm nervous about my future. I thank the powers that be that I don't have any family or dependants.

[Skittles]

33. I wouldn't say I am worse off

but I am not as well off as I should have been and I feel more and more pessimistic about the future

[hopemountain]

35. yup. same for me.

too much to relate but we have a roof over our heads, friends with bountiful gardens who share, and daughter is back working on a ranch. she works 12 hour days, 7 days a week - but they have a roof over their heads and will be warm this winter - unlike the threat they faced when she lost her business 5 years ago and they all moved into our place. beans and rice. beans and rice. beans and rice. but, we've made it so far. all of our savings are gone.

[freshwest]

34. My income is a third less, my health sucks, I don't qualify for all the things discussed here, but

I am no longer being treated like a criminal and a beggar by the Bush administration. Nor are the people I know, whose quality of life is not high, but are now being treated with respect I had not seen them treated since the Clinton years.

Elections really do make a difference in tone and the way things are done. The world is much changed from the previous years with other Democratic presidents. I am not dancing on the clouds nor am I crawling in the dirt.

I am learning, seeing more possibilities than ever before. Some doors have closed and others have opened.

I am better off.

[DFW]

37. "Some doors have closed and others have opened"

Describes me as well. Overall, I'm better off, but I am one of the fortunate ones never to have been really hurting in the first place, despite some serious (and costly) medical issues since 2008. My job, due to the oddball set of necessary qualifications for it, is not one where I need to fear a reduction in work, salary, replacement or forced early retirement. I could keep it until I'm 85 if I wanted to, and the way things are going, I may have to, because I can't find a replacement. I have painted myself into a corner with my job.

My greatest worry is medical costs, which will hopefully disappear when the "pre-existing conditions" part of the ACA kicks in. I pay German income, automobile and property taxes, which take well over 50% of my income, but am still only covered by my lousy Blue Cross medical insurance back in Texas. My wife, as a German citizen is covered by German health insurance, although she is a "Kassenpatient," in other words, the second class of citizen under the German system. She sometimes has to wait months to get an appointment, although it's better than no insurance at all. In Germany there was a recent article about the "scandalous" figure of uninsured German citizens (well over 100,000). If 150,000 uninsured is a "scandal," what is 40 million?

[SmittynMo]

38. 15 years ago

the economy was much better. I had a decent paying job, with plenty of opportunities. Now there are no jobs, and no opportunities. When you apply for a job, hundreds (if not thousands) of people are in the same pool with you, which means your chances of an interview are extremely slim. Full time jobs with benefits are disappearing big time. It seems that a lot of people only have 1 - 4 x 4 left holding their house up and the termites are eating away at the only thing holding it up. And we can't afford to treat the termite issue. The GOP has held this country hostage for the past 6 years, with no relief in sight. Now they want to hold the government hostage again, over Obama Care? What the hell is wrong with these politicians that they want to see the middle class fail and put us all in poverty? They have declined a jobs bill, which could help us all. They fight and argue over everything Obama has suggested to get us out of this rut. We are constantly moving backwards, not forward. I just don't get it, and never will.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

39. Republicans have obstructed or blocked every measure that would have created more jobs...

And yet they are not being held accountable for anything that they've done! Nothing!!

[SheilaT]

40. Reading this it seems like not a single person

has a job that covers expenses.

I'm about the same as I was five years ago. That was when I divorced, moved 800 miles to Santa Fe and started a new life. I have a part time job with benefits. At a hospital.

I think the fact that I stayed home for 25 years to raise kids ultimately works in my favor. There are plenty of entry-level jobs, it seems, that I'm qualified for. I have never felt that my age, already 60 when I moved here, was an issue.

I live a quiet life and it works for me. Next year, when I turn 66, I will start collecting Social Security, which will improve my income. I'll probably work until I'm 70. I keep on looking very carefully at my money to figure out just when I can retire. Even then, I will probably work temp jobs or seasonal stuff, just to keep from sitting at home all the time.

[Mellow Drama]

41. Luckily I'm on scholarship, but that's the only thing

I was able to get a scholarship from a progressive Asian organization, so I'm good to go no matter what the republicans try to do in California, but otherwise it looks bleak. I can't get the part time jobs my sister was able to get when she went back in 2004, but at least I'm able to work part time in a lovely lesbian bar . My mom isn't doing too well, though she has health coverage from Medicaid, so ACA actually will help her.

All in all, could be worse, but it would be so much better if the republicans would just go away.

[TexasBushwhacker]

42. Over 50, temporarily disabled, and can't get interviews

I had hoped when I got SSDI 16 months ago that it would be temporary and that I could return to work at some point. The thing is, now I haven't worked in 3 years, I'm considered "long term unemployed". I worked at least part time, mostly full time, for 38 years. I'd like to try to work part time, but I can't get interviews. Every time I read someone complaining about the disabled "getting off their butts" and working for a living, I get so depressed. I'm living on less than half what I made when I was working, and I didn't make that much! I was strictly middle class and only doing that well because I'm single without kids. I would love to work again, but I can't find anyone to give me a chance! To top it off, I get re-evaluated for SSDI in a few months. The stress is unbelievable.

[Generic Brad]

43. Doing better than ever

It is not all doom and gloom for everyone over 50. I'm sorry to hear so many of you are struggling. If not for several fortunate twists of fate I would still be struggling and short on hope.

[mikekohr]

44. My 401K is up 527%. It dropped in value 67% under Bush

The Country is FAR better off.

The problem that remains is this is the recovery of the 2nd greatest economic collapse in history. It took over 4 years for FDR to end the Great Depression and unemployment did not drop to pre-depression levels until after WWII started, that's 11 years from the beginning of the Depression and a full 9 years after FDR the most accomplished President in history took office.

If you want to avoid the long climb back from economic collapse quit electing the assholes that cause them
-Republicans-

9 of the last 10 recessions occurred under Republican leadership as did all three of our greatest economic collapses: Hoover's Great Depression, Bush's Great Recession and the Reagan Recession of 1982

see: History of Recession http://bureaucountydems.blogspot.com/p/history-of-recessions.html

[Kennah]

45. Feel better because Bush is no longer President

Lost retirement savings, lost the house, filed bankruptcy (effectively medical since we hung onto healthcare and little else at the expense of all else).

Working for the past 2 years, after 7 months out of work, but took a huge pay cut to find work. Might have an angle on a new gig in a supervisory/lead worker role, which will mean a little more money.

Place we're renting told us in June that they wanna sell, so when our lease runs out in April we'll be moving again.

This is a time when one just has to be content with less. Roof over your head, food, rent paid, utilities paid. Savings? What's that?

[taught_me_patience]

46. Way better off

My wife started a business and is making double what she was five years ago. I was making over six figures until Jan., when I was confident to start my own business. Now, that business is starting to take off. If things continue on this trend, we'll make over 500k/yr in a couple of years.

[SmittynMo]

47. So what kind of business did you start?

I know starting a business can be pain staking at first, but if its a hit, you can make a ton of money. However, statistics indicate that most fail. Good luck to you

[taught_me_patience]

49. A specialty coffee shop

We sell very expensive coffee and tea, yet business is great. Five years ago, I'm sure we'd be struggling real hard. It's still been a struggle, yet sales are consistently growing.

[SmittynMo]

50. Hey, that 1% has to spend their money somewhere

Get em pumped up on coffee. Good luck to you.

[barbiegeek]

69. Good for you

[tabbycat31]

48. not in the 50+ age group

But I'm much better off than I was 5 years ago. I was laid off from a banking job and started getting involved in politics.

I started working on political campaigns professionally in 2010 (interned in 2009) and haven't looked back. I'm with a nonprofit now and the money is better than it was when I was in banking.

I'm looking to manage a congressional race next year.

Money has been up and down since, but I found my calling and I'm truly happier.

[NoOneMan]

51. I've make more now. Spend more too. Work less. Trust less. Rent a home. Live more

I've changed how I rate my life. Things are way cooler now. I've given up on idea of ever having a retirement or a secure job, or even sending my kids to a college like I attended. I've had 5 bosses in the last 5 years, dodging company bankruptcy after bankruptcy. I'm rolling with the punches and getting as much fishing in as possible. You only live once and you don't get to pick the shitty world you call home. You just got to learn how to get your kicks in it.

[redstatebluegirl]

52. We are worse off for sure.

I took early retirement due to health issues, my retirement account was not what it should have been. I had to go on my husbands insurance which costs us 700 a month. He has not had a decent raise in 5 years, the one he had covers the increase in our health insurance barely.

I am now back in the job hunt at an age (well over 50) that makes it impossible. They see how much I used to make and decide they cannot afford me. I don't want a big salary, i need enough to keep us floating above water if at all possible. All of the jobs I see require that I be able to lift over 25 pounds, no way with my back issues.

The people who really run this country want all of us poor and unable to pay our bills. That is their plan. Are there no prisons, are there no workhouses?

[abelenkpe]

53. Worse off

Every member of my extended family is worse off. Either taking pay cuts, furlough days, benefit cuts and/or loss of job.

[Bradical79]

55. I'm much worse off.

It has the most to do with some health problems that have hit me recent years combined with our health care system not being adequate. After the pre-existing condition portion of the ACA kicks in, a little bit of pain will be averted in the future. Anything short of universal health care will likely not be enough though. I've got a knee problem that needs checked out this week, so that'll add to the accumulation of debt. There are other things going on, but I'd say the health care issue and education costs are my biggest problems right now (saddled with around $20,000 in school debt after having to drop out before finishing my computer science degree).

I'm still in my early 30's so I'm not doomed yet.

[Myrina]

56. Financially, no. Speaking in terms of civil rights, though, yes.

Due to a lucky bounce of the contractor-ball, I'm making more than I ever have and am actually able to save a little.

But more important to me is how much worse off we are in terms of personal freedom (all the choice restrictions, voter-registration games, books being banned from schools, fundies steamrolling over all manner of free thought & speech) guns everywhere, militarization of the local cops and a general sense of pettiness and ill will that never used to be so prevalent in our society.

[Marrah_G]

58. ~raises hand~

[DFab420]

60. 5 years ago I was brewing coffee with my BA in Graphic Design living hand to mouth...

today I am working as a small architetture nonprofit that works with the DOE in producing educational software helping train the American workforce in weatherization, day lighting, solar and all around eco-friendly construction.

A large part of our funding, and therefore my salary comes from the Reinvestment and Recovery act as well as other minor funding through local and state funding...

Soo Yea.

I'm better off.

[SmittynMo]

63. What are we going to do?

Making more from prior jobs? Health issues? Overpriced healthcare that no one can afford? Living like there's no tomorrow (which will bite you in the ass down the road) ? Prior salary issues? If it weren't for a government subsidy, where would you be now? No jobs? Crooked ass politicians? Racism. I could go on and on.

OMG. What ever happened to the American dream?

Better yet, how do we get it back?

[polichick]

64. I'm much more worried about my children's future...

and I've been worried about that since the 80s and outsourcing began.

[SmittynMo]

65. I totally agree

I have been worried about my children's future for quite some time now. The technology age is taking away jobs at an alarming rate, not to mention the outsourcing issue. I have worked in Information Technology my whole life. When I started in 1980, we were processing IT services for credit unions. I thought at work one night and said, OMG, do you know how many people we were putting out of jobs by processing the banking needs for these credit unions? All the HR personnel, bookkeepers,etc? Then I said, we'll hell, I work in IT, I should have a job for life. Well, guess again.

In today's world, a lot of IT jobs are non existent, or have been shipped overseas. As I look at applying for jobs in today's world, no one actually reads your resume anymore. They are scanned for keywords. If there isn't a 75% match, your resume goes to the infinite bit bucket. Questionnaires are added to most applications to filter you even more. That probably leaves you less than a 1% chance of making it to someone's desk. The job market is flooded with applicants. It's an employers paradise now, and they can pretty much pay you anything they want, which is way below the market values of 5 years ago. You take it or leave it. Then there's the question of "experience"? Does that even matter anymore?

Am I worried about my kids future? You damn right I am, but I have to look out for number one right now, until I reach retirement age, and let this whole mess be someone else's worry.

In the meanwhile, here I sit, day after day, trying to save money, and spend hours on end looking for a job. I've been out of work 3 months now, and have now submitted to over 1000 jobs. Not one interview on the horizon.

It sure sucks being on the other side of the fence.

I still have my hopes up, but damn, this sure is stressful.

[SmittynMo]

66. Just received 2 more rejection letters today.

I just wish the pain would go away and become employed again.

[polichick]

67. Sure hope you find something soon...

I didn't realize that nobody actually reads the applications, that they're scanned for keywords. Holy shit!

This country has sold it's soul for the sake of money - and along the way people have become stats, completely dehumanized. So very sad.

[SmittynMo]

71. There's a couple of reason for this.

1). Unemployment is much worse than the numbers report. Many people have fallen off the weekly unemployment paychecks and are no longer part of the numbers game. There's so many applications, no one can read them all and sort through all the bullshit. For 1 job, thousands of resumes are collected.
2). Technology. Everything is being automated. Even for putz jobs. IE: I applied for a used car salesman position. After spending 1/2 hour filling in their application, I had another 35 minutes to go, before they would accept my application. This time involved a 100 question questionnaire, followed by a hypothetical 25 question questionnaire. All this, just to get turned down the next day. It's automation at it's worst. And the sad part is I know I'd be great at the job. Screw them.

[RebelOne]

70. Yes, I am worse off.

I was working full time and also collecting Social Security, so I was doing well. But then in 2010, I was laid off my job. So now, my only income is Social Security.

[TexasBushwhacker]

72. I just read that suicide among Baby Boomers is up

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/baby-boomers-are-killing-themselves-at-an-alarming-rate-begging-question-why/2013/06/03/d98acc7a-c41f-11e2-8c3b-0b5e9247e8ca_story.html

And not up just a little - 50% up for men in their 50's (between 1999 and 2010) and 60% for women.

[SmittynMo]

73. I dont doubt this at all

I'm telling you, this is absolutely depressing looking for work. Many over 50 have said the same thing. I have my days, good and bad. If it wasn't for my wife, I don't know what I'd do. I have been turned down for putz jobs twice in the last week alone. What is one to do when there is no money and no future? I personally have not given suicide a thought, but I can see why the numbers are up. We need jobs back in this country, and not part time jobs. Good full time with benefits jobs. It's amazing how it restores your self worth when employed.