WARRENTON, Ore. — After Jean Ley lost her job as a mental health counselor in June 2008, she quickly realized how limited her options were. She had little savings. Unemployment benefits were not going to be enough to pay her bills. She was at risk of losing her home here on the Oregon coast.
As a last resort, Ms. Ley, 62, turned to her family. Her older brothers conferred with her son, Matt, and agreed that one of them would help pay her bills if needed.
But the assistance proved more than temporary. A year and half later, her son’s regular payments covering her mortgage and occasional emergencies, like a car repair or arthritis medication, have proven to be her bulwark from economic catastrophe.
“If my family weren’t able to help me out at this point, I wouldn’t have a home,” she said. “And I would be struggling.”
As joblessness persists, credit cards max out and the government’s safety net has grown thin, many Americans have turned to a patchwork quilt of family members and friends to stave off eviction, keep their electricity running or cover an unexpected medical bill. It is an underground banking system, complete with lenders and borrowers.
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And yet the American people continue to allow themselves to be screwed. Just a lot of complaining on the internet is all I see. What is wrong with everyone?
ReplyDeleteThis story tells of the American spirit of some however most Americans like to cry and talk. MOST AMERICANS DO NOT HAVE ANY BALLS JUST TALK , TALK, TALK NO ACTION!!
ReplyDelete62 years old, and making mortgage payments. Doesn't make sense unless she is close to paying it off.
ReplyDeleteI viewed her house on Zillow. It didn't show purchase price or year of purchase.
Lets see if I got this right. 62-Social Security? there is one income source. She could qualify for unemployment- another income source. Since shes a mental health counselor, I know she could get a part-time position, if just say 8-10 hours a week with unemployment supplementing....she has a home on the Oregon coast? Try bed and breakfast or youth hostel or just rent out some room(s) on the down-low...or she could just move in with one of her sons, still get unemployment or social security or work part time w/unemployment supplementing and rent her house out to one or many. I am tired of all these people in our country bit**ing about how tough it is- try living somewhere else like South America. America is and always will be the greatest country in the whole friggin' world! Go USA!!!
ReplyDelete1:06 isnt a Patriot. He's a Communist. You will be the first shot when SHTF. Dont advertise your stupid ideas when America picks up their guns.
ReplyDeleteSomeone at that age, at least in my circle same age, are well established over years of savings and not using credit cards extensively. I have no pity for some one (close to retirement age) that was careless all these years and didn't plan for retirement and emergencies, but instead stayed in debt up to their ears! I know several in their 70's still working part time, but can't quit spending! They are all a bunch of losers. Some buy houses they don't need instead of living simple in less expensive homes.
ReplyDeleteLaura
ReplyDeleteI have plenty of marketable skills. In my 20's I was a well paid machinist till 1985 when Regan started closing military bases and killing military contracts. Even in the best of times, I never earned more than $40,000 a year.
Since then, I have not personally earned more than $21,000 in a single year. I guess I'm on the bottom of the middle class. I only have about 10 good working years left and my 401k is currently worth less than 200 dollars. My home is paid in full and I'm debt free. I bet a few people would look at me as fortunate.
Even if someone has worked hard all their life and saved money how long do you think it will take a desperate Government to steal it ALL from You?
ReplyDeleteYeah I see a lot of people complaining and doing no action because they are lazy or scared of the government. The government robs your paycheck, they double tax you on savings they are always robbing us. Obama wants everybody to be equal. Best way to do that is destroy the dollar make it completely worthless. Be smart don't live beyond your means and prepare for when the SHTF.
ReplyDeleteMarch 18, 1848 there were revolts because after the French Revolution, etc, the gains expected did not materialize. The governments quickly capitulated, and nations were restored, however, very soon these gains were lost when armies occupied those countries.
ReplyDeleteThis is because the the revolt was by the new middle or merchant class. Merchants are dependent upon business and are not soldiers.
We are merchants, students, professionals, not soldiers and as such no match for the armies of the gangsters that control government.
Civil disobedience is the answer. However, for this to work there must be solidarity and the powers that be are expert at dividing the population into bickering special interests.
The French Revolution only succeeded when the peasants put aside their partisan or division and united. Only then were they powerful enough as third estate to overcome the two-to-one majority vote of the church and aristocratic estates.
Civil disobedience will work united we stand divided we fall.
We will not unite until we are all starving and dispossessed. We are victims of our own human nature.
Did you ever hear the story of the frog and the scorpion? They needed to cross the river but there was a mean old crocodile...
I meant to specify civil disobedience a la Gandhi. uncivil disobedience also works just look at Tunisia or other countries where that worked...but that was to displace dictators where conditions were much worse than in Ameirica at least for now...
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