![[A photograph taken after a protest in Grand Rapids, Mich. (Creative Commons)]](http://www.commondreams.org/files/article_images/grandrapids-480x316.png "grandrapids-480x316.png")
A photograph taken after a protest in Grand Rapids, Mich. (Creative Commons)The post ended, "I will try to tough out another night. Goodbye for now."
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Unemployed: I May Be Dead By Tomorrow
He hit "publish" on the last Wednesday in July, in the middle of a long afternoon. "I also have become homeless and am on the verge of suicide. I slept out in the wood last night and didn't gett very much sleep. I hate to bring you people down with my problems but I thought you would like to know this. I don't know what else to say except I'm very sorry it turned out like this but I can take the strain of living like this very much longer." (All posts are reproduced as published.)
A photograph taken after a protest in Grand Rapids, Mich. (Creative Commons)The post went up as part of a conversation about homelessness on Unemployed-Friends, a popular online forum for the unemployed to connect with one another. Most were discussing how to live in homeless shelters after eviction or foreclosure. But his post went further. "This is killing me physically and emotoinally. I am at the end of my rope and getting to the point of letting go. I have tried everything I know to get help. DHS won't help' Salvation Army won't help. 211 won't help. I have no idea as to where to go from here. If you don't hear from me by tomorrow I probably will be dead." Thousands of users visit the web site daily, offering one another everything from advice about applying for unemployment insurance benefits to emotional support. It is one of dozens of such sites helping the nation's 14.6 million unemployed - particularly the long-term unemployed, the 6.6 million Americans who have been out of work for more than six months. "I am very tempted to walk in front of an oncoming semi right now. Sorry to go on ranting but I am getting to the point where I feel I have no choice. For those of you that want to know I am currently in Grand Rapids. I appreciate your words of encouragement but right now it doesn't seem to be enough to keep me going."
The post ended, "I will try to tough out another night. Goodbye for now."
More Here..
HERE
A photograph taken after a protest in Grand Rapids, Mich. (Creative Commons)The post ended, "I will try to tough out another night. Goodbye for now."
More Here..
HERE
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We should pray for this person to get the help that they need. All of us could be in thier shoes someday soon.
ReplyDeleteHyper-Inflation at Wal Mart
Some Prices Hiked Over 60%
http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/walmart-raises-prices/19587730/?icid=sphere_copyright
I agree with the above post. I've lost my job and home and I would be living under a bridge too if I didn't have family with money saved able to help me. I am young, have a place to live and essentials and I cannot secure employment. I can only imagine how difficult it would be applying for work without an address and basic essentials. I volunteer when I can and, there are many, many more people with a lot more than I have that do nothing but complain about something which makes them part of the problem when in fact they could be part of the solution. I feel bad for this person, but I can only do so much, as I am only one person. More people need to pitch in.
ReplyDeleteI feel the pain of these people as I am in the same boat. Out of work for 14 months, almost all options exhausted. Most personal belongings sold in order to eat, and pay basic bills. No furniture or bed left, just blankets and pillows on the floor. I feel fortunate to still have a roof over my head for now, in 3 months I may be out on the street if I don't find a job. But really, the odds of finding a job in this economy is unlikely....been trying for 14 months already.
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing is there are millions more just like me or in even worse shape in Amerika.
The Corporations are heartless and more than happy to continue sending more and more jobs to India.
I've begun to think that maybe it's ok to continue unemployment benefits. I used to think that this type of spending would lead to us being bankrupt, but since we are bankrupt already, we might as well help as many people as we can. Hyperinflation will happen with or without an extension, so might as well help as long as we can I guess.
ReplyDeleteThis guy should have been out picking up aluminum cans instead of posting e-mail to nobody in particular. Dumster diving would keep him alive. If it's too tough somewhere, leave! I mean start walking. Keep your beard short so you don't look like a zombie and act like you're going somewhere. If you are so mentally debilitated that you cannot do what you need to do to keep body and soul together, God help you. Otherwise, dig in.
ReplyDeleteThis story represents a broad perspective in regards to reality for many people in America, not how much longer someone can survive collecting cans.
ReplyDeleteSaw this coming. I never got married and never had children. When the collapse comes, I'll either be able to survive or not, but at least other people won't be affected if I become homeless. And if the government had made things a little more palatable for citizens, maybe I would have contributed one or two children to the system, but the way things are now, why should I bring what are glorified taxpayers into a dying empire?
ReplyDelete1:42pm: I agree, why would any young couple bring kids into this country with no future for anyone. We chose not to raise a family in the 70's because we both had to work in blue collar jobs most our lives and saw no future in being parents in a country without hope. I knew about the NWO back in the 70's from my elders. I can't understand why anyone would commit to family life when the divorce rate is 50% and kids don't respect parents and teenagers won't go to work. I'm a retiree
ReplyDeleteThe tragedy is not a dumpster-diver more or less but the poverty of soul that drives men to think that they can't do any better.
ReplyDeleteIf this guy lived on a desert island, he would have a house, a private beach, a 24-hour kitchen, a prayer chapel larger than the largest cathedral in Europe, a pet and an uncluttered active mind.
As it is, he has not learned or chosen to forget how to wash in a fast-food restaurant's bathroom, dig in and eat until he can't move, find a Salvation Army for a new suit, shoes and a couple of bucks, how to look someone in the eye and say 'I want a job, Now, Anything. How about haul of that trash for you, how about sweep your parking lot, clean your windows, walk your dog, move those crates' and keep going from business to business until he gets it and then just keeps doing it.
Sleep in a ditch, save a little money, laugh at the stars, cry yourself to sleep, it doesn't matter. He has a soul, a heart, he matters.
Or not.
2:24 How unkind! If he were my boy I am sure I would cook him lots of his favorite treats. I would pet him and give him ten dollars just to walk around. I would keep his room clean and he is a good boy and I know someone treated him badly or else how could this happen. Be nice and you will be liked. That is how the world works.
ReplyDeleteDumpster Diving, is that what we as a society have come to, is that our last resort?
ReplyDeleteThe real question is if I armed this man with one of my rifles will he fight along next to me?
My next question will 20% of the population also fight?
We continue to allow the banksters and fascists to steal from us, when will we put a stop to it.
2:46
ReplyDeleteYou should beat your kids if you want them to toughen up. Don't send them to school. Make them work and take their money. You give them a roof over their head and that's it. My son became a banker and has made millions. He calls me every Christmas. My second son became a carpenter and built over fifty houses before he broke his back. Both of my daughters still live at home and take care of their old dad. I can't beat the boys off with a stick but they always say 'What do you think, Daddy?' I think I will have to let them go soon though. I'm about ready to get me a woman to do my cleaning and they don't need to be around no more.
to 1:09--there are states that do NOT have a 5-cent bounty on cans and bottles (I live in one of them).
ReplyDeleteAnd to everyone thinking of suicide, either don't do it or take some of the bankers with you. Now that I think of it, if more people had done the latter, we'd have fewer problems.
The least the elite could do is allow folks like this to wipe their asses and give them sponge baths for a warm, dry place to rest their head and a piece of bread and some ketchup soup.
ReplyDeleteThat would require compassion. Our society is run by sociopaths.
ReplyDeleteketchup soup?..wtf?
ReplyDelete1019...Old timer hobo trick at diners.
ReplyDeleteHot water + ketchup = tomato soup & saltines
Cold water + lemons + sugar = lemonade
11:25- Wow, sounds super! However, I understand lemonade stands will soon be outlawed in the US. Evidentally, stands manned by unruly 10 year olds have been spotted setting up in public places. The fear is they may be cutting into the G.N.P. thereby undermining the economy.
ReplyDeleteI truly hate politicians starting after the Korean War. We have nothing but jackasses running this country to the ditch.
ReplyDelete12:27 I will love living in a ditch when TSHTF. You can hide there from those who want to cut your wankie off. There is water there and crayfish for appetizers. Also you can jump people going down the road. Bad place in the rain though.
ReplyDeleteI need help, I can't stand it anymore.
Life is good, the Obama's are on their sixth vacation this year. How about you, enjoying his change or are you still hoping?
ReplyDeleteI know how this guy feels. I live in Michigan, in a suburb of Detroit. This area is the worst part of the state economic and crime wise. But Grand Rapids has its share of problems also. This whole state is in a big mess and has been even before the Great Recession. Michigan has always had a high unemployment rate but nothing like this. I know just how he feels. I hope he keeps moving on. Thats the only thing you can do is keep going. If he had a car I would suggest looking out of state for work. If not, I would try to get enough money for a bus ticket out of state. These are some hard times.
ReplyDeleteTime to Nuke India and take all of the stolen jobs back.
ReplyDelete