Reply by Susan Fischer on 5/21/08 12:57am
Msg #248141
Well, Barbara, a fellow signing agent, not so well.
In America today, bread, milk, eggs, flour, beans, coffee, vegetables, cereal, meat, baby food, diapers, laundramats; cars, and gas to run them and child seats to fill them; rent, sending kids to schools (such as they are,) basic healthcare, major healthcare, glasses, medicine, plain ordinary sundries -not to mention those 'easy monthly payments' debt - the cost of living is spiraling higher so fast in virtually every single neighborhood - the lower and what's left of the middle class, who are un and underemployed in ever-shrinking jobs, are simply sinking.
(Does anyone see a benefit to converting the McMansions on the chopping block into triplex and duplexs and drop the CC&Rs against multi-family renters? Right now they're being slurped up by rich people getting -good deals- on the backs of the unfortunate and the sometimes unwise. Just asking.)
Barbara's story is the story of MILLIONS of our citizens today. Good people. Hard-working Americans. Many, far too many women and kids. No jobs for anybody anymore. Minimum wage? Minimum what? Minimum food, clothing, shelter, if that. Don't even talk vision, dental, and doctor's care.
A place to live? Just move. To a place with cheaper rent, but no jobs? It's no mean feat to look bright, energetic, professional, ready to work at an interview when you've slept in a park last night. But you get the minimum wage job. Rent? First/Last, Security deposit, Credit Check, and 758 other applicants. What are the odds?
Barbara's story is a wake-up call. At 67 years old, after raising her kids, paying her bills and taxes, after becoming successful in her career, after doing everything the best she could - finds herself sleeping in her car working for minimum wage. As if that were her goal. As if, because she didn't create some magic safety net, she deserves her homelessness. As if the domestic policies of her government has no hand in the Story she both lives and represents.
It's been said. Walk a mile in my shoes. Barbara didn't ask us for anything. Her network responded with kindness and compassion. So many other women and lots of kids aren't so fortunate. Some in her community blame and shame her, others give a bit of what they have to help another.
Things can change. I see a better America coming together.
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