California Unemployment Quake. NYT article in more info

Ageism, Sexism, Racism. How are we going to survive these? When I had to apply for food stamps last year, the first three of us in line were women over 35 with a bachelor degree, and NOT fluent in Spanish. Our home State has abandoned us. Reading the Web last night I found that the unemployment figures go up as income goes down. So those making 150K and above have 3.9 unemployment rate. For those at 20K and below, it is more like 51 percent. We have had a lot of shakeups here lately, just under us, in the ground. It is worrisome, a bit, as the San Andreas is right behind me in this video. .But when the unemployment runs out, the shakeup will be catastrophic. There is no welfare for folks without kids. It is called "Aid to Families with Dependent Children." There isn't even any General Relief now. An acquaintance who had been in hospital more than two years on and off with diabetes, gangrene, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, could not even get approved for 100 dollars a month to live on after he was discharged. Some women on employment forums admit they are already living in cars with their dogs, quietly. These women took care of the homes, husbands, child-rearing, caregiving, and all the real estate offices, the law offices, the schools, the hospitals, the county offices, the corporate money-gatherring of the 80s and 90s, and now are left with nothing. Shame on California, and shame on employers.
NewYorkTimes
February 21, 2010
The New Poor
Millions of Unemployed Face Years Without Jobs
By PETER S. GOODMAN
BUENA PARK, Calif. — Even as the American economy shows tentative signs of a rebound, the human toll of the recession continues to mount, with millions of Americans remaining out of work, out of savings and nearing the end of their unemployment benefits.

Economists fear that the nascent recovery will leave more people behind than in past recessions, failing to create jobs in sufficient numbers to absorb the record-setting ranks of the long-term unemployed.

Call them the new poor: people long accustomed to the comforts of middle-class life who are now relying on public assistance for the first time in their lives — potentially for years to come.

Yet the social safety net is already showing severe strains. Roughly 2.7 million jobless people will lose their unemployment check before the end of April unless Congress approves the Obama administrations proposal to extend the payments, according to the Labor Department.

Here in Southern California, Jean Eisen has been without work since she lost her job selling beauty salon equipment more than two years ago. In the several months she has endured with neither a paycheck nor an unemployment check, she has relied on local food banks for her groceries.

She has learned to live without the prescription medications she is supposed to take for high blood pressure and cholesterol. She has become effusively religious — an unexpected turn for this onetime standup comic with X-rated material — finding in Christianity her only form of health insurance.

I pray for healing, says Ms. Eisen, 57. When youve got nothing, youve got to go with what you know.

Warm, outgoing and prone to the positive, Ms. Eisen has worked much of her life. Now, she is one of 6.3 million Americans who have been unemployed for six months or longer, the largest number since the government began keeping track in 1948. That is more than double the toll in the next-worst period, in the early 1980s.

Men have suffered the largest numbers of job losses in this recession. But Ms. Eisen has the unfortunate distinction of being among a group — women from 45 to 64 years of age — whose long-term unemployment rate has grown rapidly.
To see FOR YOURSELF how some of us are getting along, real-life- Search HOW TO SURVIVE FINANCIALLY WHEN UNEMPLOYMENT RUNS OUT. It is a message board and really gives a picture of what is going on with people on unemployment. Not bums, not welfare remoras: real people who live day-to-day and can't get hired. love and peace.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• UNEMPLOYMENT
• CALIFORNIA UNEMPLOYMENT
• SHAME ON EMPLOYERS
• CORPORATE GREED
• MOMS
• GRANDMOTHERS
• AUNTS
• SISTERS
• HOMELESS
• AGEISM
• RACISM
• SEXISM
• BILINGUAL JOBS
• JOB SEEKERS

[phnixlady]

HERE IS A LITTLE UPDATE FOR YOU, AMIGOS.

6 OUT OF THE TOP 30 EMPLOYERS IN OUR AREA OF 5 MILLION PEOPLE EMPLOY 39,000 PEOPLE. AVAILABLE OPENINGS AS OF TODAY? 54. FIFTY-FOUR.

[tet43]

It is my nature to want to take care of people's pain, but I know I cannot. Please understand what you have to, and feel what you need to,then use that knowledge as your resolve to move on. You break my heart,and I want you to get through this.

[phnixlady]

@tet43 Aw, please do not have a broken heart ! I have been through this literally more times than I can remember, I hate it, and it is lonely and hard, but I keep going always, always. In love. Today for example I took a walk and saw the lovely roses and morning glories, and made some posters, sort of art therapy, and it is good. At least I am not turning to drug or drink, and I have lovely replies like yours to smile about ! I had an interview Friday, waiting...low-wage, but honorable work.

[tet43]

@phnixlady I'm very glad to see you are able to put things in perspective and accept these challenges as they appear in our lives.Sometimes we just need to vent and express our frustrations,I've got to learn to listen more, and not try to fix the situation.Thanks for helping me see that.I wish you well.

[phnixlady]

@tet43 You listen fine IMO. We are in a very iffy place here, and I appreciate your concern. Please do help us try to fix the situation, the more hands, the lighter the work ! There is much to do. Love 2 U.

[leaptallbuildings]

You are a brave soul; God bless you!!! I lost my job as an English teacher for being politically incorrect and you are telling the truth!!!

[phnixlady]

@leaptallbuildings OMG I am so sorry to hear that. Thank you for your nice comment, and may you get a better group to work with. I got a temp job 7 dollars an hour private duty overnights. And glad of it. I hope more people can have sense to stop the political correctness falsehood and stop the racism we suffer under. blessings to you and yours.

[photonia2redrobin]

I grew up in Hong Kong & now lives in Australia, indeed US is facing a very challenging time when jobs are 'exported' to China & India where labour costs are a fraction. In these countries, they trash the employees' rights. Capitalists do not care. The big picture needs big intervention from government. I will pray for U, don't give up, Jesus does care, sister.

[Jesus2ndcoming]

Hey guys, if any of you live in California, New York, Australia, or know anyone who does that needs work, I have an idea for a job that you may be able to do. This may be the kind of work that can ward off this recession in the time being. This business is pretty new to the states and some of us could take advantage of it before our dollar collapses completely.If you are interested please let me know and I can assist you. God bless on your job hunt.

[actonbath]

I love it ! California collapse !

I just moved my business to Nevada from Ca last year expecting more Demorat BS with Jerry Brown and Boxer and the rest of the idiots with over taxation and regulation. I used to deal with 7 SEVEN gov. oversight agencies in CA...now...1 ONE ! in Nevada. I'm now in a complex with 9 other businesses....guess what...they are ALL from Ca !

I can't wait till CA raises taxes and eviro laws on my Ca. Competitors ! It's gonna be like Christmas with Dems in office

[mparker469]

I am praying for you Phnixlady. I pray that God opens the doors for you to find work and help you get back on your feet. Your not alone in this. I hear the hope in your voice, and I hear your frustration. Keep your faith strong, and do not bend to the will of the enemy. Christ will bring you through this. If you send me an address through my e-mail here at youtube, I will make sure that a blessing is sent your way. I love you, Christ loves you, and stay focused on his word.

[djgrooveline]

my prayers are with you. i'm glad you found something. ultimately i think like minded youtubers are going to have to start a commune style living set up to get through this.i too am expereincing the same thing. but the jobs are all gone. i hope to find something but i have prepared myself to be homeless while i finish out shcool.