Jobless in America: Stories from the Frontlines of the Economic Crisis

By Nicholas von Hoffman, The Nation. Posted February 10, 2009.

I have been putting off treatments for my health conditions that could possibly make me more functional--even with health insurance, the treatments are too expensive for me at this time. We also have four pets acquired during better times, and I am terrified whenever their health needs attending to; I'm sad to say that I am often forced to take care of their health problems myself.

I've organized a documentary movie night so my friends have something cheap that they can do on the weekend and a place where we can gather together as a progressive community. Next movie night, I'm showing a film on the healthcare crisis. At this time in history, we all have to strive to be one another's teachers and be there to support one another. Even though I've never been a churchgoer, I know what it is like to pray every day for the simple necessities. I have a victory garden now. I save seeds. I hope that our struggles will soon pay off.

Paulette Kenyon
Pleasanton, Calif.

'Embarrassed to be a foolish American'

A year and a half ago, I was working as a carpenter in Boston making over $30/hour plus a reasonable benefits package. Now I am laid off; so is almost everyone I used to work with. I can't even find a job for $15/hour without benefits. I have exhausted my unemployment insurance and will probably end up landscaping for $12/hour in the spring. I thank all the politicians in Washington who were looking out for my best interests and all the Wall Street lobbyists who also had my best interests in mind when they paid (read, bribed) the aforementioned politicians to deregulate banks so that they could swindle the workers of America. Let the markets run free until there is no money left. Then the government can step in and pick up the tab. No regulation when there is a profit, but socialism when it all falls down. Unless there is a revolution soon, I am moving to Europe. There won't be a revolution, though--all the sheep will just keep investing in 401(k)s and taking it in the you-know-what. I'm embarrassed to be a foolish American.

James M. Rich
Peabody, Mass.

'Is it pride--or shame?'

I am an Ivy League graduate with a master's in architecture who has been self-employed for nineteen years. I am in an increasingly precarious position without any safety net. Architecture work has dried up since September, and there is no government help for the self-employed. At 58 years old, I cannot find affordable health insurance. I am a renter with no family and, because of a health problem four years ago, no savings. I can possibly keep this up for eight more weeks. After that, I have no idea what is going to happen. (Actually, I do, but it's unthinkable.) I have a beautiful 2-year-old pup that I dearly love. I know I should make plans to rehome her, but I just can't bring myself to do it yet. I could stay in my current circumstances on only $2,200 a month, yet there is nothing coming in.

Where are other people's stories? I have been looking online and, beyond this forum, they are nowhere to be found. Perhaps without an Internet connection, the worst stories will never be heard. Is that the reason for the silence? Is it pride--or shame? I despise the greedy bastards who got us here, and they are still being rewarded for their malfeasance. It's sickening beyond belief.

Anonymous
Miami

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Nicholas Von Hoffman is a columnist for the New York Observer and is the author, most recently, of "Hoax" (Nation Books, 2004).

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