Aidpage

Well, things have gotten worse.  The wife was collecting unemployment.  Now they say she has to pay it back.  That's about $5000.   We're now up to about $8000 that we cannot pay on.  We've been denied food stamps, we can't refi the car because it's value is much less than the amount we owe.  Can't seem to refi the property for the same reason.  Or we're eliminated because of late payments and such.   Nearly 3/4 of the people where I work have now been let go.  True, it's off season for the area and staff is always reduced at this time of year however this is more than ususal.   Just can't get a break.  I guess it's only a matter of time.

I'm pretty new to the blogging thing so I'm not sure what to say.  I guess the worst thing that I and others on Aidpage have is frustration.  After reading the pages of others, I guess I'm in pretty good shape.  All thing considered.  But that does not relieve frustration that comes with living on the edge.  I'm less than a pay check away from disaster at any given time.  Ok, I'm just not used to that.  I had good paying jobs, plenty of cash in the account and lived a good life.  Then, in the flash of an instant, the time it takes for a piece of paper to be pushed across a table, everything changed.  All I knew was gone and the life of hardship began.  I have done the best I could with the situation but no one says I have to like it.  We started over in a different state and changed our lives to hopefully make things better.   The Lord has indeed provided us with things we need but I seems to me like an on going test of our faith.   We've made many changes to how we live.  I do draw a good salary and I'm so very gratefull to have a job.  That to can be gone in flash as people all around me are being laid off seemingly ever day.  I guess the one thing that frustrates me the most is the lack of caring by society as a whole.  By the government, by the media (who virtually hasn't cover the depression) and even by others in the same situation.  I don't know what to exspect from society but some type of reaction seems in order.  People are losing their lives, their houses, their cars and even their families as this depression gets deep.  People take on the every man for himself mentality and to heck with everything else.  I don't think this is what God wants.  True, there are pockets of people who have stuck together but overall, it seems like we as a society are reverting back to medieval times; we're becoming wondering nomads and scavengers.  I understand the feeling the though.  If you're without a home, being threatened by eviction or foreclosure, without food, without family and no where to go, I can see grasping at the walls on the way down.  I guess that's human nature: self preservation/defense mechanism built in by God to allow us to survive.  Where is the relief?  I don't know but I don't think there is any.  Kind words are plentfull but they won't pay the bills.  I'll repeat what I've stated in my 'About' section:  if you're a white, anglo saxon protestant Christian male with a job, there's no help and everyone seems to hate you.  Societies throughout time have picked out a color, race, sex or national origin and persecuted those people saying, "These people are the source of our problems and hardship."  But history has shown that's not true.  Yet we still do it because it's easy and it's a way to make ourselves feel better about things.  Changing our government will not work either.  We still have the best government in the world.  It's allowed us to become the richest and most powerfull nation in the world.  And yes, the most hated at the same time.  Let's all just remember that this planet is smaller than we think nowdays and we all have to live together on it.  Nothing changes overnight but over time, things can and will change.  I think what I'll do is investigate further each of the subjects in this first blog and write about each one.  Maybe I can learn something new, maybe I can help or at least explain why societies react the way we are reacting today.

I understand your situation.  Your question.  And your depression over things.  I agree with you.  Is there anywhere to turn to for help?  I don't honestly know.  Personally, I don't think so.  People on this Aidpage are good people who would help if they could.  Like me.  We're all here together.  The people who could help are not here and most likely wouldn't anyway.  I'm in the Florida panhandle and the jobs front here is no better than Atlanta.  In fact, it's worst.  I'm just holding on to what I have and hope creditors don't take it all away.  I wish I could tell you it'll all be over with soon but I can't lie to you.  It's not going to be over for a long time.  But, I'll be willing to talk to you so we can rant at each other if you want :)  I have a page here as well.  It's TGW.  I'm disgusted with mankind right now as well.  Not with God, just man.

For what's worth, I live Florida.  My teeth are even worse than yours.  They're rotting out badly.  I don't have insurance.  No dentist will even see me.  I believe I'll end up loosing all my teeth and go with dentures.  At least the pain and fever will be gone.  No matter what, stay with your husband.  The two of you are all you have.  I wish I could help you but I can't even help myself.  I wish you luck and the grace of God to get you the help that I can't seem to get.

I'm 44 years old.  I've worked hard all my life.  I've attended college but never graduated.  I had a good job, like many here, but got laid off about 5 years ago.  Yes, that's before the depression began.  It's been a downward spiral ever since.  Now my wife is unemployed, collected unemployment but now they want us to pay it back!  I tried to start a business but that didn't work.  Now I have a credit card that the collection agency increased the amount by 10; was $120 now it's $1200.  I had a motorcyle accident but I have no insurance.  Now the hospital turned over the amount to a collection agency; $1800+.  I still have a broken colar bone because the hospital won't fix it without health insurance or $50,000 cash.  My teeth are rotting out  causing a low grade fever all the time but no dentist will see me without insurance or cash in full.  I can't afford the $670 a month insurance my employer offers.  That's 2 collection agencies coming at us.  I hate to be resentfull but I, like many here, have worked too hard all my life to have this happen to me.  Is it worth bankruptcy for a just few thousand dollars?  I don't know.  Yes, I have a job.  I drive 150+ miles a day to keep it.  But I'm sure soon these people will be ganishing my salary.  Times are bad enough, why can't these people just write it off?  Leave me alone?  I'm doing to good to keep us in a house, to keep the power on and to put food on the table.  Can't they understand that?  Why aren't they willing to at least talk sense?  Instead of just wanting the full amount, right now...or else.  I choose the 'or else' for lack of any other options.  With all the government hand-outs and bail outs, is there nothing for me?  Where is all that money for the people who need it instead of for banks?  Let's face it: if you're a white anglo saxon protestant male with a job there's not only no help for you but everyone hates you!  I and others don't deserve that hatred.  I love God, my wife, family and country.  But I'm having real problems with the way things are going.  I don't know what to do.  I pray for all of us.    I don't deny the debit I have.  I will repay it but I can not come up with $3000 or so in cash...right this second...or else.  It's very frustrating.  I ask for anyone reading this to pray not only for me and my wife but others who are in the same situation.  Let's hope something changes...for the good...soon.

I fear this a lost battle.  I'm going to end up killing myself trying and loosing everything I have or have worked for anyway.  I know I sound negative here but I'm really having problems with keeping a good spirit.  I listen to the Bible on my way to and from work to find inspiration to keep going.  It's getting harder and harder.  I'm going to loose.  I guess its just a question of when and how bad.

We have no friends.  No one to turn to.  No one to help.  The ones we used to have turned out to not be friends at all.  We moved to Florida because we both felt a calling that this is were the Lord wanted us to be.  If he brings you to it, He'll bring you through it.  We're waiting for the 'through it'.  We wanted a new life, a new place, new friends, new jobs.  Not destruction.  Maybe we were wrong.  I don't know.  Lord, please don't treat me like Job.

Thanks for listening....