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.
