School to Work. Not really.
I've been so happy lately that I've really lost sight of the state of my life right now.
I've been unemployed since the beginning of February. That means its been a little more than 3 months. I really do feel like I've been trying. I've lost sight of how many applications I've done, how many times I've faxed or hand-delivered a resumé, how many calls I've made. I've tried websites like Monster, Career Builder, Michigan Works. Nothing.
This isn't just about me bemoaning my situation, because ultimately, I did decide to quit. It has more brought me to a startling realization.
For a country that prides itself on the fabled "American Dream" where hard work begets happiness, our society is very much structured to the opposite. If you lose your job, its only the beginning. You lose your medical insurance. Without that, all of your other insurances go up in price. Before you know it, your bills have doubled while your income has disappeared. It isn't fair that we lock people into positions they hate just to have them always come up a step behind. In today's America, you have to *have* money to *make* money.
We're moving in the wrong direction. "Trickle down" doesn't work. Our families can barely tread water. Our students start their lives in debt.
I'm going to make myself a sandwich.
I've been unemployed since the beginning of February. That means its been a little more than 3 months. I really do feel like I've been trying. I've lost sight of how many applications I've done, how many times I've faxed or hand-delivered a resumé, how many calls I've made. I've tried websites like Monster, Career Builder, Michigan Works. Nothing.
This isn't just about me bemoaning my situation, because ultimately, I did decide to quit. It has more brought me to a startling realization.
For a country that prides itself on the fabled "American Dream" where hard work begets happiness, our society is very much structured to the opposite. If you lose your job, its only the beginning. You lose your medical insurance. Without that, all of your other insurances go up in price. Before you know it, your bills have doubled while your income has disappeared. It isn't fair that we lock people into positions they hate just to have them always come up a step behind. In today's America, you have to *have* money to *make* money.
We're moving in the wrong direction. "Trickle down" doesn't work. Our families can barely tread water. Our students start their lives in debt.
I'm going to make myself a sandwich.