Are you better off now?

[and-justice-for-all]

A question posed by the repuke party. Well, I would have to say that no, I am not better off and so why is that? I worked on a Government funded project for 6yrs (2003-2009) and when that 24 dollar an hour job came to a close I was part of the first RIF. Now, that is no fault of my own and nothing was done by the sub-contractor to find me a new opportunity in the same field. Let alone ask myself and others if we would like to join the primary contractor at another job site.

I have been going to university since January 2008, its been rather slow because I was still working when I starting taking online classes while working. I received unemployment benefits from 2009 to early 2012 at the full weekly benefit amount and I must say, that I should have continued to receive those benefits until I graduated as should anyone else who is subjected to a lay-off and wants retraining in a new field of work.

When I needed to find a job, it was not difficult to find one, well but to find one that is comparable to my about average (living wage) pay is very hard to find. While I was looking for a job, I actually had two come about and I obviously had to turn one down, one was more accommodating to my university schedule then the other too. I am now working for 8.50 an hour for a big box store, and that is not a living wage at all, it is what I call a slave wage and I have no health insurance.

I may not be making 45K+ a year anymore, but do to certain social safe guards I have been able to remain afloat and not drown. Housing assistance (HOPE) which I receive, school assistance which I have got via the state which comes from Federal assistance have been very beneficial.

I say I am not better off because I am not and that is no fault of President Obamas, but when I needed to find a job it was not that difficult and if things were as bad as repukes want us to think they are I surely should have had a much more difficult time finding a job. I may not better off, but I am not gasping for air either, I believe that what Obama has done has helped and is helping. It is not going to be resolved overnight and with roadblock repukes, they only make the situation worse.

[kestrel91316]

1. I am better off merely because I don't live every day in terror of what my president and his

RW thugs are going to do to hurt me.

A lot of my clients are much better off, and family members are better off. I figure eventually some of that will percolate up to me.

But my parents taught me IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT ME.

[Mad-in-Mo]

2. yes and no

No because my job of 25 years was eliminated in January 2009 while Bush was still in office. Yes because of what Kestrel says above --- no worries about what the idiots in the White House have planned. And everyone in my family who wants to work has a job, including me.