Falling through the hole in the safety net

[SoCalDem]

A year ago, all these friends of mine were living a "normal" life.. now not so much.

All lost jobs they had held for many years.. the youngest is 48, the oldest 67

People I personally know, and what they "settled for"

teacher.... now babysitting and selling crafts at flea markets on weekends

construction worker #1....now doing odd jobs and working 3 nights a week at a convenience store, and being househusband (wife still has a job)

construction worker #2... odd jobs, night cleaning crew at bowling alley

retail clerk (formerly at Mervyns and Circuit City ..double whammy for her)...now working at a mobile home park, mostly answering phones

real estate agent....now working nights at Auto Zone

former city-worker (building code dept)..now dealing blackjack at a casino

former bingo worker at casino...now in hospital recovering from heart attack

bingo worker's husband....(formerly worked for CalTrans)..now in hospital recovering from stent placement due to heart trouble

This last couple has NO INSURANCE..lost their house 4 months ago and are living with their 35 yr old daughter who is about to fall apart, emotionally & financially.

She has a 2 bedroom apartment, and now has Mom & Dad & their 13 yr old granddaughter of whom they have custody.

The Mom (my friend) picked crops as a child, Her parents/grandparents were Okies from the dust bowl migration, and she LIVED the Grapes of Wrath.. and now in her later years, she's more or less back on the bottom..right where she started :cry:. The daughter who is taking care of them works at Walmart :(

[Mojambo]

1. And in the Senate a bunch of millionaires are fighting like hell to prevent unemployment benefits

Makes me fucking sick.

[SoCalDem]

2. the only saving grace, is that most of them

still have some health coverage through their spouse, but they are one job-loss away from the "new poorhouse".