Is it time to rename this place Democrats Unemployed? Tell your story here

[Bossy Monkey]

If you've lost your job since the '00 coup, or been bumped to part-time, or otherwise become involuntarily underemployed, especially the dozen or more DUers who have lost their jobs in the last week, check in here. I think it may be time to compile all these sad tales into an article for the front page, because even if Bush weren't an evil shit, even if his entire Administration weren't comprised of evil shits, even if Cheney weren't running a multinational corporation from an undisclosed location entirely on taxpayer dollars, they still need to go down just for what they've done to the economy. So tell it here. If you're not comfortable going public (or if you think your story's too long for a post) PM or email me.

And may I be the first to extend my sympathy, condolences and best wishes to you all.

[LoneStarLiberal]

1. The Matching 401K Is What Still Irks Me

The telecommunications company I worked for from 2000-2002 filed for Chapter 11. We had one of those ever-so-popular 401K programs where you are matched in stock and not in money. After two years of 401K and a bankruptcy, I have a whopping $136.00 to show for all that work ($136.00 from the company).

What's sad is that I know I'm better off than many who experienced the same thing.

[Punkingal]

2. I lost mine twice......

with American Airlines....first, I was furloughed for 3 months after 9/11, then they closed the office here in Vegas. A double whammy for me.

[Best_man23]

3. Have suffered through three work stoppages in the last 15 months

Finally going back to work again on Monday. Hopefully, this job will last for awhile.

[Bossy Monkey]

4. kick, 'cause I won't be back until morning at the earliest

and I still think it's a good idea.

[Bossy Monkey]

5. kick 'cause I still think it's a good idea

If somebody can think of a better subject line, you're welcome to post a similar suggestion once this falls off the front page again

[Ellen Forradalom]

6. I lost my job last month

Traumatic experience. Still not very comfortable discussing it. I'm left wondering if I'll ever work again.

[comsymp]

13. yeah, lost mine in july

wasn't a layoff due to bushonomics so may not apply to this thread-

but am experiencing a serious dilemma re: total career change? was so burnt out by the former job that i'm seriously considering a 50% (or greater) pay cut to take a "mindless" job- no slam intended, but something like pizza driver, warehouse, etc- where i could "do my 8 and hit the gate" for a change. reeeeeeeally not enthused about going back to a salaried position which = 14hr days, often incl. weekends, y'know?

[iwalktheline]

7. laid off twice since the Bush cabal seized power

Once was the sad failure of an excellent software company (due to the Bush recession killing sales and the collapse of venture capital markets that precluded raising money).

The other was good riddance to a bunch of clueless, greedy, unethical neocon Repugs.

The unemployment rate in my professon of the last 25 years in the region where I live is about 85%. Dozens of my peers, including some amazingly talented and successful people, are unable to find work. I know of fifteen companies that have folded and another dozen or so that are on their last legs.

So, I have started two businesses trying to make my former part-time avocation into a full-time occupation. I'm enjoying it very much, but i'm only earning about a third of what I did prior to September 2001. I still have a few remaining investments I could liquidate--enough to last another year or so, but I really need to find another source of income by year's end. I have two daughters who will be going to college over the next few years and the savings for their educations was decimated in the Bush Enronomy. I'm also at an age where I can never recoup the lost retirement savings (although that has been the first stuff to cash in).

But I'm not homeless or near homeless or hungry yet! If my grandparents could get through the Great Depression and Hitler, I can weather the Bush Cabal.

[Booberdawg]

8. Okay

I avoided this yesterday caused I was bummed out anyway. I try not to dwell on the negative ...

I lost my job in January - got a 30-day notice on December 6. I worked in the IT department as a systems analyst for a crop insurance company. We administered the Federal Crop Insurance Program. Anyway, the company went belly up so we were going to be let go in stages so the last crop year business could be run off. Most of us were let go on Jan 6, as I was.

I had just purchased the house I grew up in 6 months prior to the layoff. It was a great 100-year-old house that had been severely neglected over the years and I wanted to fix it up. It's nice now, but I got taken to the cleaners by the original contractors and had to hire another contractor to finish it and repair what the other one destroyed. To make an long story short it put me an extra 60K in debt that I couldn't afford.

So when I was laid off I was already stretched to the limit with no cushion. I can't blame the fuck-up on my house on bush - that has more to do with a crack habit the contractor developed (or re-started) halfway through the work on my house. So I had to file bankruptcy earlier this year. I still had hopes I would get another job in a few months and was still making the house payments. I did get a severance package.

But, the month's wore on, I've sent hundreds of resumes, even been through about a dozen interviews, and still no job. There came a time I was no longer able to make the house payments. Unemployment barely covers the utilities and food and COBRA. So, foreclosure proceedings have been initiated on the house and I will lose that too. Incidentally, did you know the Sheriff comes knocking at your door to personally deliver that? Well, I knew it was coming, but that was such a blow.

The foreclosure process is long, so I'm told, so I have several months before I have to move. I'm just concentrating on trying to find a job in the meantime. I really didn't think I'd still be looking after all this time. The longer it goes on the more difficult it is to maintain or redevelop the kind of attitude and creativity necessary to find a job or discover alternatives.

I wish I had spent more time early on trying to discover a way I could pursue some type of self-employment. My mind is not as sharp or creative now and I'm not as motivated anymore. My energy is - gone. Sometimes it scares me to think if I DO get an interview, will I be able to show that emotional energy and wherewithal, and paste that can-do winning smile on my face long enough to get through the interview. I can't fake the sparkle that I used to have in my eyes. I loved my job, and I loved working.

This is not a pity post - please - I do not do without anything I NEED. There are FAR worse things in life and there are people in FAR, FAR worse shape than I am. I will have a place to stay. Eventually I will find another job. Money can be replaced - I don't care about the bankruptcy or the loss of money right now. I always had my credit cards paid off anyway and never carried a balance so that is not going to hurt me. I WOULD care if I had to move without my PETS!!! Now THAT would HURT me! LOL! My babies!!

Oh, I DO find the idea of moving very annoying. It's just a major pain in the ass. For now I plan to move to an empty house owned by a relative and then when I get back on my feet I'll have to move again. That's a lot more than some people have. I am very fortunate, indeed ....

Linda

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. Oh man Linda, I am so sorry. When our house was foreclosed upon

the sheriff just taped a notice to our door. I guess so the neighbors could see. It did take awhile, but it was extremely painful. I lived in a trailer for quite some time after, until I was married. I miss that little trailer more than the house looking back.

I'll be sending positive vibes your way!:hug:

[Booberdawg]

11. Thanks, MrsGrumpy xoxox

To be honest, at first I was more concerned that if I had to stay with a relative for a while I'd have to find homes for my pets. Sure, I don't like losing my home, but I CAN'T give away my BABIES!! It would just kill me.:cry: I have two cats and a dog that I've had for 10 years.

Now it looks like I'll be able to stay in an empty house of a relative, so I don't have to worry. It even has a fenced in area so I can let my Boober out. Really, that is what kept me awake at night more than anything.

I think part of the house is that it was such a nightmare with the original contractors getting it fixed up, it cost me so much in time and mental and emotional anguish (and bankruptcy) that the "specialness" of it is gone. I'm just as happy to have all that behind me. I don't care about the house.

I wish I'd never moved from my other house in the first place!! But I still own it and I'm renting it out now. It pays for itself and it's something I'll still have in the future.

Thanks.:hi:

[Dookus]

10. Laid off...

from the 'puter biz in January.

[stevedeshazer]

12. Lost my job in December.

Supervisor for a well-known catalog company. Technically, they found an excuse to terminate me (a few days before Christmas, no less), but I know it was because they could hire a younger worker willing to work all hours for less money, while being brutal to phone staff. I refused to bend to oppressive management tactics in an employer's market. I was asked to basically nitpick employee attendance and performance and weed out the staff. Nothing wrong with having standards, but I found myself going from a staff of 15 to a staff of 40 and doing the work of three people. Glad my wife is still working, but it's getting tough. My dad was in the hospital at the time, end stages of Alzheimer's disease, my mom needed help, my son was ill, and my car broke down. All on the same day. Builds character, I guess.

Well, we're still #1 here in Oregon - in unemployment.

Damn Clinton's penis, anyway....

[Booberdawg]

14. "Damn Clinton's penis, anyway...."

LOL! That's right, we keep forgetting everything that goes wrong in this country can be blamed on Clinton's penis. Imagine, record unemployment caused by Clinton's mighty penis??

That reminds me of an exchange I had with a conservative on an ACLU Democratic issues board about a year ago. Couldn't discuss anything current without him changing the subject to Clinton and wailing about him masturbating in the Oval Office sinks and carpets. :eyes:

One time I answered him with one line:
"I guess I don't assign as much power to a penis as you do."

BOY did THAT piss him off! LOL!! He made an ass of himself responding to it. We just all laughed at him. This is a longstanding group known to each other for 8 years now so he got his ass whooped for it. :D

[JCMach1]

15. I became an economic expat

And yes, it is sooooo much better here in terms of my job and job perks.