Welcome to the new normal

[Hannah Bell]

IT'S A special day at the food bank.

"Hallelujah!" my mother exclaims.

"Don't we just love life's little surprises?" chirps the volunteer at the first station.

The cause for celebration? A single, unwrapped roll of toilet paper the food bank is giving each participant today. Toilet paper is one of those necessities not covered by food stamps, and one that the manager recently decided to stop providing for free at the shelter where my mom lives.

My mother has found herself in the company of growing ranks of the long-term unemployed who are struggling in the suburbs. Driving out to visit her, I sometimes see middle-aged, white men and women risking the traffic on Roosevelt Road to ask passing drivers for spare change.

My mom worked as a public school teacher for nearly 20 years. She taught bilingual Spanish and English classes. She kept her room stocked with snacks for kids who came to school hungry, and crocheted scarves and hats for the students who couldn't afford proper winter clothes. Recently, she encouraged her students to take the day off to attend May Day immigrant rights protests each year.

She has a master's degree and has taught education courses at the graduate level. But in spring 2009, she lost her last teaching position. That year, her district laid off some 500-plus full-time faculty and staff, with some schools losing their only librarian or their only social worker.

Since then, she's applied to nearly every school district in northern Illinois, but she's 59 years old, nearing retirement age, and with her level of education, she's too expensive to hire in the present climate of public school "reform."

"LIFE'S LITTLE surprises" delivered her into a nightmare she never saw coming. Last spring, her poor health cost her a retail position where she earned $8 an hour without benefits, and had to struggle to get assigned more than 10 or 15 hours a week. Shortly after that, she fell behind on rent and was evicted.

My mom is one of millions of people in this country who--according to the polticians--is "living beyond their means," because she manages to survive, even though her means are nil. But that doesn't mean she should be the one to pay for this crisis.

http://socialistworker.org/2010/11/11/welcome-to-the-new-normal

[canetoad]

1. This is unattributed and anonymous

It might be a lovely, heart-warming story, but there is absolutely nothing in the article that suggests it may comprise even the slightest resemblance to a true tale.

[Hannah Bell]

2. whatever you say.

[canetoad]

3. And I do say

We must be on our guard against appeals to emotion delivered via anonymous anecdotes. They are not verifiable and the writer is not accountable.

[azurnoir]

7. according to your profile you are not American your Australian

I guess life is all good "down under" huh?

[DainBramaged]

30. Those who don't live our experience are best left ignored

they have noting to offer except derision.

[TheKentuckian]

6. Such stories are happening for real all over

Think about all these foreclosures, services cut, and jobs gone and understand these numbers represent actual people.

We haven't net created a single job in years, many never got any unemployment, millions more have been dropping off, and without further legislation millions more won't even get the 99 weeks despite matters being worse than they were when the original extensions passed.

Shit is bad, real bad, for too damn many it has been like this during the supposed "salad days".

The shit heap is very real and growing fast.

[Luminous Animal]

8. In this country, names brand you as a trouble maker...

making it more difficult to get a job let alone qualify for social services, and, if your are receiving social services, puts a target on your back to churn you out of the system.

The years that I did direct action on behalf of poor women, we strategized in private and only the middle class job secure women made demands in public. It was a given then (and likely still) that any protests or demands made by welfare women would result in investigations and a temporary or permanent loss of benefits.

[Occulus]

10. It doesn't really matter if it's true or not.

It's all too realistic, there isn't anything there that is beyond the scope of plausibility, and it reflects the reality we all see around us every day.

Oh, by the way- the ambient heat of your giant, bleeding heart warms my cockles.

Welcome to my ignore list.

[Jim Sagle]

15. Hey, nice pseud. It fits. But your corporatist fake and disrespectful skepticism travels badly.

[Violet_Crumble]

17. It should fit if they're from Queensland.

I don't know what you think it means but it's a term that's used for Queenslanders...

[sendero]

19. The problem is..

.. it doesn't really matter. There is no doubt that there are millions of people for whom you could write a story just like this that was essentially true.

The country is imploding slowly and TPTB are trying to keep it going slow enough that most people don't notice. Seems to be working for the legions of dumbasses out there.

[Sisaruus]

20. I work for a food bank

I can provide you with hundreds, if not thousands, if not tens of thousands, of true stories. We're distributing 30 tons (thats TONS) of food a day (and this is in the richest state in the U.S.) and we're not meeting the full need. 55% of our distribution is now going to suburbs and small towns. I just spoke to the director of one of our local programs in a middle class town and she's reporting that families now live in cars in the parking lot behind the building (she got the local police dept to agree the lot is a safe haven) - like she said to me "where do they think people go when they lose their jobs and then their homes."

I just ran our quarterly distribution figures for this year compared to 2008 to see how we're trending and our distribution is up 56%.

And toilet paper is always in demand - you can't buy it with food stamps.

[madrchsod]

21. really... i know that area,it`s 50 minutes from my city.

this situation in dupage county has also been reported in the chicago tribune and other publications.

this situation is happening in my city and every city across america...

before you call something bullshit you should get your facts straight

[Le Taz Hot]

28. California is STILL laying off teachers.

There are experienced teachers, with Masters Degrees, who are lining up for substitute teaching positions. I think it pays $90.00 a day.

Additionally, and this is anecdotal, but the new homeless I see are not the "regulars." These are new ones who are not weather worn and in their 40's and up.

Lastly, at 55 I have NO hope of finding a job because of my age and location so, yes, this story is VERY believable.

[muffin1]

31. WTF?

Do you read newspapers? Do you ever watch a news program? Do you receive news from any source at all? Yeah, this story cannot possibly be true. :eyes:

Honestly, sometimes I am forced to look for the 'Democratic Underground' logo - just to make sure I'm not on FR.

[Catherina]

45. As there is nothing in your comment that even hints at comprising any resemblance of compassion. n/t

[canetoad]

4. Oh, and unrec

for posting an anonymous tale.

[inna]

9. unrec you for ridiculousness

[era veteran]

11. A rec to counter your unrec which was stupid. There are

many stories such as this. Go blunt up and get back with us.

[inna]

12. i was jokingly "unreccing" an unrec. but what... ever.

[era veteran]

14. I wasn't joking

I know too many good people that are struggling.

[dkf]

5. Jobs jobs jobs

Is it any wonder people are pissed at this economy?

[WCGreen]

13. I recommend this but there are things this person could do...

At 59, she could borrow against her retirement or even apply for early retirement which I wouldn't suggest since it would be far less than she would be getting at 65.

Especially if she worked in Illinois which has a state teachers retirement fund that she almost assuredly paid into...

[ipaint]

16. I worry about how I am going to buy toilet paper and soap

every week. Both my husband and I are older and long term unemployed. We don't own property and just gave our landlord the last of our money for 1 more month of a roof over our heads.

It is a testament to so called liberal middle class's arrogance and ignorance that this woman's story is considered some sort of manipulative propaganda.

[Scruffy1]

23. I hear you loud and clear

There are a whole bunch of libs in denial about the crises in this country-including the Democratic leadership. None of those in power has ever experienced the kind of grinding poverty I see people forced into everyday. You are just a statistic to the powers that be who are far too busy taking care of important people like bankers to give a damn. And they wonder why the voters don't show up to vote for them.

We needed jobs and an end to foreign wars. We got zip.

[AngryOldDem]

33. Many of us are on your side.

And yes, the arrogance and ignorance here is appalling and disheartening. I think that some just don't want to admit just how dire things have become. There is no true middle class anymore.

[Cal Carpenter]

34. Denial

People are sticking their fingers in their ears saying 'LALALLA I CAN"T HEAR YOU!'

Closing their eyes and saying 'If I can't see it then it must not be true'.

What they don't seem to realize is how close many of them are to ending up like the woman in the OP - and that loads of DUers who are reading their heartless posts are already there. Sure maybe a few posters here fall into the 'rich get richer' category but the vast majority of people are in a tenuous situation with little control of their well-being. The bottom keeps getting pushed lower as people get laid off, benefits get cut, wages get slashed...and people are supposed to say 'thank for the crumbs, sir'.

It's sick and sad to see this mentality.

[thunder rising]

18. Mom is homeless ... let's go visit? (driving out to visit her)

[madrchsod]

22. i know homeless people---

they live where someone will take them in. my son`s girl friend was homeless until she meant him.

living with a friend or neighbor is called a place to stay not a home

[patricia92243]

24. I hope the author of this article offered his mother a home, rather than let her live in a shelter.

[Raine]

42. I do too, the author needs to offer as much as

they can because the government sure isn't going to be of much help, not anymore.

[Cal Carpenter]

25. Unreal

Some of the responses here. Can't see the forest for the trees....

K & R to the OP. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, wealth disparity is growing to insane levels and people still blame the victim (or the victim's offspring). It is so fucked up.

We can pretend to micromanage someone's life from afar and tell them the mistakes they've made but the reality is that there is a growing underclass - there are not enough resources, jobs, etc for millions of people in this country because people at the top are taking too goddamn much and our gov't is more concerned about protecting their property and wealth than the interests of most people. And at the same time I'm reading this story I'm seeing articles about cuts to social security and tax cuts for the rich.

The problems we face are systemic - sure there are people who can beat the odds but dammit the odds are against regular working folks and getting worse.

[SidDithers]

26. Unrec...nt

Sid

[inna]

35. rec. thanks for a reminder, lol.

[Gold Metal Flake]

36. Rec...nt

[AngryOldDem]

27. I think some people here need to go and volunteer at their local food bank.

And a rec to this.

[Odin2005]

29. K&R

[muffin1]

32. K&R n/t

[felix_numinous]

37. K&R

These people have no voice, and cannot log onto any website to defend themselves so it is easy to deny they exist.

[Hydra]

43. We don't "exist"

I've been battling on the edge for years now to keep myself and my disabled relative with a roof over our heads and food to eat. I read and post at work since my employer is lenient.

Me and a few others here who advocate against poverty while we live it often get massive pushback from the people in denial. I'm sure people will get angry with me for saying it, but in the last few years people I know who were comfortable have been coming to me and talking about how hard it is to always be behind, never getting the things they need and worrying about how to keep themselves in a home. These are the people who before had laughed at me when I told them how I lived and how others did..I have a lot more company down here at the bottom.

And I'm glad they're here. No one can truly understand or empathize until it happens to them. Maybe, just maybe, if enough of us "don't exist," then the changes that need to occur will finally happen.

[felix_numinous]

46. At a certain point the invisible becomes visible,

by sheer numbers. I think what is happening, and what needs to happen is we are shining a big spotlight on the the very thing the elite RW doesn't want to see. We have to ruin their good time and reputation and interrupt their party by bringing this to their doorstep.

Many of us are close to the edge. It is a whole different ballgame living in survival mode. I cannot imagine what future will be like, and wonder if many people will turn to each other for communal life somehow.

[Cal Carpenter]

38. Kick

[Starry Messenger]

39. k&r

[sufrommich]

40. I've never heard of a school system that bypassed social

security deductions for a pension plan. I worked for a school system for 33 years (in plant operations) and had SS deductions just like everybody else. The only place I know of that doesn't pay into the SS system is the post office.

This writer also needs to take her Mom home instead of visiting her at the homeless shelter,good God.

[leftstreet]

41. Suburban poverty is going to kick 'middle class' ass

K&R

[apocalypsehow]

44. I kinda, sorta live into a neighborhood like that, only with more hills and a bunch more trees. n/t.

[jotsy]

47. The parameters of the new normal are freaking whack.

I rec'd this thread Miss Hannah.

These affluent, greedy thieves are not the heavens. For the sake of the rest of us, they can, will, and must fall.