Join me on a journey.

I've been listening to Peter, Paul & Mary and the Weavers alot lately.  It's not my love of harmony because I've also been listening to Dylan. Times are turbulent. I'm looking for an anchor.  I love my family but thy're not my anchor. My family is my motor. Anyway, these lyrics struck me in a new way: 

Come gather ’round people

Wherever you roam

And admit that the waters

Around you have grown

And accept it that soon

You’ll be drenched to the bone

If your time to you is worth savin’

Then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone

For the times they are a-changin’

Frankly, times aren't a-changin' any more. Times have already changed. Unemployed are becoming 99ers every week.  The first 99ers are two months away from chartering the 200 club. There are 5 seekers for each job. The businesses bolstered by taxpayer $$ (that's $$ from you and me) are doing just fine these days. Record profits, record bonuses and hoarding record amounts of cash. These now healthy corporations aren't required  to add employees and equipment. Of course we weren't required to prop up these businesses, but that's another conversation for another day. Fact is they're not hiring and when they do, they rarely hire from the ranks of the unemployed or over 45 crowd.  Astonishment and anger are understandable responses but instead, I've joined a bunch of Hooligans.

This bunch of Hooligans isn't the smash and grab, steal Grandma's purse hooligans. These Hooligans look at the status quo askance, bending  old rules or writing new rules when necessary. These Hooligans may have been insiders once but now relish the role of outsider, regularly establishing new norms and always pushing the boundaries further.  These Hooligans are a tribe, led by Chieftain Sarah Robinson. I've been following her blog, "Escaping Mediocrity" for a bit and she's turned me into a Hooligan. Sarah is launching a month long series "28 Days to Getting Your Sh*t Together", Feb. 1. I've subscribed and I am inviting you to join me.

I am not being compensated to shill for the series. In true Hooligan fashion, I haven't asked permission to invite an entire group to subscribe. As a matter of fact, Sarah won't even know about this invitation until I post and send her the link (Hi Sarah, How ya doin'?). I'm doing this because I expect "28 days" to help me and I want to share whatever I can with others.  The only cost is the time it takes to register, read and react to the posts for "28 Days". There is no fear of failure. My "career elevator" is already in the parking garage, up is the only direction I can go.  I would like any 99er unafraid of rethinking their path to join me.

This is not a "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" opportunity. It's insulting to suggest a 99er suck it up and get it together. Consider "28 Days" a "visualize everyone that's denied, dismissed or diminished you and kick those f***ers in the nuts" moment that lasts a whole month. It's been long enough, it's time to kick those f***ers in the nuts. Sign up and put on your steel toe boots. See you Feb. 1.

Rambling Rumblings.

I missed most of the State of the Union address last night. I was meeting with a local restaurant owner, assuring him I had the requisite skills to take food from his kitchen door to a neighborhood house.  I think he's going to offer me a two week tryout. When I got home I found I lacked the patience to watch a replay of the speech of the two responses.

According to my Twitter stream President Obama did not mention the plight of the 99ers in the State of the Union. I was not surprised.  The President has never mentioned the 99ers. I don't expect him to start now. Any help for the 99ers is going to have to come from the legislative branch.

Rep. Barbara Lee has committed to introducing legislation similar to HR 6556 which she brought forward  at the end of the 111th Congress.  The support of Rep.Lee and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus is great support for the long term unemployed, but...

The Republicans chose Rep. Paul Ryan (ever notice how his eyes resemble the eyes of stormtroopers in WWII movies?) to give their response to the State of the Union. Rep. Ryan wants to work toward deficit reduction by privatizing Medicare and minimizing Social Security.  I don't see how it will be possible to expand safety nets with a Republican majority in the house unless...

Perhaps unemployment benefits can be temporarily expanded beyond 99 weeks as part of an overall plan to destroy Medicare and Social Security? Talk about a deal with the devil. Are you comfortable with legislation that assists 99ers today and totally screws 99ers (and everyone other than the ultra wealthy) in the future?  Please offer your opinion or an alternative.

The power of community.

I was working as a Funeral Director until September, 2008. Since then, I am occasionally asked to assist at a funeral. Such was the case this past Wednesday, January 19. My friend Karen's father had died. I had served Karen when her mother died and all involved thought I would be a comfort to her at her father's funeral.

If you haven't experienced winter in the Midwest, it's cold. Not Miami down in the 50's cold but cover all your skin or lose it cold. The two weeks prior to the funeral the temperature had exceeded freezing twice. The ground was frozen making burial without machinery difficult.

It is a Jewish tradition (though not exclusively Jewish) to not delegate the burial of a loved one to strangers. Instead, those attending the funeral share the responsibility of filling the grave; each person shovels earth to the extent of their own ability. Filling a grave is considered an ultimate act of kindness and a communal responsibility. The deceased cannot fill the grave themselves and the deceased cannot repay the kindness of those filling the grave.

Karen asked me to remind the cemetery crew their services would not be necessary to close the grave. "Karen the ground is frozen. There is one shovelful of earth. It weighs 2000 pounds", I said.  "Barry, my friends buried my mother, they'll do the same for my father.  It's what we believe in."  I chose not to remind Karen that her mother's funeral had been in early summer.  I asked the cemetery crew to stand out of sight but to be available if needed.

There were about 20 people present at the funeral. Once the Rabbi finished the eulogy and prescribed prayers the burial began. I was right about the frozen mound of dirt. Karen was right about her friends. Everyone took turns shoveling to their ability. When necessary, some took charge of loosening the frozen dirt with a pick or shovel. After approximately a 1/2 hour, despite the cold air and frozen earth, with everyone taking turns in rotation, the grave was filled. Acting together with purpose the community had fulfilled their role. I had planned on using this example as an introduction to the strength and depth of the 99er community. Unfortunately another more pertinent example surfaced.

The same day as the funeral an article in the Hartford Examiner about 99ers in peril referenced a post on Rant Rave. 99ers are at an increased risk of suicide. 

The next night I was glancing at my Twitter history during the late news and was referred to a comment on YouTube:

I have no choice but to give up. My rent is due tomorrow (21st) and I have 18 bucks and change in my pocket. Tonight will be last time I'd sleeping on a bed in a warm room, I dont think I will last on the streets, conceivably, tomorrow will be last time I wake up.

I am not religious man, but, may God helps whom still hanging on the hope one day their life will be back to “normal”. I thank God that I don’t have anyone counting on me for their survival.

May God bless you all.

As you follow the thread you see the immediate response from the 99er community.  Offers of ideas, support and even a call to local law enforcement to prevent a potential suicide. The Denver Post summarized the actions the next day, Friday.

99ers are not alone. There are many experiencing the same feelings, thoughts and challenges. Don't go through this hell by yourself. Give back to the community when you can.  Offer support. Participate in advocacy opportunities to the extent of your ability. Join the Jobs Party. Take a minute to get your resume to Rep. Jackson.  Be ready to support Rep. Lee as she introduces the 112th Congress version of HR 6556. Do what you can to advance the idea of jobs and safety net. Help those that are unable to help themselves. It's the responsibility of community. It's the power of community.

Game on.

The NFC Championship Game begins in just a few hours. The Green Bay Packers vs. the Chicago Bears for a trip to the Super Bowl.  This is football nirvana.  I'll be back on the cause for unemployment rights tomorrow. Today is for the Bears. Go Bears.