I just came back from Subway with a couple o' footlongs for my wife, daughter and myself. I wouldn't have bought them but the lady on the phone when we called said that they accept foodstamps. Ya know, not a hot meal in a restaurant, so we thought ok, cool...we can "treat" ourselves.
Well, guess what?...the foodstamp debit card was denied. I guess Subway has joined the ranks of the corporations that decided that they only want real paying customers...not us "lowlifes' who are forced to exist on "hand-outs' from the government while we desperately look for honest work in an economy that seems to be pulling farther and farther away from anybody who doesn't have two college-educated incomes to pay off rent/mortgages, credit cards, car & insurance payments, utility bills, medical expenses, food and clothing.
I know this sounds like a "boo-hoo...poor little me." I don't mean to sound that way but, damnit...that's my reality right now!
Ok...a little more below the fold if you care. If not, that's cool too. I know we all have our problems. I just felt like sharing mine for a moment in time.
This site has become my bastion of hope on what feels increasingly like an island of despair. I have worked very hard for 25 years now. From my first job as a change-maker in the gaming area at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Ca. when I was 16, through a stint at Mc'Donalds, a local pharmacy and then on to the U.S. Navy where I became the Recruit-Master-At-Arms by popular demand I have worked my ass off in one capacity or another. And that was almost 20 years ago. In the intervening years of the '90's and into the 21st century I have ran a gas station, supervised a loading & labeling crew on a logistical/distribution company in Washington state and, more recently relayed for the deaf community for two years in a call center. At my most recent, long-term job I was a facility manager for a cultured marble factory where I was the only informed, educated person on site to deal with any multitude of safety issues regarding the chemicals used and the day-to-day issues that come up with a crew of 30+ guys who wouldn't know P.P.E. (personal protective equipment) from PCP. I don't work there now because they downsized due to the slide in the housing market. But I digress?/progress?
I guess what I'm trying to get at is that I feel under-appreciated and completely unworthy of being hired in a very right-wing, conservative area due to my personal beliefs and the fact that it seems like every company is able to find out when you last wiped your ass...not to mention any sort of "criminal" activity you may have in your background. Yes, I have a felony D.U.I. (14 years ago) Yes, I got busted a couple of times drinking in the park with a bunch of people, some of whom happened to be under 21 and received a couple of "contributing to the deliquency of a minor" charges.(Also 14 years ago...ok, it was my "party" phase) Yes, my political and social beliefs definitely don't fit into what one would consider "normal & acceptable" standards, especially in this area. But is that any reason to pigeonhole me into some sort of pre-conceived label and deny me gainful employment? I have literally sent out hundreds of resumes through every major internet jobsite and gone on dozens of interviews. I would think that my variety of job experiences might make me valuable to somebody but more and more I'm starting to think that, unless I attend the right church, know the right people, say the "right" things and wear the right tie I'm screwed. Really, totally & completely screwed...and that is very depressing.
I'm a relatively intelligent guy, college degree or not. I score in the top 5% in any written test having to do with IQ and ability to learn quickly and yet it seems like, no matter where I go I am banging my head against a wall of ignorance, indifference and narrow-minded thinking that wants a good, conservative soldier who will fall in line and definitely never "think outside the box".
I guess I'm done for now and I don't expect this diary to gain much attention here. After all, there are some very serious-minded people who are highly gifted as far as analysis, research and digging up all sorts of rethuglican bullshit, evil and out-and-out criminal activity. This stuff is of the utmost importance. I just hope that one day people like myself won't have to shuffle out of a subway restaurant in shame, forced to use their bank debit card because they promised their wife and child even though they know that now the account is -$1.00. All this after devoting their lives to simply working hard, getting by and being honest, decent citizens who didn't happen to get into the "right" school and make the "right" choices at the "right" time but are still equal partners and worthwhile citizens in this thing we call the human race.
We all have our place. I guess I just wish us trash-collectors were worth as much as the trash-throwers, that's all.
As Always...Peace ;)>
Update:
The response from everyone here has been one of the most moving experiences of my life. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughts, advice, prayers, meditations and, most importantly for simply being you.
We will return this country to the people. Now, get back to work and keep the democrats in power. That's what we're really here for and it's working.
By the way, no...you can't have a bite of my sandwich. But you can have a piece of my heart.
As Always...Peace ;-)>