You know, I have been thinking about this a lot since I had to make the decision not to go to Netroots Nation. I was ready to go, but had to have a "come to jeebus" meeting with myself, and "jeebus" won. I'm broke. Even with the offer to pay my registration, I couldn't really afford it. I was saving all year.
Lots of people think I have plenty of money because I have this place, this Rock in Mid-Coast Maine where I live with my privy and heating water to bathe on the stove--we call them "camps" here in this part of the country--and because I have enough money to live while I am unemployed.
Unemployed. I was never a candidate for UI. First off, I worked for a church, which does not have to pay into UI, so I didn't get to file for it. Secondly, I used to work a part time job,where I would also not qualify to receive benefits. If it were not for my family, and some of my friends I would be out on the streets.
I was never really a candidate for an NN scholarship, either. The only thing I ever did for political activism is to wear out a pair of sneakers canvassing homophobes to pleeze, pleeze not take away my civil rights in Maine.
I am typing this on a computer that a Kossack gave me. I have connectivity because of an air-card another Kossack gave me. Another Kossack tried me out at a job that I am not cut out for, but that was a great help. I remain out of work.
I could have gone to Netroots Nation. It would have been terribly irresponsible of me, but I could have.
Here's what I want to know: over there at NN, what kind of policy discussions are being had about what to do with college-educated people like me, who have been out of work (not for lack of trying) for over a year? Does that even come up over cocktails? Is anyone talking about this--and I don't mean some nice seminar?
I'm not writing this because I couldn't go. I cried about that already. I'm writing it because I wonder, is anyone talking about this and is anyone doing anything about this?
Freeing Libya is a great idea. What about freeing us to WORK?
Don't give me a link to an NN speech. Tell me something I can afford to hear. I am happy to be at home. However, I am beginning to wonder if our lovely convention is classist. I know lots of people who are educated and erudite that can't make it because they can't afford it. I wonder what kind of message that sends on the national stage.