I haven't diaried in quite a long time, nor I have blogged elsewhere in quite a while. This last couple of weeks have changed me. I have been stimulated by the GOP to write about the stimulus stalling and the apparent lack of reality that these servants of the people have.
I have been unemployed since November 2008. My eldest daughter is employed, yet hasn't received a paycheck since before Christmas.
I took the quiz on the Food Stamp site to see if I could get food stamps and if so how much...
The reality is; since I do not qualify for Unemployment (I gave a six month notice and then was asked to leave four months early) and I am trying to make a little income in any way I can...cleaning houses, painting buildings, pounding steel into concrete, whatever I can find for the time being to keep from losing my house and car and to be able to eat. I am averaging roughly $675.00 a month. My house note alone is $732.00. The quiz informed me that yes, I qualify for Food Stamps! Yea...oh wait I will receive between $25 and $28 per month in food stamps. I would have to drive 20 miles (one way) to the nearest office to turn in my application, with proof of my income and expenses. Then reapply or re certify every 6 months; I'd rather use my time and gas more wisely and continue to search for work.
Now, we have the House and all of the GOP members voting no on the stimulus package, the Senate is hitting the airwaves calling it a "spending bill" and cutting "spending" like there is no tomorrow. If they keep it up, there will be no tomorrow.
This morning I received an email from my sister. She had just been laid off effective immediately.
I am ready to walk to DC if I have to, to protest this protest that the GOP is pandering.
If we are going to pull ourselves out of this rut, we have got to spend. Wisely, but spend. The billions of dollars that we overpaid the Wall Street folks, not only didn't work, but it seems to have made things worse.
I don't give a damn about politics anymore, I just want to work and eat and keep my house.
This is an open invitation to every GOP member of the Senate and House to come and stay with me for a week. Eat grilled cheese every day (eat once a day only), see how often the phone rings with job interviews. Come walk in my shoes for a week, I'll just bet you'll see reality as it truly is, not sitting on your ass and being paid well with my tax dollars to bicker about a minute amount of money compared to total dollars in the package.
Idiots! Damned Idiots!