I am what you would call a average American. I work retail as a living and love my job. I have not been to dailykos in a while due to the move and getting everything set up. Let me tell you about how things are here in Austin Texas.
I work a 32 hour job because that is all I could find. I have a web degree that did not pan out so I spend my time traveling 22 miles where I work. When we got to Austin Texas my aunt and I knew nothing about the city. We left hoping to find jobs because Indiana was a lot worse then this. I'm a native Texan and knew she was struggling so went up there to help her get a better life.
My Aunt currently works at a near by grocery store getting about 15 to 30 hours if lucky. We do not even have proper furniture in our apartment. We are using chairs that fold up in our living room. My Aunt has 2 kids a 11 year old and a 14 year old. They are currently receiving health care by the state for children. We are on food stamps.
Now I'm not complaining about how little we make or where I am working because I love my job. I will say we are trying very hard and when we moved we did not take into account how many others were moving to cities with better unemployment rates. As of right now I'm not insured because I do not meet full time even though my work provides health care.
I would love to be covered, but can not afford it because my check goes to paying all my bills. I'm currently in debt due to my college loan. At 28 I could not survive if it wasn't for the help of my Aunt and other family members. Now I could again complain about all the bad, but this is to let people know there are average Americans out here trying to play by the system. I put in to every place I could just to get a job and I love working. I'm making $8.20 and my roommate $7.50.
I love where I am the city here is nice and the people are very friendly. When we first got here we couldn't even afford the place we were in due to the travel. For 3 to 4 months I was out of work and we kept worrying about what would happen. Now we are finally getting closer to making it, but I see people fighting and not looking at the average person. I hear stories where I work all the time of people struggling with 2 jobs.
While I am struggling myself I still am trying to push myself to volunteer in order to help others in my community. Its hard to keep trying, but we can not give up. If you are ready to give up on health care, jobs, and things the average people need then understand we have lost this fight. I am speaking right now to all parties out there we need to come together on this. We need to rally and work to help each other and not tear another down. Forget the tea parties and forgot the chaos lets work together and build a place that works. Lets not forget the average people struggling to make it in this world.
I saw a project were people are recording their stories lets do this as well go find the average person and listen instead of thinking we know best lets listen for once and then do what is right.