We have to accept this reality.
That said, I see only three options for us to take to return a modicum of personal security for all of us.
Organize, organize, and organize.
Once again, reality is being hijacked by the message. Everyone is shouting we need:
JOBS, JOBS, JOBS.
What needs to be shouted is the truth:
Corporations Killed the Jobs to Increase Profits, They Fired Us and Won't ReHire Us
A treasure trove of proof, some ideas, and an unemployment story below:
Look at the hits we have taken. Will we remain divided, sitting ducks?
Or will we inspire everyone to join forces and shout:
Corporations Killed Jobs, Corporations Killed Jobs, Corporations Killed Jobs
Are we just powerless sitting ducks? Even hungry sitting ducks?
If the GOP and Dem Neo-liberals have their way, yes. Watch the following video
If the video clip (linked in the following diary) doesn't motivate us to get out there and fight for true representatives of the people, then I don't know what can. These lost souls won't create jobs.
Please take a moment, open this diary and listen to the video link. Cold, Heartless, Shocking. "If you don't work, you don't eat" that's what they think, hear it for yourself
The Cold-Hearted Face and Voice of the GOP and Blue Dogs and My Prediction for America's Future
http://www.dailykos.com/...
How I would love to sit these hard-hearted, self-righteous, deficit-worshipping, corporation enabling, fiscal miscreants, and so-called compassionate conservatives in front of a stadium filled with a portion of the 6,000,000 (and growing) hungry American children and have them defend their "If you don't work, you don't eat" meme.
We can win this fall. Whether or not those 'in our camp' will be in our camp when the votes come up isn't the issue. We have to fight to get them elected. And it is heartening to see that we are fighting. I just hope we can get out the vote. Whose filling the Acorn gap?
History offers many plans that have worked in the past when the majority suffers at the hands of the few. Most required some fearless sacrifice.
But, quite frankly, I don't think we have the ability to own our present dilemma:
Job insecurity for all.
If we remain in denial, we will never be inspired or feel provoked enough to do anything that might imply personal risk to turn this tide.
That said, we are dead sitting ducks in the water. The water (employment) will continue to recede and our way of life will continue to erode.
It's sort of like the addict. The addict usually doesn't get serious about overcoming the addiction until the addict reaches his/her personal low. For some this is death, for others it can be just losing a job.
What is our collective low?
What will inspire and fire us up to try a new way?
Do we all have to be at risk of starving to death?
Or is watching 14 million people lose their jobs and 8 million people losing their homes our low?
Is the fact that upwards of 20% of our children live in poverty enough?
3,000,000 in prison?
Our loss of privacy because our tax dollars are spent on technology to spy on us?
Unsafe foods?
Until we collectively decide when 'enough is enough' plans are useless.
When we do decide to act, we will have to accept that there will be personal risks. The powers that have succeeded to eviscerate our way of life and it's foundation, job security, will not let go without a fight.
I am not sure that we, the generations coddled by a life-style beauty beyond the imaginations of most of the working world, have the grit required to push back.
Therefore, we will remain sitting ducks.
Some of us, like the tens of thousands of us before us, will needlessly die from lack of health care,
Some of us, like thousands of people today, will end up living in a camper down by the river, a homeless shelter, or their relatives garage,
Like thousands of others, some of us will commit suicide,
End up in prison,
Abusing our spouse/children,
Die from toxic exposure, safety neglect, contaminated foods and meds, and
Be left with NO income:
No job,
No unemployment, and
No social security.
So, until we decide on our collective national low, why make plans?
HERE'S A FICTITIOUS STORY: JOHN, age 59, THE LAID OFF FOREVER BIOCHEMIST
John, a laid off biochemist, finally concedes and applies for a job as a WalMart greeter. His parents are gone, he has no siblings, and no children.
After several interviews, he is offered the job; HOWEVER, he is told that he will have to relocate.
John bows his head as his entire being takes the punch. He asks: "Where would I need to go?"
The HR 20 something representative then pulls out the WalMart map of the world and responds:
"Well, we have some openings in China, Latvia, and Brazil. Which one would you prefer?"
John has asthma and speaks some Spanish, so he chooses Brazil. His wife, Cathy, has MS so the warm climate and cleaner air will be better for her.
The HR rep responds: "We have a private jet scheduled to fly 20 Americans to Brazil on the 21st. We only charge $200 for the seat, which we can deduct from your wages later. There is one seat left. Can you be ready to fly on the 21st?
"Oh, do you have a passport? If not, we have an agreement with the State Department and can have yours ready in 24 hours. I can call our Passport Photo department to tell them you are on your way to have your photo taken. There is a $15 fee, do you have $15 on you, John?"
John responds: "Can I call my wife so she can come in for her photo, too?"
HR rep coldly answers: "John, family members can't join you."
"But, on the bright side you will have a job, we provide room and board for $300/month, and we can arrange to have a portion of your wages sent to her at the end of each month by our in-story Cash Center for a small fee. Any other questions?"
John, withholding the tears burgeoning painfully behind his eyes answers: "No, no more questions. I accept the job and will be ready to leave on the 21st"
For proof that the jobs are not coming back, you can find the evidence in these diaries:
Get Really Informed. The Reason For High Unemployment
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Corporate Greed Prolongs Long-term Unemployment?
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Evidence: Eternal, Not Long-Term Unemployment, The Caterpillar Story
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Eternal, Not Long-Term Unemployment and/or Low Wages Forever
http://www.dailykos.com/...
In order for balance and income security to return to America, those with the power will need a wake up call. We are that wake up call. But not unless we are willing to stand up, draw a line in the sand, and become collectively creative.
What powers do we have?
The power of the purse
The power of the vote
The power to remain hopeful
The power to act
The power to work together
What will it take to inspire us to use our powers?
What is our collective low, like the addict reaches, that will motivate the numb, dumb, and downtrodden to be able to visualize a better way? Who will the leaders be to inspire and help them find their power?
Economic recovery is a myth unless we undo the mess that Nafta created.
The guys with the money and power will ursurp ownership of the green recovery, leaving the rest of us willing to accept whatever they want to pay. Heck, in my area it costs more than $2,000 just to take a couple of courses to qualify as a green technician. The national certification makes sure money is made on training.
Are we sitting ducks?
Yes, unless we quack loudly and waddle away from the services and products of the national chains and multi-nationals before they launch a management chain designed to run our local governments and succeed in eliminating entrepreneurial feasibility. They seem content to starve and impoverish peoples world-wide, it's time to starve them.
Here's an idea, boycott carbonated drinks:
Can we collectively agree to suffer carbonation deprivation? Probably not. Sitting ducks feel deprived enough already.
How about doing it to preserve drinking water? Drinking water here and around the world is being taken and even destroyed to make this product that is unhealthy for our bodies anyway?
What? That would cost more jobs. Really? Why would they continue to make soda here? Especially now. They own the bottled water business, too. Your water sold back to you in plastic bottles. Brilliant business model. Ducks have to have water.
All manufacturing related jobs will be eliminated until and unless we push back.
Period.
The jobs won't return unless and until we push back.
Period.
Come on, quack up!