tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2643182421561288851.post7724378013709216094..comments2023-10-01T00:39:46.262-07:00Comments on Benchmark 60: It's the Economy#1Nanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04214011945298439939noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2643182421561288851.post-36399865083894899642012-02-19T07:47:47.249-08:002012-02-19T07:47:47.249-08:00Great post! It hit home for my family a long time ...Great post! It hit home for my family a long time ago, too, as my son-in-law's employer decided to relocate. My son-in-law decided this would be a good time for him to go out on his own--he's in computers--and then boom! The economy crashed. It breaks your heart when your daughter says, "I'm just so tired of being poor." I do see some signs that the economy is recovering. Yes, the housing industry, banks, etc., were partly to blame, but also we've been pouring money into war that could have been used to rebuild our infrastructure at home. Yes, I think we should redirect some of that money into worthwhile programs that will help our country and put money in the pockets of our families. Then when the economy is more robust, we can turn our attention to deficit cutting.Susan Adcoxhttp://grandparents.about.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2643182421561288851.post-53611586379971717292012-02-18T23:40:46.598-08:002012-02-18T23:40:46.598-08:00It got real for me a long time ago. My son lost h...It got real for me a long time ago. My son lost his job three years ago, was unemployed for a long time, and has b een underemployed ever since finding work. Friends of his have lost their homes. One 36 year old has had to move his family back in with his parents. I don't know if that generation will ever recover financially. Mu daughter moved from Colorado when she landed a teaching job here, and finally her husband has found work here and is in the process of moving the rest of the household belongings here. but they can't sell their house back there and may have to walk away from it.<br />Its very personal. And it makes me very angry.Linda Reederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665601809156707572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2643182421561288851.post-63101568476487860082012-02-18T13:46:32.446-08:002012-02-18T13:46:32.446-08:00I watch my children - all six of our sons are in t...I watch my children - all six of our sons are in the trades - or were. They are baffled. We are sympathetic. It does affect us all.Linda Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05706455533282204519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2643182421561288851.post-39149479000827162782012-02-17T14:57:19.365-08:002012-02-17T14:57:19.365-08:00You personalized this for us in a way that breaks ...You personalized this for us in a way that breaks my heart for your daughter, son-in-law and sweet granddaughter. I'm sure you are so worried. My husband and I feel blessed that we are retired and don't have to worry, but I am seeing a close family go through so much for the past five years because of unemployment also. I worry about this person all the time. A daughter also went a year and a half without a job after she was laid off because of the economy. When she finally got a job, she broke down in tears when they offered her the job. She had applied to so many, gone on so many interviews, that when she was sitting in the interview room on a second interview and was offered the job, she just broke down. <br /><br />I hope your son-in-law finds something soon. I pray all of my children keep their jobs. Things are so iffy these days.Sally Wesselyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06470453773515491625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2643182421561288851.post-30114886589886069922012-02-17T10:18:12.757-08:002012-02-17T10:18:12.757-08:00I'm part of the people who were duped into bel...I'm part of the people who were duped into believing so many wonderful things and in the end suffered with a foreclosure, loss of two jobs, bankruptcy and a slew of additional fallout after 2008. We were on the early wave of the collapse and have since started to recover but back then Matt had to take a 75% paycut, and I took a 100% pay cut in order to just survive. When it hits home there is no stopping the emotional outpouring. I wish for your family quick success in locating something that allows them to get back on track as quickly as possible. For all of your sakes but most especially your granddaughter.Jenn Flynn-Shonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08441834864191292424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2643182421561288851.post-79568657268555687522012-02-17T09:52:58.308-08:002012-02-17T09:52:58.308-08:00Oh girl, that last line brings a huge lump to my t...Oh girl, that last line brings a huge lump to my throat. Yes, it's dire just about everywhere. My eldest emailed me today to say when he comes home from Uni over Easter, his regular bar job the manager holds open for him here won't exist anymore - the hotel is closing (sigh). He's lucky, he CAN survive without work, he has no family to support, and us to help pay his bills. Your friend, on the other hand, I can only imagine what he must be going through. I do count my blessings, although our incpme has more than halved over the past few years, we are okay, noone is going hungry and the bills can still be met. I really have to remind myself of that often. Things could be so, so much worse..Shrinkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18401403773851253351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2643182421561288851.post-43444551882374817222012-02-17T09:36:37.800-08:002012-02-17T09:36:37.800-08:00Unless you're in that top five percent, the ba...Unless you're in that top five percent, the bad economy will hit you eventually.stephen Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17659054447637207734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2643182421561288851.post-66697090294048120572012-02-17T08:40:34.633-08:002012-02-17T08:40:34.633-08:00Yes, these the stories around us, and for the life...Yes, these the stories around us, and for the life of me I can't understand how it got so bad so fast for so many people. Hope things turn around soon.Rosaria Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133147851332084180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2643182421561288851.post-15834652067695613762012-02-17T07:36:13.757-08:002012-02-17T07:36:13.757-08:00Oh my, what a touching post. You're right, mo...Oh my, what a touching post. You're right, most of us are just far enough removed that we feel no pain from this economic disaster. A lot to think about in this post. Most of us need our chain jerked from time to time. Thanks for writing this post.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11586429675286969340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2643182421561288851.post-46582201366920314922012-02-17T06:04:48.022-08:002012-02-17T06:04:48.022-08:00The guy who lived downstairs from me lost his job ...The guy who lived downstairs from me lost his job and a year later had run out of all options, applying for jobs every day. When unemployment ran out, he was finally evicted from his apartment and had to move away. I was heartbroken for him, I saw how hard he tried, but he is in his mid-forties and nobody wanted to hire him. This economy is indeed personal. And to read about people who never missed a payment, never did anything wrong, forced out of their homes by the misdeeds of banks... I could do on but it will only make me mad.DJanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07152183871573797791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2643182421561288851.post-66867272141979259492012-02-16T23:09:49.629-08:002012-02-16T23:09:49.629-08:00I'm heart-broken for you, your granddaughter, ...I'm heart-broken for you, your granddaughter, family and dear friend. I hope things improve for them very soon. However, a prolonged period of unemployment can be life-changing for an individual and a family. My father lost his job when I was 13 (he was 44) and he was never able to get another. He died young, a broken man. And that all had a major impact on my brother and me. And, after a frantic year of unemployment more than 20 years ago -- when I either got no responses or replies that I was overqualified -- I held multiple jobs at once for the next 20 years before retirement to preclude such desperation again. My heart goes out to those many families, including yours, who are suffering now.Dr. Kathy McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903015507894951725noreply@blogger.com