Empathy for the unemployed

By Alex Hutchins

In 1967, my Dad and I purchased two, brand new Barracudas; his was a white fastback and mine was a convertible like the one above; his cost was under $3,000 while mine was $3,100; but, in 1995 I had to sell the antique, classic car, because I was unemployed and needed the cash.

In fact from 1993 until 2002, I was underemployed more than I was employed.  I say underemployed because I did work some; for instance, raked leaves in neighbor's yards, mowed other people's yards, counted inventory through a temp agency, answered customer service calls for $8/hour, worked as a PC technician for $8/hour, and did some consulting, writing training manuals, and doing some teaching.  Overall, my annual income was about 20-30% of what it had been when fully employed.

I felt depressed, a deep sense of helplessness, and angry because no employer wanted to hire me because I was over-qualified, even though I promised I would sign a document that I would not leave for 18 months or longer.  My age also played into the decision not to hire, but HR departments know how to hide those decisions.

I recall being told that I must not really be trying or that I must not really want to work, otherwise I would find employment; but, the harder I looked and the more time that I invested into the process, the more employment eluded me.  I started regretting earlier decision I had made leaving previous jobs where I was trying to improve myself and income for my family.  I thought about how I was treated in the late 60's early 70's when I was in the military and sometimes spit upon when trying to "thumb" a ride home from Norfolk, VA.

I turned inward but refused to escape with drugs or alcohol...  My self-esteem and self-confidence seemed to be disappearing garments from a previous, long-ago past.  I had no network of support to whom I could reach out to...

So, here we are 10 years later and being unemployed or underemployed seems to be the norm...  and, I wonder why in this great country of ours...  why, we have allowed such a situation to have happened to us..? 

I wonder why our business leaders treat their employees the way that they do? 

I wonder why our bank Executives loaned money to people they knew were a bad risk? 

I wonder why our country is in so much debt? 

I wonder why previous Presidents borrowed from the Social Security Trust Fund?

I wonder why our intellectual elite and wealthy cannot understand what it is like to be poor and struggling? 

I wonder why our millionaire politicians seem to be playing "Russian Roulette" with our lives?

I just do not understand, yet, I can empathized with the unemployed...  and, I embrace them as brothers and sisters for I have been there...  done that...  and still wear that tee shirt emotionally.