Omg

[dave lackey]

Bear with me but I need to vent and have no other outlet at this point. I have even written my ******* Congressman with no reply! **** politicians!

As some of you know, at this very moment, I stand at 18 months of unemployment; savings gone; my wife's health has just taken a serious turn for the worse; still cannot find anyone to hire me even with advanced degrees and a 39-year work experience history in civil engineering/architecture/city planning/teaching at university, etc.; and now my wife's meager income and insurance is in jeopardy. I have sold everything I own including my only transportation, my bicycle, in the last months to pay rent.

And NOW, I just find out from CNN.com and verified from the State certification website that unemployment benefits run out on Feb. 28 (2 days from now) because the ******* Congress, the Senate, primarily a ******* Republican from Kentucky has stopped the approval process and now 5 million recipients are without a lifeline!😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

I... just...don't... know... what... to... (sigh...)

 

[kxl]

I'm always sorry to hear about anyone in dire straits, especially someone who is truly making an effort to find work. Have you considered going out of state or even out of country? I could be wrong, or my information may be dated, but I had thought that there was some demand for civil engineers (especially P.E.'s) to retrofit aging highways, bridges and watersheds across the US. Also, I don't know if the demand for CE's in Alberta has dried up, but it may be worth a look. Have you checked with engineering companies with overseas contracts?

Good luck to you, and hang in there.

-Keith

 

[martin s]

But it was basketball. On a serious note, I hope things work out and your politicians pull things together. What's going on right now is simply ridiculous.

Good luck

 

[dave lackey]

P.S.

Mods, if this posting crosses the line on politics, etc. please delete at your discretion. Thank you.

 

[helen.HH]

OMG Dave
I am very sorry to hear this

My Life in the last 2 years has been a roller coaster of highs & Lows
with this Economic Downturn....
I can certainly sympathize for you

It seems we all have to reinvent Ourselves & Think out of the Box
to survive these days
Best to You - xo H

 

[Peter_Jones]

Hope something turns up soon for you Dave. Try to keep positive.

(Emigration might well be one answer - with qualifications and experience such as yours, I'm sure many countries would welcome you.)

 

[Keith]

Damn it Dave ... I'm really sorry to hear that your troubles in this area have not only failed to improve, they seem to have escalated to a new level of agrravation for you!

Isn't it great living in the 'free' west! 🙄

My current work situation is part time and somewhat erratic but I feel very lucky currently and sincerely wish I could share some of that 'luck' with you mate!

 

[wgerrard]

The senator who blocked passage was Jim Bunning, a Republican from Kentucky. Here's the phone number of his D.C. office: 202-224-4343.

While we're at it, let's consider the wisdom of Senate rules that allow a single senator to block legislation.

 

[Rick Waldroup]

Yep, good ol' Jim was much more concerned about missing a college basketball game than extending unemployment benefits.

The guy is just another jackass from the Party of No. Maybe, someday, our people will wake up. But I doubt it.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

That sucks Dave. I suspect that within a few days it'll get passed anyway. Our politicians have to show off how powerful they are every once in a while then they go back to making the appearance of doing their jobs. Indiana has some of the most hardcore rightwingers in the country representing us in Congress, while jobs are being exported from this state by the tens of thousands. People not only keep voting these assholes into office up here, they cheer everytime the government and big business (the government's owner) steps on the poor again. The Dumbocrats are no better than the Republitards though. Same owners, different name. This country needs some leaders who aren't afraid to stand up to the parasite class; a Stalin would be nice right about now.

Well ok, I might be kidding about Stalin, but only a little.

 

[kbg32]

I can whole heartedly sympathize with you Dave. I am a new father with a 1 year old and have been unemployed for almost a year. I was laid off when I returned from paternity leave. Luckily my wife has a good job with benefits and I get some erratic freelance work plus some photography royalties. But lately they just help pay some bills. My savings are dwindling each month. I am scared as heck. My wife doesn't know how stressed I am and how I lie awake at night fretting.

I sincerely hope this all turns around sooner then later, but I have absolutely no faith anymore with this administration.

If you ever need an ear...

 

[charjohncarter]

Bear with me but I need to vent and have no other outlet at this point. I have even written my ******* Congressman with no reply! **** politicians!

As some of you know, at this very moment, I stand at 18 months of unemployment; savings gone; my wife's health has just taken a serious turn for the worse; still cannot find anyone to hire me even with advanced degrees and a 39-year work experience history in civil engineering/architecture/city planning/teaching at university, etc.; and now my wife's meager income and insurance is in jeopardy. I have sold everything I own including my only transportation, my bicycle, in the last months to pay rent.

And NOW, I just find out from CNN.com and verified from the State certification website that unemployment benefits run out on Feb. 28 (2 days from now) because the ******* Congress, the Senate, primarily a ******* Republican from Kentucky has stopped the approval process and now 5 million recipients are without a lifeline!😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

I... just...don't... know... what... to... (sigh...)

I'm sorry for your plait but I don't think one Republican is the cause. What is the Congress and Senate; 2/3 Democrats? Call the Democrats and tell them about it.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

In fact, one Republican is the cause. Some rule or other they have that allows it.

 

[wgerrard]

I'm sorry for your plait but I don't think one Republican is the cause. What is the Congress and Senate; 2/3 Democrats? Call the Democrats and tell them about it.

The Senate is, I believe, 58 Dems, a couple independents, and the rest are Republicans. What Bunning did is in accord with the rules of the Senate, whereby any single senator can prevent an up-or-down vote on legislation. That's the reason we've spent a year focusing on getting 60 votes for health care reform: It takes 60 votes to override the filibuster -- i.e., one senator's objection -- and actually vote. In other words, a bill can pass by 51 votes if it is allowed to come up for a vote. But, a single senator can prevent the vote, and it takes 60 votes to negate that.

One is forgiven for thinking the rules of the Senate are especially perverse.

Ironically, Bunning is not running for reelection.

 

[charjohncarter]

Pickett, I don't think so, but I could be wrong, maybe the OP should call his councilman Marion Barry and have him fix it. This is a stupid thread for RFF, it should be deleted. Listen, problems are not caused by Republican or Democrats. They are caused by incompetents. And the US government seems to attract the best of the incompetents.

 

[helen.HH]

This Country needs a REVOLUTION....🙂

 

[charjohncarter]

The Senate is, I believe, 58 Dems, a couple independents, and the rest are Republicans. What Bunning did is in accord with the rules of the Senate, whereby any single senator can prevent an up-or-down vote on legislation. That's the reason we've spent a year focusing on getting 60 votes for health care reform: It takes 60 votes to override the filibuster -- i.e., one senator's objection -- and actually vote. In other words, a bill can pass by 51 votes if it is allowed to come up for a vote. But, a single senator can prevent the vote, and it takes 60 votes to negate that.

One is forgiven for thinking the rules of the Senate are especially perverse.

Ironically, Bunning is not running for reelection.

So, tell the Democrats to change the rules, they always do. Have you ever heard of individual responsibility, smaller government and free markets? Probably not, so move to France.

 

[charjohncarter]

This Country needs a REVOLUTION....🙂

Helen, you probably wouldn't like it.

 

[wgerrard]

So, tell the Democrats to change the rules, they always do. Have you ever heard of individual responsibility, smaller government and free markets? Probably not, so move to France.

No need to resort to libel and character assassination. I just explained why this happened.

Although it does seem illogical to blame Democrats for Bunning's callous action.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

There is no practical way to shrink government in the U.S. The time is long past when we could put those demons back in Pandora's box. Taking away the safety nets and relegating millions of people to the streets would provoke an armed insurrection.