1930 Drought, Depression, Tobacco Road Returns – Thanks to Government Thieving

Did you see the World News this week?  It’s the most depressing yet.  What will become of my family when I am gone?  Am I leaving them to suffer one of the worst times in history?  See my personal update and comments at the end of this post.

Unemployment:  The Ford Company in Lewisville, Kentucky, announced it was reopening.  The good news: it has 1,800 jobs to offer.  The bad news: 17,000 people showed up hoping for a chance to support their families.  Whole families showed up hoping at least one of them might secure a job to help the rest.  So many people showed up that there was no way Ford could look over and read all those resumes and interview all those people.  So Ford is having a lottery to see who gets interviews.  How fucking sad is that?  And Kentucky’s unemployment rate is only a little more than 10%.   Here in Nevada it is over 14%.  In fact the news said you could add another 25% to that 14% (making it closer to 40%, almost half of the population in Nevada) to cover those who no longer receive unemployment because they have exhausted their draw, and those who took very low paying jobs, minimum wage and below, just to provide food and bare necessities for their families, and the homeless (which is a much greater number now).  How can someone with a job look down on us with those figures?  How can they say the jobs are out there, just stop being picky and take anything?  Believe me, we are taking anything.  My husband applies to every opening from janitor to handing out flyers to holding signs and spinning them on the highway for pizza places.  These jobs receive dozens upon dozens of applicants.

Drought:  Add to all this, the news talked about the huge drought across the United States and especially over most of Texas.  Last month it rained a flood, but that was only for a few days.  It did not help them recover from this year long drought.  The dryness from the drought contributed to the flooding when the water could not soak into the hard ground fast enough and them it became over saturated.  Now, the crops have all dried up.  Corn has dried and withered on the stocks, thousands of acres of it.  The drought has also killed the cotton crops, grain sorghum, rice and wheat … and cattle production.  The drought caused the acres of grass land used for cattle feed to burn.  The cattle are starving.  This means much higher food prices for the already starving unemployed.  Due to this drought across the lowed United States, Florida is losing $100 million sugar cane crop.  They also fear the drought will cause huge losses in Florida orange production.

Flooding:  In other states, like Louisiana, flooding has damaged crops beyond any repair, including corn, cotton, soybean, sugar cane, and hay for cattle.

What put us here?  Thieving and scamming by corporations, banks, mortgage companies, Wall Street, speculators, rich con men, and government agencies.  Now add drought to this.  All of which caused the loss of our homes and jobs, which led to Poverty thorugh Excessive Unemployment. These things go hand in hand when causing great economic upheaval.  The poor get poorer and poorer, many die and just fade away, and the rich go on like nothing has happened.  It’s called, “Screw the rules.  I have money!”  To them, it is thinning the herd of lowlifes that suck their tits dry.  And if anyone thinks these last statements are not true, just look up Bernie Madoff, Goldman Sacs, Warren Buffet, Henry “Hank” Paulson and read these links:  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_the_financial_crisis_of_2007-2010

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subprime_mortgage_crisis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_Bowl

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_U.S._bank_failures

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_crisis_of_2007%E2%80%932010

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%932011_bank_failures_in_the_United_States

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_entities_involved_in_2007%E2%80%932008_financial_crises

http://www.fireandreamitchell.com/chris-dodd-countrywide-scandal-mortgage-fraud-and-aig-bonus-scandal/

National mortgage fraud scandal spreads to the judiciary  : Posted on June 19, 2011 by Neil Garfield

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Corporate_Welfare/TakeRichOffWelfare.html

http://www.angelfire.com/co/prophetjonas/richpoor.html

What the rich say about middle and lower class people!  The rich rape the middle and lower classes in an ongoing daily ritual.  They are tired of sharing their gourmet restaurants, nice cars, exclusive clubs and entertainment with us.  How dare we sit next them in a restaurant and pretend we deserve the same lovely service and good food they eat nightly, even though it was just once a year or a couple times a year for us?  How dare we drive a reliable vehicle like a Honda Accord or Odyssey Van when we should settle for the cheapest Kia?  How dare we attend Vegas shows and entertainment and save for that once-in-a-lifetime front row seats or a nice vacation?  They also say, “Cut off the unemployment and they will get off their lazy asses and go get a job.”  It doesn’t matter that there are no jobs to be had.  They also say, “If they are too cheap to pay for health insurance or medical treatments then they don’t deserve it.”  Just check out Obama’s Health Plan for the poor.  The poor will have to pay premiums in excess of $300 a month plus co-pays and deuctibles.  If the poor could afford it – they would already have it!  That amount is more than 25%-50% of a month’s income for many people.  But now that they’ve stolen our homes maybe we can afford it.  We get health insurance, but have to live on the streets.  Hell, the homeless get free health care – why should we pay for health insurance while homeless?

Which Class are we now?  Sadly, most of us do not even qualify for middle class.  My own income has dropped from lower middle class to poverty level.  What do the levels mean? Middle Class means we get by, live paycheck to paycheck, have a mortgage and maybe a little bit in a savings account for emergencies.  We might make $25,000 to $35,000 a year.  But we are on budgets, and have to save up for a vacation, new television, or new furniture.  These things are items we get maybe once every three to five years.  And maybe we also have cable.  We drive cars in the price range of $10,000 to $15,000.  If we were injured and missed a little work, it would be a struggle to get back to normal and catch up.  Upper Middle Class means you take vacations a lot more often, maybe several times a year.  You drive a $30,000 to $40,000 car.  You have a nice house with more than two bathrooms.  You probably earn around $90,000 to $250,000 a year.  You do not live paycheck to paycheck.  You could take a week or two off for vacation and not worry about the effect on your budgets.  Upper Class means you own a business or corporation and others work to support your lifestyle.  You do not work, but simply oversee operations from time to time.  Your income and business is probably managed by an accountant or firm.  Your children attend the most expensive private schools and college is a given not a luxury or expensive debt.  You make $500,000 to millions or more a year.  You do not have to save up or trade off necessities for luxuries. 

You see, the Middle Class or Lower Class, we might save up and eat in the same restaurant as an Upper Middle Class or Upper Class person, but we had to sacrifice something to do it.  It was more than likely a special once-a-year occasion just to have something extra nice for a change.  We had to make a choice between our average life sustenance and a vacation, or trade off that once-every-three-years vacation to do repairs on our car.    We usually have to sacrifice something to get a special day or treat while upper class people don't have to sacrifice anything to get the nice things they have.  But now, we have nothing left to sacrifice.  Food and housing are our luxuries and we are sacrificing everything to have them for our kids.  And soon – I see that getting even worse.  I see us living in a repeat of the 1930s Dust Bowl Depression.  And I wonder of we can make it through ten years of government ration stamps and watching our old people and children whither up and die.

(All figures from the Census Bureau, unless otherwise stated.)

The Rich:
– The richest 20 percent of Americans get 50.3 percent of the country's income.
– The portion of wealth for the rich has consistently gone up: In 1999, that figure was 49.4 percent. In 1989, it was 46.2 percent. In 1979, it was 44.2 percent.
– You are in the richest 20 percent, by the way, if those in your household make over $100,000.
– The number of millionaires in America went up 8 percent in 2010, according to the Spectrem Group, to approximately 8.4 million millionaires. That figure also jumped up 16 percent in 2009, following a drop in 2008.

The Poor:
– The poorest 20 percent of Americans get 3.4 percent of the country's income.
– The portion of wealth for the poor has consistently declined: In 1999, the number was 3.6 percent. In 1989, it was 3.8 percent. In 1979, it was 4.1 percent.
– You are in the poorest 20 percent if you make less than $20,453 in your household.
– Some 43.6 million Americans live in poverty. That is the record high for the 51 years the U.S. has recorded poverty data.
– The number of Americans in poverty jumped 9.5 percent in 2009 alone (the most recent year for which we have data).
– Overall, 14.3 percent of Americans live in poverty.
– You are in poverty, if you have a family of four and total income is under $22,314. For an individual, the poverty line is $11,136.

Disparity on the Rise
– By one key measure, income disparity in the U.S. has increased 40 percent in the past 30 years.
– Our measure: The Gini Index. A Gini Index of "0" means perfect equality in income. An index of "1" means total inequality, so one person has all the income.
– US now: 0.469. (2009 data, the most recent available)
– US in 1998: 0.393
– US in 1989: 0.362
– U.S. in 1979: 0.335

For the full article below from the Economic Collapse, go to:  http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/rich-vs-poor-14-funny-statistics-and-14-not-so-funny-statistics-about-this-economic-recovery

In any event, hopefully you will find the following statistics informative or at least entertaining.  The wealthy are most definitely enjoying an "economic recovery" while most of the rest of us are still really struggling....

Funny - Who said that the titans of Wall Street couldn't look hot?  According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, facelifts for men jumped 14 percent last year.

Not Funny - According to the U.S. Labor Department, unemployment actually increased in 351 of the 372 largest U.S. cities during the month of January.

Funny - The average bonus for a worker on Wall Street in 2010 was only $128,530.  It appears that more Wall Street bailouts may be needed.

Not Funny - During this most recent economic downturn, employee compensation in the United States has been the lowest that it has been relative to gross domestic product in over 50 years.

Funny - According to DataQuick Information Systems, the sale of million dollars homes rose an average of 18.6 percent in the top 20 major metro areas in the U.S. in 2010.  But is spending a million dollars on one house really worth it?  After all, over the past several years there have been times when you could buy a house in some bad areas of Detroit for just one dollar.

Not Funny - In 2010, for the first time ever more than a million U.S. families lost their homes to foreclosure, and that number is expected to go even higher in 2011.

Funny - According to Moody's Analytics, the wealthiest 5% of households in the United States now account for approximately 37% of all consumer spending.  Most of the rest of us don't have much discretionary income to spend these days, but at least we have Justin Bieber, American Idol and Dancing with the Stars to keep us entertained.

Not Funny - According to Gallup, the U.S. unemployment rate in mid-March was 10.2%, which was virtually unchanged from the 10.3% figure that it was sitting at exactly one year ago.

Funny - According to the Wall Street Journal, sales of private jumbo jets to the ultra-wealthy are absolutely soaring.... Sales of private jumbo jets are so strong that Airbus and Boeing now have special sales forces devoted to potentates and the hyper-rich.

Not Funny - There are now over 6.4 million Americans that have given up looking for work completely.  That number has increased by about 30 percent since the economic downturn began.

Funny - Porsche recently reported that sales increased by 29 percent during 2010.  Even Porsche jokes are coming back into style....

Question: Why did the blonde try and steal a police car?

Answer: She saw “911” on the back and thought it was a Porsche.

Not Funny - Approximately half of all American workers make $25,000 a year or less.  (My own comment:  2011 Poverty Level guidelines are $22,350 for a family of four.  The National Debt is more $125,000 per person, which is five times the amount made yearly by 50% of the population.  The Nevada unemployment average earnings are $16,900 a year with many Nevadans unemployed going on two years or longer and completely exhausting their benefits, well below poverty level.)

Funny - Cadillac recently reported that sales increased by 36 percent during 2010.

Not Funny - According to the U.S. Energy Department, the average U.S. household will spend approximately $700 more on gasoline in 2011 than it did during 2010.

Funny - Rolls-Royce recently reported that sales increased by 171 percent during 2010.

Not Funny - According to a new study by America's Research Group, approximately 75 percent of all Americans are doing less shopping because of rising gasoline prices.

Funny - According to the New York Post, Barack Obama enjoyed a total of 10 separate vacations that stretched over a total of 90 vacation days during the years of 2009 and 2010.  Apparently Barack Obama was not talking about himself when he told the American people the following.... "If you’re a family trying to cut back, you might skip going out to dinner, or you might put off a vacation."  (My own comment:  If I could afford to go out to dinner or take a vacation maybe things would be okay, but those of us who were pushed into the poverty level by the thieving government cannot afford groceries or gas for job hunting let alone restaurants and vacations.  It just shows how out of touch rich people are!) 

Not Funny - When 2007 began, 26 million Americans were on food stamps.  Today, an all-time record 44 million Americans are on food stamps.

Funny - Ralph Lauren reported a 24 percent increase in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2010.  It is good to know that preppies are thriving in this economy.

Not Funny - The Ivex Packaging Paper plant in Joliet, Illinois is shutting down for good after 97 years in business.  79 good jobs will be lost.  Meanwhile, China has become the number one producer of paper products in the entire world.

Funny - Luxury jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co. recently announced that their profits increased by 29 percent in the 4th quarter of 2010.  All of the men that did not buy their women jewelry during the holidays are trying to keep this particular news item from getting passed around.

Not Funny - Average household debt in the United States has now reached a level of 136% of average household income.

Funny - In 2009, only 18,288 vehicles with a price tag of $100,000 or more were sold in the United States.  In 2010, 32,144 such vehicles were sold.  It appears that "showing off for chicks" is now very much back in style.

Not Funny - The U.S. economy now has 10 percent fewer "middle class jobs" than it did just ten years ago.

Funny - Porsche has announced that they will soon be taking orders for their first hybrid sports car, the 918 Spyder.  The price tag on one of these puppies will only be $845,000.

Not Funny - The average CEO now makes approximately 185 times more money than the average American worker.

Funny - Barack Obama recently played only his 61st round of golf since moving into the White House.  Many are now concerned that Obama is simply not getting enough free time.

Not Funny - According to one recent study, 21 percent of all children in the United States were living below the poverty line during 2010.

NOT FUNNY

I am living in poverty for the first time in my life.  I have esophageal cancer.  I’ve been given about six more months to live.  I am diabetic and no longer take my insulin, because I cannot afford it.  My blood sugar has been running 400-500.  I experienced the loss of my mother just last year.  I provide care for my 80-year-old father who has dementia.  My father’s doctor says he may have less than a year to live due to a faulty heart valve that is now causing him to swell.  Prior to the recession, my credit rating was over 800, in the excellent range.  Prior to the recession, I never missed a mortgage, car or credit payment in my life.  Now, my home of 15 years was foreclosed.  I cannot pay any bills, and I am considered a deadbeat with a credit rating of 450.  I have always had medical insurance, until last month.  Now at the most important point in my life, I have absolutely no insurance and no income, and had to stop medical treatment of my cancer due to this.  My husband is extremely depressed.  I do not want to leave him with a mountain of monthly medical bills after I die.  I do not want him forced to continue mourning for me month after month when these bills come in and bill collectors are calling to remind him that I died and he still has to pay for it.  In addition to this:  My first son feels like a failure because he cannot find a job and talks about suicide.  My daughter-in-law has attempted suicide twice due to their depressing living situation.  Their children live with me and another relative because they cannot afford to take care of them and are homeless at times.  My Marine son feels inadequate because he does not earn enough money yet to provide for my health even though he helps with utilities when he can.  I hate it that I have to choose between gas for job hunting, diapers for the baby, prescriptions or healthy foods.  I hate it that we have to pay for the thieving of government and rich corporations which looks like it was carefully planned and concealed until it was too late for us to stop.  They are the reason I no longer have income or health insurance.  They are the reason all this has happened.

REALLY NOT FUNNY!
People condemn me for feeling suicidal, and for thinking my death would be advantageous to my family.  What would you do in my place?  My being here is a burden financially that will soon send my family into poverty to the point of being homeless.  I can’t be part of that.  I have medical bills of over $200,000 for just two months of treatment.  I’m supposed to endure four more months.  My radiologist does not understand why I quit with only five treatments left and still had insurance.  He could not comprehend that I could no longer pay for gas for the hour-long round-trip drive to his office (sometimes 2-3 hours if I’m caught in rush hour because their radiation machine is broke down) or a babysitter while I am gone for three hours (sometimes 3-5 hours when the machine breaks down).  The nurse said, “Just have your husband watch the baby like you did before.”  She couldn’t comprehend it when I said, he needs the gas to job hunt and needs the car for interviews and to place resumes in-person.  That happens during specific hours only and we have to abide by them.  Plus I am too sick to ride in free transportation which doubles the time to and from, as well the babysitter charges, because they have to pick up several people at a time. 

BUT I AM STILL TRYING
Despite all that, I am still trying.  I applied for Medicaid for myself and the baby.  The baby has received his temporarily and I am still submitting paperwork for mine, but have been told I may not qualify.  Nevada is the hardest state to qualify in if you are an adult.  Now Medicaid has served me with papers to sue my son for child support, saying they can attach his unemployment for it, which I fear will push him and his wife to suicide.  My son only draws $150 a week, and they barely survive on that, living in foreclosed homes until they are evicted by the Sheriff.  Child Support Division would get $150 a month from them (or 25%), which goes directly to Welfare for the baby’s health card.  So, the benefits of that money are zero for me and terrible instability for them.  How can this be right?  I am going to reapply for WIC this week.  Again, Nevada is terrible when it comes to using WIC.  The baby was on it for three months over a year ago.  Every time I went to the store, I wanted to cry from frustration and embarrassment.  I would get a few WIC items and know I had the milk and fruit left.  But when I went top the store they would deny the card.  I would ask them to call the number, but they would say no and push you out of line, loudly and obnoxiously.  It happened every month.  One month the check out girl charged me for items they put back saying they were the wrong items, like the fruit and cheese.  They put the items back but charges me for them anyway, and said they could not reverse the charges once they went into the system.   Essentially they stole the money from the state.  I called the state and complained, but nothing was done.  I’m going to apply for WIC again.  I’m going to swallow my pride at the grocery store, and sit there in front of the cashier on my walker, puking into a bag, until they fix it or get it right.  I am just so tired lately, that I hate wasting time and energy on things like this.  I am also making the trip to the Commodities Food program once every other month for eight measly food items like instant milk and dry beans.  Every little bit helps.  We plan on visiting the food pantries and food kitchens as well.  I just cry and cry lately, I never thought I would be in this position.  I am also checking into Nevada Check Up for children.  Children under 18 can have health care for $25-$80 a yearly quarter with no co-pays or deductibles.  I wish I had known that before applying for Medicaid.  You cannot have it if you are eligible for or on Medicaid.  I am seriously considering lying and saying we have too much income just to get the Medicaid denied and get my baby on Nevada Check Up, so my son will not have his meager unemployment attached.  As for myself, I’ve been thinking free clinics, but I’m not sure if free clinics can treat cancer.  I’m pretty sure they cannot provide PET or MRI scans or EUS procedures, or the expensive chemo drugs.  If anyone who has cancer and is being treated through a free clinic - please let me know if they provide some of the more expensive drugs and tests?  For groceries, I spend wisely.  I use PayPal contributions to buy cases of macaroni and cheese, Ramon noodles, soup and soup mixes, and cereal (which can eaten dry or with milk).  I buy only really good sale items for which I already have a coupon.  We always buy according to things we know the baby will eat, and we just eat the same things.  Banquet spaghetti TV dinners for 88¢ are a staple for all of us and the baby’s favorite beside Mac and cheese.  My girlfriend, bless her heart, brought me a six-pack of diet-Pepsi yesterday.  I felt guilty and delighted all at the same time.  Pepsi is a guilty pleasure of mine.  I wanted to tell her that a better purchase would have been juice for the baby, but that would have been rude of me.  So, instead I told her I loved the Pepsi and would ration it to myself, but these days I digest apple juice better – hoping she would get the hint and maybe bring apple juice next time which I could give the baby.  She’s never liked children and has a hard time being around our hyper-active, seizure prone child, but she is a good person.