Money

Depending on you who talk to, either we are about to riot to the government shutdown pending or we are not.

There was a time I would lean on no but I am starting to think it is possible.

Now I find Tom Lupshu of Bunker Report very creditable when he says no to SNAP related riots and when he discusses the end of growth in todays world and when he discusses changes. (See: Government Shutdown And Food Stamp Cuts October?) yet what is missing from his report is currently something like what I will tell you next.

A personal case like mine

For seven years I worked for a company, a cooperation that was basically draining me, dehydrating me but yet it made me happy in one way only.

It paid my bills. over 40 hrs a week, nearly 12 dollars a hour, a hard thing to get in my area.

I lived just a few steps above poverty. But for the first time in years, I was in the green.

And then I got fired.

It is a "At Will" company, They don't have to tell me why.

So I went to get unemployment and nearly three weeks later, I am still awaiting the money I deserve. I paid into employment for seven years. My money. So why the wait? They want to know WHY I was kicked to the curb and until the company I work for gets off their ass and tell them, I have to wait.

But while I wait I have to look for work and do work search related tasks. A full time requirement every week.

Which to get my food stamps, I already do anyways.

Let me explain something.

I ALREADY do this. To be told I HAVE to do this to get my own money is stupid. I think after seven years if I need to take a few days to go hide and cry and deal with the shock of being kicked to the curb, I should be allowed too.

Now as for SNAP. I was working all those hours and yet because of my child, I was able to apply for food stamps. And till the day I was fired, I was allowed to only get about 20 dollars. 20?? Once I paid my bills and housing, I had no more money left for food.

Now to get any help from them, I am told to get out and look for work. Which I was already doing. I am nearly 40 with a shit load of skills. To be told to take ANY job to get off the system is almost degrading as it totally ignores my skills as well as anyone elses in my shoes.

If ANYTHING will lead to riots, it will not be a shutdown in SNAP but outrage towards a system that fucks over those who worked their asses off for nothing.

Yes I am angry.

Longshoreman

There is a issue right now on the west coast. Longshoreman are locked into a contract dispute with the Pacific Maritime Association. The mass media is reporting on the effect on grain, meat, electronics extra that are either in the backlog to be delivered or in the backlog to be exported.

So what does this mean to the low income?

I seriously think the media should be reporting on this more. The effect not just on the farmers and retailers but also on the low income. A lot of the items in places like Walmart, Dollar Tree, etc, come from china. Those on limited funds will stop there to shop. If the items are not on the shelf, they are forced to go without or pay more many somewhere else. That more money is to cover the lost income the companies will impose due to the shipping delays. Or it will cover the alterative methods to get the products to the stores. Like by air.

The effects on the rest of the economy is all known by now, like meat going bad on the docks before it reaches the store. However what ever the position one is in in this economy, be it rich or poor, the fact remains it should be more reported than it is. The fruit harvest in much of the west is coming up. Much of the fruit goes to the Far East. If the fruit can not leave the country, they orchards may not pick. No pickers will come to town. No money coming in.

Some argue that the ports should hire people who will not care what they are paid. Or complain about conditions. That is not fair. To do that kind of work takes skill, strength, determination and more. Those type of people deserve to get paid fairly and compensated for their work.

Perhaps that is the real reason the media hides the stories under articles on the size of a celebrities butt. Distraction and down playing. Why let the public really know what is going on.

This whole thing should and needs to be brought out into the open.