The story of one 99er.

[SmileyRose]

My brother has been unemployed for more than 2 years. I'm not talking about "not employed in his field". I'm talking about no job. Period.

My brother is 57. He is a tall big man that can be a little intimidating at first, but has good hearty laugh and a very soft heart. He barely made it through high school by going to the vocational school the last 3 years. He's Nascar and fishing boats and one too many beers on the weekends. He will give you 100% all of the time and will do anything for anyone anytime if he can - and if he can't, he'll find a buddy that can.

He worked at the same place since high school, has the same phone number, lives in the same Michigan town. He's all grey now, and little too thick in the middle. His dress up clothes are his "good jeans and belt buckle". He and his wife have managed to raise 3 incredible girls - 1 is in college and the other 2 are getting close.


He worked for the same family business all his adult life until 2 years ago. The owner decided the profits weren't high enough to warrant the headaches, his kids didn't want the business, so he decided to close it up and retire with his millions. He gave my brother a glowing recommendation and helped him get placed with a competitor an hour's drive away. 6 months later the new employer realized that upper middle class and rich people weren't spending money on the house anymore and he had too many employees. He let my brother go - and told him he hated to do so.

My brother is so good at what he does and has so many good references, is such a hard worker - He and everyone expected him to land somewhere really quick.

And then the housing market disintegrated even further. His part of Michigan really fell apart. He picked up some odd jobs with pay under the table, hoping to turn it into a real job. He knows a lifetime of work experience in one place is working against him now. That industry will be dead for the rest of his lifetime. He knows learning something new is almost impossible for him. These days he cries himself to sleep sometimes and is wondering if he has any value in this world. He feels like a failure as a man because his wife is having to support him. The mental toll it's taken only makes it harder for him to land another job.


The unemployment checks are a mere lifeline to a place to live and a pantry with some dry beans and rice. What he really needs at this point is a mentor who can help him land an apprenticeship somewhere where he won't get cut in 6 months. Whatever you want to say about "bootstraps" - his are just plain wore out.

He knows his labors for have made a lot of rich people richer through the years and they have thrown him aside now that people aren't using houses like ATM's anymore. When they get on the TV or the radio and start hollering about hard work, he tends to cuss these days.

He blames himself
the politicians
rich people in general
and every American who insisted on buying cheaper foreign made goods the last 30 years.

He doesn't want unemployment checks.
He wants a job that will support his family in the most humble of terms and get his daughters through college.

[CitizenLeft]

1. I'm so sorry.

That made me cry. I wish... a lot of things.

[sasha031]

2. thank you for sharing...

my heart goes out to you, your brother and his family.

[mstinamotorcity]

3. Somehow when you started telling

your 99er story It sounded like so many I hear daily. And it seems its closer than I think. Michigan. I hope your brother finds employment. Since most people have very little money the only way I see feeling any better is to give them less of it. We all need to be pro-active in our decisions. We must stop allowing the politicians to dictate how we should think, act, and purchase. Time to ban together with family members and friends and support each other and take back the power you are left with. Your economic power of choice.

[Crazy Dave]

4. It's the same story as with millions

I personally know over a dozen people in the same position, ages mid 20s to late 50s. Most made over $40k a year but would gladly take a Walmart or McDonalds job now if they could get it. Businesses in their trades don't want them anymore. Most new hires these days are hiring people who already have jobs. The Walmart and McDonald managers love toying with these type of folks too. Enjoying their desperation. One friend told me she was called four times for an interview at McDonalds but each time she showed up some young guy in his mid 20s would tell her, "oh sorry, I'm very busy right now (when the store wasn't busy), come back Thursday" and over and over until she realized he was just amusing himself with her and gave up.

Americans have just become mean as another DUer once posted. I've got mine so FU! The people who are working, doing well and having a great Christmas are more worried about their iphones and Facebook accounts than their neighbor next door getting foreclosed.

Good luck to your brother and I hope someone smartens up and realizes what an asset he would be to their business.

[SmileyRose]

6. Heh

I'm picturing teenage shift leaders at the fast food joints enjoying their bossitude a little too much and trying to tell my brother the right way to mop the floor.

:rofl:


Yes, every single one of the 99ers have a unique story. I'm not sure it's really a matter of meanness, but I agree we do tend to get involved in our own lives and get caught up in the ideas rather than the fact these are individuals in need. Although, I will say that for most people I know in my own economic level, we have done a good job neighbor helping neighbor and always have.

[Crazy Dave]

8. There's a lot of jerk employers out there now

I can tell just by their craiglist ads how important they feel about themselves now when only three years ago they were begging for workers and hiring undocumented ones.

You'll see an ad for janitor or dishwasher and it will demand a resume with a cover letter, a drug and background check, list five previous employers who will be called, and (this is for real) write a two page essay telling us why you should be the person we hire for minimum wage.

Seriously...whoever heard of a janitor that doesn't smoke a little weed? Janitors used to be the safest and most reliable supply source back in the good ole days.

[Starry Messenger]

5. Thank you for this story. k&r

:hug: to your brother.

[GoCubsGo]

7. I know the feeling.

There are millions of us who would rather have a job and a check. People who have never had to collect unemployment don't understand the humiliation that comes along with those checks. It's bad enough to have to be treated like you don't want to work by the unemployment office workers, or too stupid to write a fucking resume. But, then to hear politicians and others saying that you'd rather collect that pittance than find a job, makes me want to take a baseball bat to them.

Good luck to your brother. Like so many of us, he's overdue for some luck. Hope it comes soon.

[Crazy Dave]

9. You reminded me of another story

A friend of mine had to go to some resume/interview prep class or something like it mandated by the state in order to keep receiving benefits. He said the person teaching the class was full of shit and was telling everyone that the reason they weren't able to find a job is because their resumes aren't good enough, they don't know how to act during interviews or they wear the wrong type clothes, etc.

Sure, that may apply to one out of 20 or so but not "everyone".

[bbgrunt]

10. I am sorry that your brother is in this position.

The same thing happened to my brothers in the 1990's......before the general economic downturn. Both were loyal, talented, intelligent employees that lost their long-term jobs because their companies were bought out. They had reached 50 and 57 years of age.

The only other jobs they could find were soon gone due to further buyouts or company policies of laying off people before their long term benefits set in. Employers didn't want to hire older employees and retraining was not an option and is not always economically viable when one becomes older and has fewer working years to recoup the expense.

Both of them are now dead. The heartbreak of feeling useless and unwanted in an economy added to their physical and emotional demise. I tried to be my brothers' keeper, but couldn't overcome the weight of their despair.

In today's economy it is obvious to most that they are victims of the economic times. That alone can help with some of the inward blame that the unemployed carry but it doesn't erase it or pay the rent. A strong family support system can also help, but we are all being drained emotionally and economically by the times even if we still have jobs.

I sincerely hope your brother can find some way to endure until something breaks for him.

Unemployment takes a heavy toll.

[lunatica]

11. I think you should send this to the White House and your Congresspersons

The more letters they get like this the more they will feel the pressure. Demand an answer from all of them. Just like the Veterans for Peace in another thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9751819

Subject line: Letter to Obama: ‘We Demand Our Bonus–Peace’, Mike Ferner, Vets for Peace

[Monique1]

12. This information should also be sent to

ALL THE DAMN REUPLICS who are so rich they know nothing of what life is like in American except their rich corporate buddies. I am sure they will understand and help.! :sarcasm:

[SmileyRose]

15. I didn't think of that

good idea - especially since all mine are Republican.

[Hannah Bell]

13. well that choked me up. i know the type. salt of the earth.

hope things turn around for him soon.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

14. K&R heart-breaking