Here is a sad graphic...

[liberal N proud]

An exclusive NEWSWEEK Poll proves what every wife intuitively knows: unemployed middle-aged men are sad, tired, and defeated.But here's the rub: they're also in denial.

[CurtEastPoint]

1. Not to play woe is me but if you're single like me and in this boat...

it's even worse. There ain't no one else to turn to but moi.

[90-percent]

2. I'm married and gotacha beat, Curt!

My wife abuses pain pills and alcohol. Yesterday I had to carry her from the bed to the bathroom and back because she couldn't walk!

It's the choices I made and I'm responsible for where I am as far as my marriage goes.

My "career":

Out of work for 17 months. (At least my timing was good - TARP picked up 65% of my COBRA for 16 months)

Back to work for $10,000 a year less, and happy to have it, running machines on the factory floor. (I used to teach people how to do this!) My multi-national corporate employer decided to CEASE USA manufacturing last March. I had only been there 7 months and my unemployment is now $330 a week, instead of $490 like last time, due to the time intervals Unemployment uses to determine compensation.

The 7 months of work, which I found I really liked, primed my pumps enough to at least dig out of my depression. I can enjoy work and life now, for the time being, anyway.

-90% Jimmy

[Poll_Blind]

3. Thank you for posting that.

Even on an internet forum, under an alias, occasionally people will open up in whatever way- and I just want to recognize that opening up like that isn't always easy. Thank you. Some of the most personally-touching posts I've ever read on DU involve people opening up like you have. Thank you.

With the economy the way it is, depression and substance abuse are growing and my family has been touched by quite a bit of that recently. It's glad to know that there's someone out there who's dealing with similar things.

PB

[WatsonT]

4. I could see an argument either way

Being single means no one is counting on you, but no support network.

Having a family provides you with a support network, but also the added burden of having people who rely on you.

[CurtEastPoint]

5. Needless to say, it's tough for anyone.

We're all in this together.