We The Peeps

Author: TJ (90 Articles)

Computer Geek / Network & Systems Administrator. I have been in computers my whole life and have dabbled in different programs and some web design. I like movies, music, dinners, cooking, hanging with friends, although I am more of a homebody. I like to debate my views with other people in politics, religion, equality, health care reform, and several other topics. I believe in equality for all, and not just some. We have the freedom of religion and the freedom from religion. No religion should dictate our laws, nor should we ever write any discrimination into the constitution. I also believe that just because the majority voted for something, doesn't mean it is the best thing for this country. Americans need to quit selling out their fellow man and demand that NAFTA be fixed now, or just needs to go away, period. America needs to take care of itself before its to late. We need health care reform now. We should never leave health & human services in the hands of the free market. We should never allow anyone to profit off the suffering of others.

I think I am thirsty; maybe I should get me some tea!  Oh wait, I think I am out. I left it somewhere the other day. But where did I leave it?  I remember now, I woke up and I was angry that day. But, what was I angry about? Hmmmm, let me think about that for a moment.

I know, it was Wednesday; I think I had to go the post office, but why on earth did I have to go the post office? I pay all my bills online. Nobody every sends me a letter since I got that new nifty thing called an email account. So what would possess me to go the post office?

You know, getting old sucks. In 1 week I will be 37 years of age, and darn it, I can’t remember anything from two days ago. But of course I have my excuse, I am actually under a lot of stress. Financially, I am strapped. It seems like I have more money going out then I do coming in.

I have been looking for a new job, and you know, I just cant find anything out there to allow me to keep affording this meager little life I have.

Thank God gas came down, didn’t know if I could afford that and put food on my table. But, then again, what’s the point if I cant afford to heat and power my home. But what good is it to heat and power my home if my bank is threatening to take my home away.

Man, those banks, horrible what they did to my neighbors. I am afraid I might be next. I haven’t seen them since, but they were really nice people. You really should have been there though. I never thought in my life that I would actually see the sheriff evict a family of 4 in the middle of winter. I felt really bad for her, I didn’t really do anything for her, but I did feel bad so I think that was enough. You see her husband died of cancer last summer. The bills wiped them out. She lost her job trying to care of her husband while he was ill. She worked for a small company so there was no law protecting her job. Anyways, he passed away, she couldn’t pay the bills, and the bank threw her and her three children out on the streets.

I know why I was so angry. I got a call from the loan modification program the day before. There wasn’t much they could do to help me refinance. They said I owe way too much for the house, even with all the new improvements I put into it. You see, after they threw my neighbor out of her nice $103,500 home, the bank put it and many other homes in my area for sale. You should see all of them. Just 3 weeks ago there were over 800 homes within 2 miles of my house selling for under $20,000. Man if I had some extra cash. How sweet would that be? A home; the same as mine for less then $20,000! But what am I supposed to do with this one? I owe over $100,000 on it and the interest rate alone is killing me. I have always tried to be responsible. I only had one credit card, but boy did that thing bite when I was 3 days late on my bill. My interest jumped from 8 percent to 29.8%. I couldn’t afford the monthly minimum. After all these years of building up credit worthiness, the banks destroyed my rating in less then 6 months. What really blew my mind is when I opened up my new car insurance policy that day, I didn’t know but if you have bad credit, the insurance companies can triple the amount of your rates just for having bad credit.

Oh wait I know why I was going to the post office; I was going to send in my taxes. Darn things were due that day, and I remember hearing on the news something about mailing in tea with your taxes. I thought it was quite strange why I was supposed to mail tea in with my taxes, but heck, I cant remember what happened two days ago.

So I went to the cupboard and grabbed the last two teabags I had. I placed them inside my federal tax returns and sealed the envelope.

Wait, now that I think about it. I think the taxes may still be in my backseat. You see, when I arrived at the post office, there were two groups of people holding signs outside in the parking lot. Each group blamed the other for all their problems.

At that moment I decided to park the car and watch. I was more confused then anything. I was watching followers of the two main political parties argue over whom destroyed this country. Now if my memory serves me correctly, I think some time last October or November; the republican president handed out trillions of dollars to some banks, one of them being my mortgage company, and I think about a month ago, the democratic president handed out some trillions more money to the same banks. I already warned you, my memory isn’t the greatest; so don’t take me word for word. I think you can still look this information up somewhere on the net.

Well, I got to thinking even harder. Maybe it’s both their fault. But you know, you can send tea bag after tea bag to the government and I don’t think they really care. Or maybe they just don’t know really what to do.

So I decided to think differently.

I thought for a moment, looked at my mortgage payment and thought, “Aren’t the BANKS to blame too?” “Aren’t they the ones that got us into this mess?”
If the government is doing everything it can to save the economy, and the banks don’t change. Maybe I should do my part to save the economy. The next time I go to pay that credit card bill and that mortgage payment. I won’t be putting my checks in there; I will be putting in the last of my tea bags.

Sincerely,

What is left of the middle class.

PS:   Could you imagine the change that would take place if the people stood together and focused that energy on the problem? Change would be quick.