A Conservative's Journey Through Tough Economic Times
I have been out of work since April of 2009. To make a very long story short, I was put in a position by my employer where I had to choose to keep my integrity or my job? The choice was easy for me. One of my favorite quotes is "It is better to fail with honor and integrity, than to succeed through fraud and deceit." When this was happening I was beginning to notice that more and more people were talking about the economy and empty parking lots, but I had yet to really start paying attention. People close to me cautioned that perhaps I should have a plan “B” before I commit to any particular action. Instead I assumed that I would spend a few weeks on unemployment and have a job before the summer was out. In retrospect, this was a very bad move. Hundreds of resumes and applications later, I was still out of work, out of luck, and running out of time.
I was beginning to lose hope when an opportunity revealed itself. A company that I had worked with at my previous job needed an assistant manager. I felt charged. Sitting around was killing me! My new employer assured me that I would be bringing home no less than what I was getting on state unemployment compensation. That was about half of what I was making before this entire ordeal started. I had already received the notice that I had been granted the federal unemployment extension after my state unemployment would expire, but I wanted to work.
My first check was somehow “overlooked” and it took a month for me to receive my first paycheck. When I sat down and did the math it came out to roughly half of what I made on unemployment. I needed the money so I gritted it out while searching for more gainful employment. For four months I endured the absolute worst work environment imaginable. Equipment never worked, employess routinely endured verbal abuse, and I even had some personal property videoed while being burned to the sound of cackling employees. Finally, in an Arkham Asylum moment of insanity, a supervisor wielded a pistol asking, “choked, stabbed, or shot?” That was it. I quit.
Seven months later I am at home and unemployed. I am no longer collecting unemployment compensation and that means no income outside of the odd jobs I can find occasionally. I am at the point that I don't care if you are hiring or not, you will accept my resume. I am lucky that the only debt I have is from school loans. My wonderful fiance has carried us through these difficult times. She works her butt off and I am owe her my eternal love, respect, and gratitude.
I was always aware of politics but never considered myself political. I registered to vote at 18 and checked in around election time, you know, like a typical voter. That all changed during this difficult down time. On March 21st, 2010 I watched the Health Care Bill pass through congress. I don't know if it was Boehner's “Hell No” speech or the spectacle of delusion that is Nancy Pelosi but it was like gas to a flame.
Since then I have immersed myself in politics by watching the news, or reading the blogs, Twittering, Facebook, Youtube, anything I can find. It is amazing how drastically this nation has shifted in such a short period of time. I wonder how a person like me will do in this new economic environment. I fear that I am a member of the minority when it comes to work, ethics, character and integrity. I hope that I am wrong about that. I hope that my fellow countrymen and women will stand up and share my reverence for America, the American Spirit, and the American Dream.
J. Nyzio
August 20th, 2010
