A Part-time Country

Thursday was a wet day! It rained before I left for town this morning, I'd say it was before 11:00. As I type now it's still lightly raining. Of course I didn't bring a coat or my hat. After minutes I was drenched, still I walked determined. I pressed on, I went business to business filling out applications, only to notice several other people in line. I'm not discouraged, I remain optimistic.

I've known for quite some time that our country has declined. I've known what job possibilities existed for the common person. I expected lines, what I wasn't prepared to see that I was the oldest one. Everyone was in their twenties and I just turned 32 years old this month.

I tell myself that thy will hire experience over youth. That they will smell desperation over the strong scent of spanish fly colognes. Who would you hire a married man in their thirties, a person with a toddler, or a unpredictable kid?

I've got my fingers crossed in my hunt for a descent job. It is slim out there, mostly part-time employment. I even called my previous Temporary Agency to get a feel of the place. After all it has only been 5 years since I dazzled them.

I started as temp some years back, then got kept over 77 other people on the job. I took every posted job on the company board. Shortly after I was hired on full-time, they liked my drive. They loved my work abilities, I started me on an assembly line. Within a couple months I was a tester-inspector, working on several computers at once.

I had no computer experience, but I was multitasking with several. To make this long story short, there was a shutdown at the plant. So, I wanted to work, they asked me if I would. I said yes! They offered me 2 positions, one being lawn maintenance, the other was cleaning. I decided on cleaning the place for a couple weeks, they loved it.

When the bosses returned, they asked me if I wanted to co to school for electronics or they would help me start my own cleaning business. I thought about it for a couple days, then I gave them my answer. I told them I've always desired to have my own business. I didn't care if it was cleaning, a business meant my wife and I could work together for real money.

The next year the plant closed due to millions lost. They wanted cheaper labor in Mexico, so they left Springfield. My wife and I were the last two people in the plant when we left.

I had my own small company, we felt proud of our accomplishments.

Life's what it is sometimes!

Currently we live in the present, the past is the past. The other day I decided to call the agency, to seek employment. I hoped that I was still in the computer system, I hoped that they would remember me.

The lady told me there was only part-time work to pursue. I mentioned my achievement of my proud past. She laughed, then spoke in a rude tone saying "People change!"
I tried to speak, but she said "I see your work record in front of me. It doesn't mean a thing to me.We go off your last 6 months of work. Illinois is at a fourteen percent unemployment rate and good luck."

I decided to keep my cool, even after she denied me respect. You see for the over last year I have been raising our daughter, while my wife worked construction. Her hours were 12 hours or more, six days a week. She made decent money, but now it's slowed down. Now it's my turn to work, to show them how much I loved them. To provide for them, to give Lisa back some of the time she lost with MJ.

I've discovered that people who make good decisions for a family can also be penalized. This kind of logic baffles me, how can loving parents be disrespected?

No worries! I still have the compassionate State Unemployment office to assist me for work! :)

I have respect for my fellow human beings, I recognize our struggles. For a couple decades now I've tried to put myself in others shoes. I have recognized the emotions as someone scanned my merchandise. When they preformed their tasks, I noticed. Then I remained courteous, for I've been there.

I noticed when I worked as a janitor several times, how society treats a human being.

What the world fails to recognize, it that life is similar to a Pogo stick. It goes up and down, it requires balance. We need to hold on with both hands, so we can stay on longer. Yes we will fall eventually and must get back up. That is all part of the living joys we endure.

I don't wish invoke pity by my words in this entry. Trust me when I say I know others feel this way, I know that many people have it worse. I've been a witness to America's tragedy for many years now. I've tumbled countless times in my short life, but find it hard to except the truths of my life.

I will try to understand how society allows powerful individuals to kick us down in every way they can. How big business manipulates our benefits by only offering Part-time work. How they encourage people to betray others to keep bread on the table.

It is very simple GREED! They know that we have families, that we need our measly paychecks to barely survive. History repeats itself, many times over. The Great depression lives on, instead of fruit, it is fast food. It is toilets, it is unsafe Chinese made products.

How can the country be in such a mess, but countless restaurant jobs exist? How can so many people afford to eat out, plus a tip. Consider the gas and time involved, it is a luxury to do so. It would be less expensive and less of a hassle to eat at home. I believe if people eat out more than a few times a week, it is due to laziness. What do you think?

I can remember when you could actually talk to an owner of a company, when they would be willing to train a new hire. In my youth I could get a job before I finished the application. It was time when face to face meant something, a handshake meant something.

No, I'm not disillusioned, the world has always had liars and cheats. But, there was a time when hard work paid off. A time when people weren't just a number, like it has been for many years. Why do you think Temp Agency's came about? It was to pay Americans less money to do the same work as full-time employees. Then after a certain amount of time they could let you go, and bring in a new batch of suckers.

In the past we have heard that unemployment has went down, but that does not include people who have lost it. Struggling to provide for the family when it's gone. Forcing people to take what they can get, even if educated. Then there are people like me who have neglected to receive further education. People like me who have been stuck with a resume that consist of "demeaning jobs"

For those of us who have no choice, there are jobs that we will most likely be looked over. Jobs that we are too qualified for, or lack the proper education. Hey, there is the food industries, factories, Hotels, and gas stations.

Don't get me wrong I've seemingly lucked out in the past. I remain very optimistic for my family that I will find my place. I continue to keep hope for society, that one day very soon we will overcome the greed of our world. It will take time for our country to be a world leader in jobs creation, but the amount is unknown.

Until then we must work together! We must stay realistically positive, despite the fact that most of us are starting over. That we lack proper health care, but must stay strong.

Struggle knows no age, it touches the majority of this beautiful Earth.
Without it there would be no real lessons in life.

I thank you for stopping by my place. I wish you all a kind Friday and pleasant Weekend.

P&L
Loren Wesley Ackerman & Family