We were gathered around the table for donuts on Friday jabbering about all kinds of stuff when the subject of Oregon’s unemployment came up. It suddenly got very quiet while we pondered the subject. You see, statewide we’re at a bit over twelve percent right now with outlying counties running even higher. Ever since I moved here Oregon is the first to take it in the shorts economically and the last one to get over it.
Consisting entirely of seniors, the donut crew as we call ourselves, are not immune to what I refer to as the Socialistic policies of the Obama administration and how it’s destroying our economy. I realize at this juncture that who we voted for is water under the bridge and exactly who is responsible for the job losses and high prices remains unknown. What we do know is that we’re all Americans and we all feel the results.
Maria, the 85-year old matriarch widow who sat on my right has a pretty good retirement income and for the most part doesn’t have to worry. She can have a gardener mow her lawn, she take trips and really doesn’t do without. But she is very concerned for her kids who all live in California, which is experiencing an economic meltdown.
Pete sat on my left. He’s in his seventies, has some disorder that causes him to shake a lot yet doesn’t let it affect his great sense of humor. He seems to ignore the economic plight of our country as he says he can’t do anything about it anyway. Across the table, his wife Doris looks worried. They’ve already had to sell their home because it was too much to afford and now they live in an apartment. What with Pete’s health I’m sure she wonders what will become of her when he passes away.
Also across the table are Bob and Paula who are both in their sixties. Bob is a diabetic and just had part of his colon removed so he’s lost some weight. It becomes him. The couple are both officially retired, however Bob must take care of the books for some local companies and prepare their quarterly and year-end taxes. It’s just something he has to do for them to get by since they’re not immune from the economic downturn.
Me? I’m sixty-six and supposed to be retired. Odd how folks think that when you reach that age you can really kick back and enjoy. Well people, here’s a big news flash for you. A lot of us can not afford to retire, ever. As I see it, if the economy maintains its present course there will be no retirement for anyone.
Let’s use me as an example. I compose articles to submit online. This is one of many published on the Internet. Since Social Security doesn’t pay me enough to live on and I have no pension, this is how I make my living. No complaints! It’s my reality and so long as I can still continue writing, I’ll survive and thrive.
So, the donut crew will meet again next Friday, I suppose. We’ll talk about whatever is of interest to us and life will go on. On anyway, until our measure of life is poured out. In the mean time we represent a microcosm of people up in years who are generally not talked about very much or considered to be significant despite the financial effects of a sabotaged economy.
The politicians all want our valuable votes and promise us the world, which is not theirs to give away. And when many of us are swayed by their sweet talk and vote them into office, they promptly dismiss us knowing that we’ll probably die off pretty soon anyway and besides, there will be a new crop of seniors coming down the pike to bamboozle come the next election cycle.