D.A. from Roanoke
I am 40 year old teacher/behavior specialist for at risk youth. I make less than my oldest child(who has no degree)I am halfway through my Masters and owe approximately 150,000 in school loans. Half of those loans are with Sallie Mae who not only will not allow me to consolidate the three loans I have with them, but charge a staggering amount of interest. I have been working fulltime and paying my taxes since I was 15 years old yet have never had health insurance. I have seen the effect of a growing separation between classes with not only the students I work with but the world at large.I do not want my girls to grow up and fight to live in a world that persistently holds them down. I want fair taxes,adequate affordable health care and a more environmentally aware planet. I want those who expolit, cheat and lie out of greed to stop getting away with it. Most of all , I want change.
A.F. from Roanoke
Just returned from Freedom First Credit Union, where we opened our new account. It was a wonderful experience, with friendly people and a simple, clear, NON-PROFIT-based system. They mentioned that many SunTrust, Bank of Amerika, Wells Fargo and other customers have recently joined. One woman working there said she left her banking-system job when (after 5 previous mergers) Wells Fargo bought her employer. She feels good now about her work. We feel good about the direction our “money” is heading. Now we can begin the closing and dismantling of our involvement with the bank.
D.R from Lexington
I started working at the age of 14, making roughly 3$ an hour in 1986. I had to chip in on rent for a $500/mo apartment my father couldn’t afford in the DC area. This sense of outrage I feel about our system is deeply rooted in my own life. I chose as an adolescent to live outside of the corruption and inequality I saw all around me. I found my ‘family’ in the punk world and lived on the fringes of society for years. I learned the basic necessities I considered crucial for survival: cooking, mechanics and construction. I became a skilled carpenter and saw my income approaching the ‘middle class’ level after 20 years of hard work. That was 4 years ago. Now I’m lucky to get part time work at a 25% pay cut. I’m sure glad we bailed out the financial institutions so that things are better now. Think maybe I’ll go and finish my cake. Oh never mind I fed that to my son for breakfast.
R.F. from Roanoke
I used to work for a corporation…one that was founded here in the valley and grew into a national chain. I had decent pay and great benefits including health coverage for my family. Then a couple of years ago, our whole department was laid off, our jobs having been outsourced to India. And to add insult to injury, we had to train the new staff. I was very lucky that I found a new job before my severance ran out. I work for a local non-profit in a program that provides information and referrals to people in need, whether that be the need for financial aid to help during a rough patch, or shelter because they are homeless, or food because they had to choose between eating and buying their medications. I see and hear stories about people who are suffering due to the economic downturn and the slashing of programs and benefits. And I see that our legislators are kowtowing to the corporations who put them in office and making regular people pay the tab. It has to stop.
dawn said on November 12, 2011
LOve the stories. I wanted to add that it is obvious I did not use my spell check( pompous teacher brain
) I also wanted to add that I too have recently put in notice to leave my job to explore new uncertain avenues. I know I am worth more than I am ggetting and this movement has helped inspire the desire for something new in me. Thank you!