Reply #59: I'll tell you who this 99er blames

[Love Bug]

Every single goddam politician that let this shitty economy happen, that's who. I don't care what party they are with; if they supported the deregulation of Wall Street, I blame them. If they allowed jobs to be shipped overseas, I blame them. If they allowed unfettered access to H1B visas, I blame them. If they allowed corporations to avoid taxes by putting their 'headquarters' overseas, I blame them. If they tried to break unions, I blame them. If they put corporate interests above middle-class interests, I blame them. I blame the PNACers for their push for endless wars, thereby bankrupting the country and killing our troops. I blame our politicians for the lack of regulation and oversight in the housing industry that fed the housing crisis. I blame Bill Clinton for NAFTA and for welfare 'reform' (where are the jobs now, for those 'welfare moms'?). Where is the reform of corporate welfare? Yeah -- I thought so.

Bit by bit our politicians have gamed the system so badly against the middle class there isn't a casino in Las Vegas that wouldn't kill for such a 'house advantage.'

Am I angry? You bet your sweet ass I am. I am 56 years old and have been working since 1972. I have worked for almost 40 YEARS without a break except by choice for military service and for pregnancy. I have been unemployed for 2 years now after being laid off one month after my 21st anniversary at my last employer. I am a good employee and have the job reviews to prove it. I still am looking for work, but it's getting harder and harder to feel any hope.

I think what makes me angriest of all is the betrayal I feel by my own country that would let this happen to me and others like me, especially since IT WAS AVOIDABLE.

When I joined the Navy I took a vow to protect and defend this country and its Constitution. When in God's name are they gonna defend me?