These are the people I help from here on out:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

I ran into a friend who voted for Kerry. She practically started crying right there in the produce section. To make matters worse, yesterday, she got laid off. They just told ten of them "today's your last day" at 5 PM!!!!! Right before they were going to leave!

She worked there 12 years and got nothing, no severance pay, nothing.

Her husband is on the verge of losing his business-pest control.

And she carried the health insurance for her family which now runs out December 3.

They voted for Kerry. Her, her husband, her in-laws (whom I know too). So I told her I'd do everything I possibly could to get her a job in the school district--I'm in administration and I'm going to go talk to my friend in HR on Monday and see what's open--she'll give me a direct line to the positions that haven't even been posted yet and I'll get her to shoot for a high pay grade job, too.

That's what I'm doing--helping KERRY voters. She said she'll just go on unemployment for now, something she's never done in her life.

I said hey, do what you have to do to feed your family, you know?

Shit. I hugged her and she said "fucking economy." The company she was working for is deep in red ink and probably can't stay open much longer--she was a bookkeeper for them. So she sort of saw it coming but didn't think it would happen so soon.

They've stopped their daughters' cheerleading activities and gymnastics lessons. She even said she's glad they still have that camper (RV) so they can live in that if they lose their house! That scared me a bit, surely it's not that bad, but what do I know? Maybe she brought in half the income.

I'm scared. :scared:

But I'm going to do everything I can for her. Gave her my cell phone number and said I'd get on it Monday.
God ya'll there are SO many people in the same boat! Any of them that voted for Kerry, we need to help each other--network, babysit, put in the good word for jobs, whatever.

[flamingyouth]

1. You're a good friend, Moonbeam

I'm still in a tizzy about a woman I know - a pagan, pro-choice, self-described feminist who voted for Bush in this election because she "didn't really trust Kerry." :wtf:

I feel sad for your friend. That is just awful. She is lucky to have you. :hug:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

2. Welp

that friend you described? Wouldn't get any help from me. I sort of feel bad about that, as it is usually my custom to help people without regard to their political affiliation but no more.

Why in the world someone like that would vote for bush is beyond me.

Thanks, though. I feel for her too. Her oldest daughter and my daughter are good friends.

Now how do I get her to NOT buy my daughter a birthday gift? It's coming up and I know she will.....damnit.

[flamingyouth]

3. That gift thing is the worst

Her pride will make her want to do something. Why don't you suggest that the four of you go out for pizza or something, like a mother-daughter get-together? That might take the pressure off a bit at least. Then she'll feel like she did something (even though you pick up the check). Yeah, that's a toughie, but you'll do what's best. :hug:

[morillon]

24. I guess she CAN trust Bush...

...to continue screwing things up!

I mean, how much worse could we get?

(I may be sorry I asked that.)

[barb162]

4. good idea, I am with you. Tell you though, her health insurance

is good for about 18 months but she gets to pay both the employee and employer portions under ERISA. I hope your friend has some savings left...but it almost sounds like they don't.

The pugs sure help each other out, the liberals should do the same. Actually I do this anyway and for many years now. I will write resumes for them, help them find jobs, etc.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

6. You know

you are EXACTLY right, they do stick together and help each other out. Or they get liberals like me to help them. There is one couple we are no longer friends with for two reasons:

1. they voted for bush, which means they are no longer on our values map at all. Anywhere.

2. they only contacted us when THEY needed something. A job recommendation, directions somewhere, watch their dog, etc. Fuck that.

Yep, only liberals, only Kerry voters.

I don't get the sense they have much savings either. They were living paycheck to paycheck as it was. Her in laws have a fairly decent pretty big house and they might move in there if it gets really bad.

I did tell her about COBRA. But it's awfully expensive.

[flamingyouth]

10. COBRA is VERY expensive

I was on it for the maximum time allowed because I had a chronic health problem and needed surgery (it worked out to my financial benefit, ultimately). But wow, that is just really sad to think of this family, especially facing the holiday season, when we focus so much on buying shit.

[barb162]

19. People always say COBRA is expensive until they start

checking out private plans and then they can't even find equal coverage that their company plan just provided, let alone comparable pricing. And if there is anything wrong with them, they won't be able to buy private coverage.

I won't any longer help a pug but then again why would a pug want my help anyway, other than watching the pets kind of thing. Anytime I have helped pug neighbors I am lucky to get a thank you. I have a lot of pug neighbors and they are really something. Twice this pug neighbor lost her dog and I helped her like crazy finding the dog. Once a few months later my cat got out and you think she dropped everything to help me, like I did for her. She just said, "oh, hope you find him." That's how they are. I swear, if I were in the middle of the street having a heart attack, probably the only reason they'd call 911 is to get my carcass off the street, especially since I had a J.Kerry yard sign out and they know I must not nlike their boy *.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

21. You described my feelings to a T

if I could list everything I have done for my republican neighbors and who I thought were friends, it'd be sad.

Yet they only call me when they NEED something. Not just to talk or whatever. Only when they are in trouble. No more.

[barb162]

25. same here. They call it compassionate conservatism. Hell,

I practiced compassion for them so many times, helped them out when they didn't even ask (I OFFERED) and I am lucky to get a mumbled thanks or even a hello if they see me in the grocery store. They are really something. I think this, compassionate conservatism, means everyone is supposed to help them and when you need help, they don't know you. When I lost my cat that day, that damned woman saw how frantic I was and I am totally convinced she didn't give a damn.

[raising2moredems]

15. maybe....

If her employer has enough employees AND the company stays in business. ERISA allowing self-funded health insurance plans is a large reason for our health care crisis IMHO. Insurance is based on LARGE pools of people and a business with 100, even 10,000 is not a large enough group to spread the risk. If her company bellies up, there is no COBRA (just ask the folks who worked for S&Ls that bellied up). I'm not sure what state she is but there may be some health insurance available for her kids (most blue states are in waayyy better shape than red states in this area). I feel for any one who loses his/her job. Maybe another way you can help her out is some bulk buying of food or other items you both use? Keep your ears open for an item she or her family may need that you can spare or allow them to borrow? Invite them over for dinner and have them bring dessert? Do they have a skill that you'd typically hire out and could hire them instead?
I read neat idea for an Xmas 'thing to do' - the family picks a neighbor or other person and secretly leaves a small item that corresponds to the twelve days of Xmas (person does 12 cookies, 11 candy canes etc). Kind of a pick me up, telling the recipient who is doing it is optional.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

22. Those are good ideas

we are in TX, I don't know how the laws work as far as that goes, but it's probably not good.

Her oldest daughter has a cast on her arm that is due to come off AFTER her health insurance runs out so she is going to call the doctor and see how it looks to come off a few days before. God, that's sad.

[yellowdogintexas]

37. CAST REMOVAL SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED SEPARATELY

Unless there was some sort of complication.

That should be part of the global fee for the surgery and therefore already paid for when the cast was applied.

Even so, the few separate charges I have seen for a cast removal were not exorbitant at all..like in the $25 -$30 range and the doc should be compassionate here and just eat it if she explains their situation.

[Lady Effingbroke]

5. You are so kind to help a friend in trouble like that!

I hope that she can get in with the school district. People are hurtin' all over - and it ain't even started yet. :-(

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

14. That's what I'm afraid of

:scared: hold me!

[Erika]

7. And That's Why We Need To Boycott Republicans and

build jobs in democratic companies who will hire democrats.

Bush has been successful in income redistribution in this country. I posted earlier that over a third of Idaho families are now low income without health insurance and needing food assistance to survive. Over 20% have lost health coverage.

Crying is fine, but yelling is better.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

11. OMG

that's HORRIBLE!

Here's another sobering statistic: under the republicans in state legislature, 300,000 Texas children have been kicked off of CHIPS (Children's Health Insurance Program). It's a health insurance program for children of low-income WORKING parents. It actually encourages their parents to work and not take AFDC and Medicaid instead. It was VERY cost-effective.

But Texas supposedly "forgot" to send in the money to the federal government to help fund it (and get this: the federal govt gives Texas $2 for every $1 Texas kicks in....) AND they increased the income limit for it.

And they "forgot" to tell hundreds of thousands of parents.

Ahem. Which means all those kids dropped off of CHIPS coverage. Nice huh? Republicans seem to think sick poor kids just disappear. Some were on daily asthma meds, daily diabetes care, etc.

So now, instead of the taxpayers paying $50 for a kid to visit the doctor (or less), they are paying $500 (or more) when that much sicker kid finally ends up in the ER. Sans any insurance.

It doesn't make any sense humanity or compassion-wise. And it doesn't make any sense MONEY wise either!

Cook Children's Center, a great children's hospital in Dallas for 60 years will have to close its doors soon because they are so overrun with children whose parents have no insurance.

Oh yeah repukes are SO good for all of us!

Grrrrr. I agree, yelling is better. But the repuke state representative that we had who voted to knock kids of CHIPS JUST GOT REELECTED.

Triple GRRRRRRRR.

[sandnsea]

35. Tenncare

That's the same thing. Different states implemented CHIPS programs in varying ways. But Tennessee is ending it all too and going back to straight Medicaid. I also read about some hospitals closing in California. We probably need to start paying attention to which states are doing this. I know Oregon cut some services from our health program a couple of years ago, we literally had people die because they couldn't get their medication. Then there's the story about ambulances taking corpses back to houses if people die in route. This country is just getting freaky scary.

Terribly sorry about your friends. Winter isn't a good time for the bug business either, my b-i-l has a pest control business. I also agree, help people who are sincerely helpful. I have to say that because my Republican landlady just knocked off $200 from our December rent because she wanted to make sure we had a nice Christmas. She's an old Catholic lady who primarily votes on abortion, but has a heart of gold. My husband tells her she's the saving grace of the Republican Party, the only good one we've ever met!

[2Design]

8. see you are a special person - not just great at starting threads

but helping people out too - that is terrific

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

13. Thanks sweetie

:hug:

It's my new policy--go out of my friggin way to help Kerry voters in need. We HAVE to stick together and help each other out, especially now.

[NightTrain]

9. What the hell kind of rotten employer did that poor woman have?!

She worked there for 12 years, was let go with no notice, and got no severance pay?! :wtf:

Christ, I was on my last job for slightly under five years. I knew three months ahead of time that the place would be closing down, and I got a full month of severance pay when it did! Guess I'm just luckier than most....

Whatever the case, Moonbeam, at least that poor family has a friend like you. That does count for something! :pals:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

12. Yeah

I thought that was especially shitty. I kept asking her "NO severance pay? NOTHING?" Nope, nothing.

And they told them 30 minutes before they left for the day. Er, forever, it seems.

She was heartbroken--it's a small business and she considered them to be her second family.

Oh yeah bush economy is SO great for small businesses, eh?

[raising2moredems]

16. their idea of a small business...

Is not the same as ours.

[AZCat]

17. "Want some wood?"

You mean THAT idea of a small business?


That, IMHO, is my idea of a small MAN - he who trivializes an important issue when given the chance to discuss it in a public forum.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

18. Nail. Hammer. Head.

You hit it.

[barb162]

20. oh aint that the truth, they will act like it's a small family business

and you think (haha) you are part of the family. But guess what, you are NOT. I worked for one of these small family businesses once and was lucky enough to see right through them and their phony style.

[barb162]

23. This is becoming quite common and I have been hearing it like

this the last 5-10 plus years. I know a guy who was working 40 hours plus straight, no sleep, and even though he was up all night at the company, when the boss came in, the guy got fired at 8am. He and a few others who were also working at the same pace. It's like you sometimes kill yourself for these companies and they have no problem firing you on the spot wsith no severance.

[azoth]

26. Yay you! Sad to say

it'll probably get worse before it gets better but with the Emperor in charge, you know it will. Lame duck, perhaps, but dangerous as hell and waiting to explode. (or maybe implode *crossing fingers*)

Friggin gop bastages.

I hope you find her a killah job making more $$. DAMN that part about her dd's camps just kills me.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

27. Hey do I know you from somewhere else?

You used terminology common to another site I used to frequent.

Anyway, thanks, I am going to probably help her write her resume, too. She hasn't done one in over a decade and I used to write resumes for a living.

[GOPisEvil]

28. You used to write resumes for a living?

Hmmm...:think:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

29. Yep

and I'm still in decent shape, you need help?

I'm all about helping fellow Dems all I can with this crappy economy. And you're a fellow Texas Dem!

[GOPisEvil]

30. I may take you up on that.

I've been in state government for 12 years, and my resume is rusty. I think it's decent, and people have told me it is good, but I'd like as many eyes to see it as possible. When I get back from this trip, I'll shoot you a PM.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

31. Sure thing.

I'll give it a look-see tell you what I think.

[azoth]

32. From somewhere else?

Like - what? I should paypal you to be my friend, huh?

bwaaahahaha

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

33. ROFL!!!

Now I KNOW I must know you from somewhere else!

Well I may not know which one you are, but hi friend! :hi:

[azoth]

34. Seek The Truth, Moonbeam_Starlight...

Seek...and ye shall find.

<mwah>

[yellowdogintexas]

36. man I do understand

My company outsourced my job to India in June and I am still looking for a job. Never has it been this hard to find work for me.

What does she know how to do? She definitely needs to get theunemployment as there are excellent job search resources available via Texas Workforce Commission.

I have been most nervouse about my health coverage too. Thank goodness my husband started a new job w/goodpay before I lost mine, and hejust got his insurance started this month.


AND THE CREEPING REPUBLICANS JUST DON'T GET IT