Get a Job! Sure, Give Me One.

Friday morning I got up at 4 a.m. and went to the Labor Staffing Agency to see if I could be put to work. Though I am considered "disabled" by Social Security and collect a small income every month for my previous employment contributions, my disability is not of the nature that I can not perform some manual tasks. Just as I can dress myself, clean my own home, garden my own yard, drive my own car, and handle my own money, I can also perform some basic labor. A program titled "Ticket to Work" of the Social Security Administration monitors recipients based on their age, disability, and income. Recipients over the age of 65 are allowed to collect benefits and work/earn as much as they can/like; However, recipients under the age of 65 have particular limits imposed on them. If they make more than a certain amount of money for more than 9 months, they are considered self-sufficient and capable and their benefits from SSA end. This happened to me in 2012, when it was determined that in 2011 I had earned over the set limit, therefore was not considered "disabled" anymore in 2012. I was determined "disabled" again in 2018 and my SSA benefits were re-established. Though I had worked various jobs from 2012 through 2017, my case proved that my mental illness was a hindrance to permanent sustainable employment. I accepted that determination and was grateful that the Social Security Administration exists so that I can recieve something, which in my opinion is always better than nothing.

Some people used to criticize me and put me down when I would work for Staffing Agencies especially the ones that sent people on temporary jobs. They didn't seem to understand the value of the agencies to the workforce or people like me (who might have good reasons for wanting temporary work) who prefer to seek employment through those staffing agencies. While people will use terminology like "human resources" or "vocational rehabilitation" or "career training" --- I do not think they put their money where their mouth is.

You see a bum on the sidewalk holding a begging sign. What do you do? Are you one of those who hands him a dollar or a sandwich? Or are you the one who yells "Get a job!" from your car window sneering as you drive by? If you're the one who says "Get a job!" I'd like to say something specific to you: GIVE US ONE.

The reason so many U.S. citizens are angry or upset about border problems and illegal immigrants here in our country is because they can't find a job. I'm a big fan of entrepreneurs, but when my country's citizens and patriots are sufffering from unemployment because illegals have not only stolen from our employed, but are now stealing our jobs as well, then it's time for me to start yelling out of my car window, "Where's the Jobs?!"

It's bad enough that our factories closed down and left tons of people scouraging for new careers. It's bad enough that other countries took over various industries (like customer service and manufacturing) per "outsourcing" because minimum wage pay was too expensive. It's bad enough that the computer and internet have changed the workforce in so many ways that many workers born before the techno world are still spinning their heads in bewilderment. But now, on top of all that you want us to accept that any no-name foreigner can come here to our country on our land and take our money and our jobs? What the hell is wrong with everybody? Enough is enough.

America was once a country of hard working and ethical people. America was once a country of people who shared the dream of a nice home, a good car, and a loving family to eat dinner with. America was once a country where kids could go to school and come home without talking about broken bones and bomb threats. America was once a country that could boast of the greatest quality of life. What is America today? Land of the liars who scream from their car window "Get a job!" when they don't know where the jobs are? A place where doing the right thing makes a hero or a patriot or a moralist look like an idiot? A place where the bumper sticker on someone's car reads "My kid beat up your Honor Student" and we shrug or laugh because the Honor Student what? Deserved to be beaten up?

On Monday, I will go back to the Labor Staffing Agency and try again. Not only because I need the money (because I do after three hurricanes have depleted my wallet), but also because there is a ton of work to be done. I saw what the beaches look like. There are mountains of sand dunes all over the sidewalks and streets. I saw what many neighborhoods look like. Trees and branches and debris and garbage all over the place. I saw the photo of the broken roof at Tropicana Stadium, and the buildings and houses and cars that got wrecked. There is plenty of work to be done. I might be disabled, but that doesn't mean that I can't pitch in with what I am capable of doing. It also doesn't mean that I should give away my time or ability for free. An old saying "If you want something done, do it yourself." How does that apply today? Do we all have to pretend to be non-English speaking foreigners to get paid for our work? Or can we just go to the Labor Staffing Agency where our names and social security numbers are documented? If there is such a thing as "Organized Crime" why isn't "Organized Work" just as popular?

As the great JFK said long ago, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." I'll tell you what you can do for your country. Hire your own people!