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Appreciative Interviews

 Get some help to Main St
Signers

Sign Petition Signers Comments All Petitions

Get some help to Main St
1,015 signatures

Dear Congress,

Please get some help to Main St before it is too late.

We need healthcare, jobs and support for small businesses. This is about our physical survival. This is about our right to Life.

If we don't get help, many of us will get sick, go hungry and homeless. So stop the fighting and electioneering and get to work for the people paying your salaries and health insurance, the American workers and the Middle Class.

1 Mary m 8/7 - 3:24 pm est
2 richard byfield 5/20 - 9:41 pm est
Damn it we have to get help. The Banks and auto companys got hellp by the Billions. Now it is our turn.
3 ML MacDonald 4/8 - 4:01 pm est
We need financial regulation and oversight by those honest individuals who care about the people of this nation who pay their taxes more than the corporate interests who don't. We need your help. Regulate and tax fairly.
4 Vicki Best 1/19 - 1:12 pm est
Hey why are we turning down the federal money for the fast rail system in Florida. That creates jobs, will cut down on pollution and let us all take day trips to other cities and improve the economy with our spending. Think about it instead of just being the no party.
5 Carol Easton 1/19 - 12:26 am est
6 Mary P Thompson 1/18 - 10:43 pm est
7 Susan Boyce 1/18 - 9:12 pm est
8 judy kramer 1/14 - 11:36 am est
9 Timothy Perkins 1/14 - 12:07 am est
10 becky runkle 1/13 - 8:40 pm est
11 Ray Lovelace 1/11 - 1:54 pm est
12 Susan Whalen-Sanders 1/9 - 10:06 pm est
13 angelo minerva 1/9 - 8:11 pm est
14 William Kahler 1/9 - 6:40 pm est
15 shirl levesconte 1/9 - 6:07 pm est
16 Denise Johnson 1/9 - 12:54 pm est
17 Delane Cunningham 1/9 - 12:48 pm est
18 12/19 - 8:21 pm est
19 LISA SAEVA ELMA New York 14059 11/13 - 8:11 pm est
20 Paula Haynes Port St Lucie Florida 34953 10/27 - 8:58 pm est
I grew up in a middle class home. I have a college degree, but I am now poor. I cannot pay all my monthly bills with my income. I am not lazy. Why am I so unfortunate?
21 Peachtree City Georgia 30269 10/23 - 1:12 am est
22 Kelly Owens Gwynn Oak Maryland 21207 10/4 - 10:39 pm est
Are there any local meetings in the Baltimore area? This is so refreshing. I am so glad this is here for those of us who are so tired of the ugliness in politics
23 Angela Lund Oswego New York 13126 9/27 - 10:12 pm est
24 Charlotte Greenbaum Stanford California 94305 9/11 - 1:30 pm est
25 Kennedy Nguyen Kansas City Missouri 64124 9/3 - 12:46 pm est
26 Todd Hudzinski Princeton Wisconsin 54968 9/1 - 10:33 pm est
27 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15235 8/31 - 8:48 pm est
I am lucky. I have a decent job (although not well paying) in a small business and some good health care choices. Unfortunately, my husband's is self-employed and few people are hiring him now. My two young adult sons are out of work, and they would take ANY job. One person cannot house, feed, and provide for his or her family anymore. It is a slippery slope and we are headed down it.
28 Frederic Petit Hoffman estates Illinois 60169 8/26 - 7:33 pm est
The US Health Care Industry OVERCHARGES its patients and UNDERPAYS its employees. The US Health Care Industry is the only industry in the US INCAPABLE of making more money by lowering its prices. The US Health Care industry is the most INEFFICIENT industry in the US. The US Health Care industry has built a de facto MONOPOLY and looks like the phone industry in the early 80's. The US Health Care industry is the FIRST CAUSE OF PERSONAL BANKRUPCY. The US Health Care industry is going to bankrupt americans and therefore to BANKRUPT AMERICA. The "US" Health Care industry is the only industry that has lost 30 MILLIONS customers and doesn't give a damn. I can get a very sophisticated computer for less than $400 and I can't get a basic test for twice than amount or so !!!! The "US" Health Care industry is only taking advantage of people's misery. The "US" Health Care industry is definitely an industry and a VERY BAD ONE ....
29 Danny Grant The Woodlands Texas 77381 8/24 - 7:50 pm est
30 Alice Mooney St. Louis Missouri 63116 8/24 - 12:49 pm est
31 dianne calder tega cay South Carolina 29708 8/21 - 8:26 pm est
32 Warren Klofkorn Phoenix Arizona 85016 8/21 - 5:48 pm est
The next time I hear somebody blame the poor Mexicans for our economic problems I'm going to puke. Probably I'll puke on whoever says it.
33 Lubec Maine 04652 8/21 - 5:06 pm est
34 Will Edwards-thro Yorktown Virginia 23692 8/21 - 2:48 pm est
35 Joe Thelin Ramona California 92065 8/21 - 2:31 pm est
36 Jean and Donald Clark Pleasant Hill Tennessee 38578 8/21 - 1:00 pm est
37 Kristen Poole Wellsville Pennsylvania 17365 8/20 - 11:07 pm est
38 CAROL GRAFFIUS NORMAN Oklahoma 73069 8/20 - 4:14 pm est
39 Greenville North Carolina 27834 8/19 - 12:09 am est
40 Grace Akbar Dallas Texas 75241 8/18 - 12:49 am est
41 M Bruce M Bruce Berberich Greenville North Carolina 27834 8/17 - 11:07 pm est
42 Susan Case Anchorage Alaska 99517 8/17 - 1:48 pm est
43 Randy Basden Douglas Wyoming 82633 8/16 - 7:40 pm est
Please quit playing petty politics and start working on real problems. Your job is to make a positive contribution to American life, not to "win" or be re-elected.
44 rose gordon newark New York 07104 8/16 - 2:17 pm est
45 Betty Hammond Ballston Spa New York 12020 8/15 - 8:00 pm est
46 Robert Bosgraaf Shelbyville Illinois 62562 8/15 - 10:17 am est
47 Adam Philbrick Easton Pennsylvania 18045 8/15 - 9:17 am est
48 newark New Jersey 07104 8/15 - 3:54 am est
The way things are going here I woud rater not even vote any more let the people take over the whole system of government.
49 Paul Agostini Newark New Jersey 07104 8/15 - 2:28 am est
It is vital that our public officials work together for the common good. Many of us are tired of the endless campaigning and positioning for the next election cycle. We need government to act now on behalf of its citizens and deal with the many pressing problems at hand.
50 Karen Blonigan Honolulou Hawaii 96825 8/15 - 1:06 am est
51 James rohrkemper Chatham Michigan 49816 8/14 - 7:11 pm est
52 Alan Teitel PORT WASHINGTON New York 11050 8/14 - 3:19 pm est
53 Melinda Hoss Homestead Florida 33035 8/14 - 11:18 am est
54 Teri MacGill Lone Tree Colorado 80124 8/14 - 10:20 am est
The masses are starting to rumble as our country seems to crumble. It is time to stop being selfish just because you already are rich. Warren Buffett and some other very rich folks are making some difference by pledging to give away much of their fortunes to charity foundations. That is a start. Now let's get it back to when the top 1% actually paid taxes, and didn't hold as much wealth as the "bottom" 95%. That is absolutely disgusting! Reaganomics doesn't work. The only thing that trickles down is "crap" ... and it doesn't just trickle. The rich are getting richer at alarming rates, the poor are getting poorer, the middle class is disappearing .. soon you will have no one left to pay any taxes at all. They are right, we are being taxed to death. But it is because the tax burden is not shared equitably. Back to a maximum tax rate of 50% on earned income, and 80% on unearned income, based on the amount of income. And eliminate the loopholes. How about we wipe the income tax base clean again, set up the deductions that really help the majority ... and then eave the rest out? We are turning ourselves into a third world country at least in terms of our infant mortality, the people with good health care, the number of poor and starving. HELP!!! And stop playing partisan politics. Your rhetoric is becoming very hollow. People are starting to see through it. Change or get out!!
55 Susan Gaylord Fayetteville North Carolina 28305 8/14 - 9:48 am est
56 Robert Geweniger Moorpark California 93021 8/13 - 11:55 am est
57 Sandra Priester Pocahontas Arkansas 72455 8/13 - 10:10 am est
58 Tamara Sikes Fountain Colorado 80817 8/12 - 9:35 pm est
My 3 sons, ages 18-23, are all back home, all unemployed. I am trying to support all of us on my income of $28k. They have begun donating plasma just to help pay for groceries. We need jobs and health care to be made available...not just to skilled, educated workers, but for young people trying to pay for further education!
59 Diana Estrada San Antonio Texas 78203 8/12 - 9:13 pm est
60 Karen Robertson Boone North Carolina 28607 8/12 - 2:16 pm est
61 Ruby Teegarden Birmingham Michigan 48009 8/12 - 1:52 pm est
62 John Sieverts Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15202 8/12 - 12:29 pm est
63 Thomas Oberhaus Risingsun Ohio 43457 8/12 - 12:13 pm est
64 Robin Cook Arlington Virginia 22209 8/12 - 12:10 pm est
65 Tammy Powell Colorado Springs Colorado 80909 8/12 - 7:30 am est
I don't understand why we have to sign petitions like this for humanity. Where's the compassion? Why does greed even exist? We're only here for a short time.
66 Sandra Miller West Branch Michigan 48661 8/11 - 7:46 pm est
Let's get back to the middle of the road and do the common sense thing about all this country does. Stop shipping jobs over seas and letting foreign countries have factories here and not leave some of the profit here in the U.S. Stop at all cost the hate and nastiness that has flooded the air waves.
67 Alicia Muller Spokane Washington 99223 8/11 - 2:53 pm est
68 Colleen DeCracker Lyons New York 14489 8/11 - 10:39 am est
69 Melissa Kramer Sedona Arizona 86336 8/11 - 1:21 am est
70 John Martinez Auburn Maine 04210 8/10 - 9:56 pm est
71 Patricia Histed Dickson CIty Pennsylvania 18447 8/10 - 8:49 pm est
About time
72 Michael Murphy Bellingham Washington 98225 8/10 - 4:56 pm est
There really is going too come a time when all of You are going to step up & fix what you have broken, or WE The People are going too oust you, ALL.
73 Suzanne Duvall Henrietta New York 14467 8/10 - 12:33 pm est
I am one of the many that is UNDERemployed. I had to sell my house and downsize, because of the recession. I lost my job; was out of work for 6 months, landed a job in research, making less than HALF my previous pay. But at least I have healthcare. I used to make a lot of money, I'm not able to do that anymore. I used to save a lot of money for my kids college and future, I can't do that anymore. I used to contribute to my 401k, I can't afford to save ANY right now. I have worked hard and been frugal all my life. The obscenely rich just keep getting richer. Things need to change!
74 David Schiller Charlton Massachusetts 01507 8/10 - 11:38 am est
75 Nancy Smith Kingston New York 12401 8/10 - 9:42 am est
76 James Ford Oakville Missouri 63129 8/10 - 9:37 am est
77 Mary Ober Pepper Pike Ohio 44124 8/10 - 1:05 am est
78 Christy Shane Lake Mills Wisconsin 53551 8/10 - 12:49 am est
79 Michael Rhodes Seven Valleys Pennsylvania 17360 8/9 - 11:44 pm est
80 Ethan Van Andel Grand Rapids Michigan 49506 8/9 - 11:22 pm est
81 Jane Parker Harrisburg Illinois 62946 8/9 - 10:49 pm est
82 Wendy Lovelace-Morris Goshen Kentucky 40026 8/9 - 5:17 pm est
83 Jan Nelson Salem Oregon 97302 8/9 - 2:35 pm est
84 Christopher Huff Omaha Nebraska 68124 8/9 - 9:13 am est
United we stand, Divided we fall. This divisive two party power play is killing us as a people and as a nation. We have always known we come from very different ethnic backgrounds. Yet what held us together as a nation was our belief in a dream of democracy, opportunity, and though we are are as different as can be, we ARE one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. ALL, not some. End the two party system.
85 Susan Petersen Rockland Massachusetts 02370 8/9 - 8:43 am est
I only drink iced coffee (LOL) but I agree with you 100%. I happen to be an out of work, trying-to-be-self-employed, graphic designer and artist who would be happy to rework your coffee cup logo if you're interested. (It's been 2 3/4 years since my layoff. Seems I'm too old to hire yet too young and poor to retire!) Coincidentally...I do graphics for the Dunkin' Donuts Independent Franchise Owners (DDIFO) so I do a lot of coffee and donuts stuff as well as "Independent Joe" magazine - for the all the "regular Joe's & Jo's" who own the shops. http://issuu.com/ddifo/docs/2010-02_indjoe_4_med_res Good luck with this initiative! Sue
86 Crista Cloutier scottsdale Arizona 85250 8/9 - 2:54 am est
87 Rhea Orion Napa California 94558 8/9 - 2:07 am est
88 evonne lovett Jackson Mississippi 39206 8/8 - 8:42 pm est
The country can't move forward until the people that we elected help us to do so. Politics are standing in the way of jobs. It is not about big government. I want the car in D not R. The government has helped Big business get on their feet, now it is time for Big business to do their part. It is not about just saying No to every thing that really would help the middle class and others.
89 Seattle Washington 98117 8/8 - 8:21 pm est
90 Christina Evans Helena Montana 59602 8/8 - 7:35 pm est
91 Heather Kelly Tucson Arizona 85749 8/8 - 6:10 pm est
92 Christopher Vacano Lake Forest Park Washington 98155 8/8 - 6:07 pm est
93 Michael Lanning New York New York 11106 8/8 - 4:57 pm est
The "Elite" of this country have created a "club" of sorts, that the wide majority of us are not members of....most of us are hard working members of a society we used to believe had our best interests in mind....they do not.....some of us (Tea Party, are you listening?) have gone off half cocked, believing whatever we hear (Fixed News, are YOU listening?) Priority one should be arming yourself with facts (see the excellent DVD, "The Corporation", read "Confessions Of An Economic Hit Man" or "What Orwell Didn't Know") to see exactly what good folks are truly up against.....all the best.....m
94 Terry Sterrenberg Bellevue Washington 98005 8/8 - 2:26 pm est
95 james russell tazewell Tennessee 37879 8/8 - 12:47 pm est
Remember you are still capable of being "fired" by the voters!
96 Trena Russell Tazewell Tennessee 37879 8/8 - 9:09 am est
97 Dana Palmer Charlottesville Virginia 22901 8/8 - 7:27 am est
98 Rafael Huertas Bronx New York 10462 8/8 - 1:17 am est
99 Melita Dees Port Charlotte Florida 33981 8/7 - 11:25 pm est
I lost my job due to the economy, now I am on unemployment for the first time in my life. When I was working I worked full time and in the eve. part time 2 jobs then, now none. My spouse is looking at unemployment now. We modified our home last Dec. and the taxes went up and took away any gain we would have benefited from. Now we can modify in Dec. through the hope foundation, but they are going to make our area a flood zone which requires more insurance so there goes any gain that we could have gotten by modifying. My neighborhood is beginning to look like a ghost village so many families have lost jobs,then there homes. These homes are sitting here getting weeds grown up around them and they are very new, it is extremely sad and disheartening. What are we suppose to do everyone start living in tents? Homeowners are now becoming homeless or if they are fortunate renters to a less expensive place. It is a shame when in America it is cheaper to rent than to own and to have owned or to have been purchasing a home and lose it. This is a sad state of affairs. I am in college for a Bachelors degree but is there going to be a job when I finish in less than two years from now? What is becoming of our great country?
100 Todd Sawasky Graham North Carolina 27253 8/7 - 11:14 pm est
I have been fighting a seemingly losing battle for going on 3 years now to keep a roof over my family's head and food in their belly's. I am running out of steam and am starting to have marital problems because of what is happening here which in turn is affecting my children. For every glimmer of something good that comes my way I know something bad is soon to follow to cast a shadow over and destroy any good that there was. Congress must do something and do it soon or myslef along with many other Working class Americans will be cast back to the middle ages where you fought to the death for a scrap of rotting meat left by some greedy pig in the street. WE NEED RELIEF AND WE NEED IT NOW OR YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A REAL PROBLEM ON YOUR HANDS. Eventually we will all get fed up enough to physically do something when we finally get the hint that our pleas are falling on deaf ears. I am not trying to make threats here merely stating the fact that every human has a breaking point and it is approaching in a lot of us. One can only bear to see ones family suffer so much before they do something out of desperation to try to fix the problem which almost always ends in a worse situation than what they started with .
101 Donald Becker St. Charles Missouri 63303 8/7 - 10:46 pm est
102 Marjorie Boggs Berryville Arkansas 72616 8/7 - 9:31 pm est
103 Mari Parker Roseville California 95678 8/7 - 7:47 pm est
I am so tired of all the money, time and energy spent on campaigning..........to get elected, to stay in office, to just stir up the s**t with the opposing parties. Plain and simple.....get to work!! Get something done !!! If you don't do your jobs we the voters will start campaigning to fire you. We all live in the real world on standards based on our performance. Why shouldn't you!!!!
104 Olive-Ann Travers Fountain Valley California 92708 8/7 - 5:47 pm est
Help those of us that work too hard. Help those of us who, in addition to working hard, cannot afford Healthcare; cannot afford food; cannot afford a place to live. Please help us now before the right-wing decides to send us to the death panels.
105 Barbara Hanson Pembroke Pines Florida 33026 8/7 - 4:52 pm est
Do the job you were elected to do and it doesn't matter which party has the ideas.
106 Molly Hagan Old Hickory Tennessee 37138 8/7 - 4:35 pm est
107 La Belle Florida 33935 8/7 - 4:29 pm est
108 Katherine Rhoda Monhegan Maine 04852 8/7 - 3:30 pm est
109 Teresa Kalen Baraboo Wisconsin 53913 8/7 - 2:11 pm est
110 Kathy Lineker Midlothian Virginia 23112 8/7 - 12:47 pm est
111 Linda Todd Lansing Illinois 60438 8/7 - 11:21 am est
112 Sarah Cleveland Ypsilanti Michigan 48197 8/7 - 11:09 am est
All 3 of my grown sons are unemployed. 2 of them are taking on debt to pay for college which who knows if they will ever have the means to pay back. But you can't get any kind of job these days without "higher education". Which of course is still no guarantee that there will be jobs available once they finish school.
113 Elizabeth Norris Royersford Pennsylvania 19468 8/7 - 10:12 am est
With two college age daughters, I lost my job. After looking for employment, I realized I will never be able to get the salary I made at my former workplace. I am now working part-time as a horticulturist for a country club. I have been a single mother for eighteen years, and have always managed to take good care of my daughters. With the younger one still at home and in school, I want to keep my home. I'm now 55 years old and tired when I get home from 5+ hours of landscape work. Most of my skills are now antiquated. The American dream is something truly elusive for me, and my home is all I really have left of that dream. How did this happen? I worked hard all my life, I married and had kids....some of my jobs lasted a decade or more. And here I am now - struggling. This is my America?
114 JANE BRYSON Scottdale Pennsylvania 15683 8/7 - 9:56 am est
115 Merritt Island Florida 32953 8/7 - 9:01 am est
116 Brunswick Ohio 44212 8/7 - 8:40 am est
The middle-class is under attack. We are going to end up a 3rd world nation of this is not addressed seriously.
117 Cathrine Nussbaum Locust Grove Virginia 22508 8/7 - 7:25 am est
There is no option but to help those of us who keep this country going. Without the middle class how do you think business gets done, taxes get paid, and your wars get fought? The cost of medical treatment to the Federal, state and local governments will go up for the uninsured. The welfare roles will continue to grow and families will fall apart. Get real people... you break the middle class and you've broken the country!
118 Gary Gogel Brighton Massachusetts 02135 8/7 - 7:21 am est
119 Donna Daltry Garnet Valley Pennsylvania 19060 8/7 - 6:06 am est
I am frantic with the knowledge that our US congress is totally inept at actually representing the Middle Class, and are being very adept at destroying it. CHANGE!!!!! You want the Federal Deficit to go away, create an atmosphere of Middle Class priority and the tax money will roll in. You want a robust economy, re-establish the Middle Class which you have destroyed. We have known and felt this DEPRESSION far longer than Congress has acknowledged it's existence because we have born the brunt of the consequences. CHANGE now!
120 janet thomas cleburne Texas 76031 8/7 - 4:35 am est
We DEMAND jobs for ALL in return for which contribution of our time and talents we SHALL receive a living wage. A living wage MUST be that which will cover basic NEEDS for food, clothing, shelter, transportation, continuing education, and health care. Insurance is not health care.
121 Orangevale California 95662 8/7 - 1:33 am est
My mother lost her job a year ago. She has worked her whole life. She's never had trouble finding work until now. At least once a week she goes to an interview. The last one she went to 400 other people applied for the same job. She's going to have to declare bankruptcy soon. My sister lost her job. Then her husband left her. Now she's living with her two sons and has no way to support them. In the past the rest of the family would have helped them, but these days, there's no way! My little brother is a college student. He's twenty-four years old and he's NEVER had a job. Who would hire someone without a job history these days? I work for the State of California. I fear for my job daily. I see the departments in my building disappearing. People are being laid off. We're being furloughed into the ground. The fact that big business is being given billions of dollars in help and we THE PEOPLE are being given the shaft is unacceptable. If you folks in Congress fear anything in this world, it should be an American with an empty stomach. I know we've been kind of fat and slow in the recent past, but trust me, when we can't feed our children, big changes happen.
122 Scott solliday Tempe Arizona 85281 8/7 - 12:52 am est
I saw a commentator on Fox News last night complaining about people not taking jobs because they can "make more money" collecting unemployment benefits. Really? I was laid off on February 1, 2010, and unemployment benefits pay less than 1/4 of my previous salary. Should a person with 20-30 years in a professional career take a job at Jack in the Box? Should we just kill our careers and settle for low-paying menial work so we are not a burden to the federal budget? What about our education, our experience, our skills, not to mention our families that depend upon us? Should we just give up our careers and our dreams? The unemployed is a growing community (through no fault of our own) and we have more reason than ever to pay attention and vote accordingly.
123 Floodwood Minnesota 55736 8/7 - 12:08 am est
124 Omaha Nebraska 68108 8/6 - 11:48 pm est
125 Terry Mitchell SLC Utah 84109 8/6 - 11:22 pm est
I hope there comes a day that our leaders decide to represent the ACTUAL people in America, not the corporations recently deemed people that line our leaders pockets, and act with true conscience for the greater good of AMERICA!
126 Naches Washington 98937 8/6 - 10:45 pm est
127 Micheline Nicol Santa Clarita California 91355 8/6 - 10:42 pm est
We will remember in November every vote cast and how it was cast. Wake uo and do the right thing!!! Thank you to all who are trying --- we also know who you are.
128 Gale Fisher Rockaway New Jersey 07866 8/6 - 10:13 pm est
My 60 year old husband has been laid off for 16 months. Collecting unemployment, no hopes of finding a job, cobra ran out end of July, now have to get private health insurance, which is basic coverage for which the monthly payment is 1/3 of what he gets for unemployment which will eventually run out. Then, after all our years of planning and being thrifty with our money, I guess all that we have saved for retirement will go down the drain. We thought we did everything right. Is this the AMERICAN DREAM or the AMERICAN NIGHTMARE?!?
129 eric seal louisville Kentucky 40207 8/6 - 9:59 pm est
Stop being racist against poor people!!!! Do the right thing and protect the american people!!!
130 denise richardson spring city Pennsylvania 19475 8/6 - 9:54 pm est
Compassionate, responsible, selfless politicians need more publicity. I'm sick of Mama Grizzlies and screaming men with double chins. We need our President's cabinet to stand up and paint a clear concise picture of what is happening and why. Sadly we live in a world of soundbytes which makes this difficult. Hopefully there are a few good puzzle makers on our side who can cobble one liners together for each cabinet member to use. We as the Coffee Party need some public exposure - Compassion, Civility, Conscience, Caring
131 Michelle Cohen Elkins Park Pennsylvania 19027 8/6 - 9:50 pm est
New jobs MUST be created and they must be created NOW!
132 Monique Yeaton Arlington Massachusetts 02476 8/6 - 9:50 pm est
133 Jamie Quiroga Spring Texas 77379 8/6 - 9:49 pm est
PLease stop funding programslike USAID that facilitate offshoring jobs. Spend that money training Americans and reward companies who hire here and stay here!
134 Zain Orion Edmonds Washington 98026 8/6 - 9:42 pm est
135 Kate Richardson belvidere New Jersey 07823 8/6 - 9:35 pm est
136 Kevin Crivelli Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15108 8/6 - 9:35 pm est
137 Ellen McConnell Lansing Michigan 48911 8/6 - 9:25 pm est
Yes, we are tired of all the fighting while many of us fellow Americans are fighting for simple survival. I am a full-time working mother of three with an almost $30K salary at a small regional mutual insurance company where I have been employed nearly 13 years. My spouse was laid off from his place of employment of tens years in June 2009. We absolutely need the small unemployment benefit he receives simply to ensure we keep our house and put meals on the table. There are very few employment opportunities here in MI and the competetion for each one is fierce. In order for my husband to work temporary positions, after paying $50 per day for childcare, gas & meal expenses it would literally cost us for him to go to work with no guarantee & little chance of permanent. I have contemplated my other biggest expense; dropping the health & dental insurance that costs over 1/4 of my income before copays and deductibles. Only in an emergency can we even use our health insurance, so as to not incur any huge medical bills that will cause detriment the monthly family budget. We did not over-extend on a mortgage (we were approved for triple the amount of our home in 2006 when we were outgrowing our small starter home). We do not spend extravagently, in fact I'm not sure how my kids will have new backpacks, school clothes and suppplies in a few short weeks. In the meantime we must hold onto our livlihood on my income while my spouse re-trains himself to become gainfully employable in this horrible economy where the politicians only seem to care about strategy for getting their own agendas met or their next re-election.
138 Scot Larrabee Brunswick Maine 04011 8/6 - 9:21 pm est
139 Alexis Michael Beverly New Jersey 08010 8/6 - 9:20 pm est
I'm sorry. I missed the memo that said I was supposed to play around while collecting unemployment. In a couple of weeks, I will have been unemployed two years. Two days after that I will be 60 years old. I've spent the last two years sending out 1082 resumes (I confess I stopped keeping precise records after about 750 when I realized that they were mostly going into that big ol' black hole where resumes go to die-so it's probably a bit more than 1082). I have had dozens of calls from recruiters, ten phone interviews and five face-to-face interviews and no luck. I have worked continuously for 25 years. Before that I worked as a maid to pay my way through college and support a child as a single parent. At the 'end' of my career I was in the very high five figure salary range. I'm told I'm 'over qualified'. I think that's code for 'too old'. I've lied about my salary. I've reworked a resume written for a technical career into one to apply for clerical jobs. I have stunning letters of reference. But everything just gets sucked into that black hole. Now I'm learning that companies are not even considering unemployed persons. I don't know what to do, but I do know what will happen in the very near future. I've exhausted all my savings-including what was left of my 401k after the beating it took in the stock market (we won't get into that handout ..er.. bailout). Foreclosure is imminent and then my financial ruin will be complete. A box under a bridge for me. And during those late night stark panic attacks I keep thinking-How many folks are feeling the same way? I've always taken pride in my independence. I didn't give up. America gave up on me.
140 Jessica Abrams Los Angeles California 90004 8/6 - 9:03 pm est
141 Henry Stopher Lago Vista Texas 78645 8/6 - 8:55 pm est
You're representatives, so start representing us.
142 Lita Brown Decatur Georgia 30032 8/6 - 8:24 pm est
I'm a high school librarian whose retirement is not being paid into. I have not had a raise in 3 years. In fact, my salary was cut this year and I am working fewer days. My state is in crisis. My county is in crisis. My friends across America are saying the same things. We need Depression Era public works projects, NOW. Don't think we aren't in a depression because you're doing ok. WE are not. Find a way to get the nation working or get out of the way and let someone else do it. Stop thinking of yourselves (not passing the 9/11 paid medical because you like that loop hole). You work for us. Start acting like it.
143 Cassie Welliver Olympia Washington 98501 8/6 - 7:55 pm est
My husband and I were both laid off due to budget cuts by the State of Washington last year. I have still not been able to find a job, and my husband has only been able to find a part-time position. We have gone through all our savings and retirement money in an attempt to keep current with our bills and mortgage, while negotiating with the bank (Wells Fargo) to modify our loan. The bank has refused to make any modifications, and the only answer we got from Making Home Affordable was that we qualify, but if the bank refuses to make a modification, we will just have to get better jobs! How does this help?!
144 Minneaplis Minnesota 55406 8/6 - 7:39 pm est
Yes, this is literally about physical survival. We are not in a recession, but a depression; Paul Krugman is now referring to this period as The Third Depression. Things are very much like the 1870s and 1890s. We need to remember that people literally died during depressions. We need to address the human consequences of this period. Or, we need to decide we don't care and let people die as policy.
145 Patricia Boyle Camp Hill Pennsylvania 17011 8/6 - 7:22 pm est
I became unemployed for medical reasons, FMLA ran out, after completing treatments I was able to return to the work force at the same time as the economic melt down. Because disability payments are not considered income I was not eligible for unemployment. At this point I have no income and am living off my IRA, it would help if the 10% penalty for early withdraw was discontinued for people with no other option but to withdraw the money.
146 jacksonville Florida 32246 8/6 - 7:04 pm est
147 Barbara Mercurio Plantation Florida 33325 8/6 - 7:02 pm est
We are dying down here. I've been looking for a job for over a year and not even McDonalds is hiring. I have zero money, no health insurance and I must take medication daily for seizures. I take it every three days. I haven't had a meat meal in many months. And I heard Biden say he would never let the people of the USA do without basic needs. What a bunch of crap spuewed from his lips when he said that. I'm sure he enjoys his "dinner" every night and his A/C and luxuries. Sure he cana talk, this doesn't affect him.
148 Margy Rydzynski Arlington Massachusetts 02474 8/6 - 7:00 pm est
Jobs, including help and support for people who are self-employed. That includes health insurance reform that really means something.
149 Ron Meyer Rochester New York 14428 8/6 - 6:47 pm est
150 Bob Parker St Paul Minnesota 55106 8/6 - 6:47 pm est
For the money given to Wall Street and the Big Banks, every single citizen in the US could have been more than saved. I want to open my own business now, because at the age of 54, no one seems to be willing to hire me. What are my alternatives? Is it at the end of a rope?
151 Renee Clauson Bayfield Colorado 81122 8/6 - 6:40 pm est
In June of 2009 my husband was laid off work as a contractor sales man of 25 year. In Aug 2009 he got pneumonia and sepses and was in a medical induced coma. He was in the hospital for over 3 months. He has permanent nerve damage from drugs given to him in the hospital to save his life. We have no idea if he will ever fully recover from the nerve damage. He has looked for work but with the economy and the fact that at this point in time his abilities are pretty limited because of the nerve damage.
152 Matt Feifarek Madison Wisconsin 53704 8/6 - 6:23 pm est
153 Tammy Smith Santee California 92071 8/6 - 6:18 pm est
I have never seen so much heartlessness coming from our leaders as I am seeing today. What is wrong with all of you? I am so disgusted that I want to leave America. That is what this has come to. Why is compassion such a bad thing with you people? You are turning America into a cold, horrible nation, and I don't like it. Stop this, now.
154 Sabrina Habib gainesville Florida 32601 8/6 - 6:14 pm est
as a small business owner that supported a family of four for 8 years we are now having the hardest time paying our bills, rolling over credit card payments and having to do side jobs such as paint houses to make ends meet. While we do that we take time away from our business, hurt our reputation and take jobs away from painters, a loose-loose situation. We don't qualify for govt. help because we own the property, which is for sale for a price that will give a loss of 70k. Health insurance, spending incentives, tax cuts, anything helps.
155 Frederick Maryland 21704 8/6 - 6:13 pm est
Need help, please. Unemployed and close to foreclosure, or possibly bankruptcy.
156 Shelley Caldwell Dallas Texas 75287 8/6 - 6:09 pm est
Two years ago, I lost my job of 29 years. I'm not eligible for unemployment in Texas as I started taking distribution on a small pension to be able to pay for our health insurance. Since then I've been helping my husband in his (very) small business, which this month will turn 25 years old. It was in the black every year from 1985 to 2007. Now we're keeping it "afloat" (?) on high-interest credit-card debt. While a bailout a la Wall Street's would be nice, most of us on Main Street would settle for fair treatment, and we're not getting it. Congress can make it happen, or can continue to let our country go down in flames. It's up to you.
157 Phoenix Arizona 85016 8/6 - 6:09 pm est
Many people forget that those who are self-employed don't show up among the unemployed. Business has been very slow the last two years, and our savings are about gone. While we are grateful we have been able to survive and know we are far luckier than many, it's hard to read about tax breaks for the rich and people being happy with their employer-provided health insurance when you're facing a day-to-day struggle to survive.
158 Ben Kloepper St. Louis Missouri 63215 8/6 - 6:05 pm est
159 Charlotte North Carolina 28227 8/6 - 5:56 pm est
Many friends have been laid off, husband's job will be "downsized" soon. Food & necessity prices just keep rising while taxes eat half of our paychecks...those of us who still draw a paycheck. Washington is BROKEN! How can those people sit there in a city full of monuments to individual sacrifice for the common good of our country's citizens (which meant a living, breathing human in 1776) and continue to support the broken CORPORATE state? Humans must have relief...at the expense of the corporate citizens...turn around & help us before it is too late...
160 Mary Jane Jones Las Vegas Nevada 89129 8/6 - 5:54 pm est
My daughter recently had a baby in May. Her husband was laid off a week later. My son lost both his house and his job in the last six months. My other daughter just graduated with a bachelor's degree in nursing and is afraid she won't be able to find a job. She and her husband are more that $100,000 underwater on their home. My husband and I work for the USPS. We both have more than 20 years in and are just hoping there will be something there when we are ready to retire.
161 Judy Case Lakewood California 90715 8/6 - 5:45 pm est
I've lost my job and now my house. I'm on an eviction notice from the bank that took my house. My elderly mother lives with me and she is handicapped. Where the hell am I supposed to go!!!???!!
162 Bella Montgomery La Mesa California 91942 8/6 - 5:44 pm est
Rep. Weiner was one of the first clear and honest voices we have heard in a long time. Holding back help from people for political reasons has never been quite so obvious or visible. May men and women of truth and honesty speak up before it is too late.
163 Scott Slater Brooklyn New York 11237 8/6 - 5:44 pm est
Enough is enough.
164 Janet Duffy-Strough Pflugerville Texas 78660 8/6 - 5:42 pm est
165 Michael Krusemark Glendale Arizona 85306 8/6 - 5:41 pm est
166 debi peterson palm coast Florida 32137 8/6 - 5:41 pm est
167 Shannen O'Guinn Oroville California 95965 8/6 - 5:39 pm est
Rent is sky high and food is up there too, gas is astronomical and it's only going to get worse if we can't give back like we want to because we are not given the choice, I have worked all my life and I am still not exactly employable for the real world, but I do have way's of at least keeping my head above water, BARELY! When they cut both of my checks they took away the money that I used to pay my utilities, and when I ask for help with the community action board, they were out of funding. They made us feel like when they cut SSI and SSD that we could not appeal it and that was that.........WAIT A MINUTE.......We paid into that and it should be our's, not to mention all the taxes we paid in over our years of labor. We need help...
168 Carole Sheehy Woodbridge Virginia 22193 8/6 - 5:36 pm est
The government needs to come down HARD on the banks that happily took the bailout funds, yet are still not making loans or approving mortgage modifications. Wasn't that the primary goal of the bailouts in the first place?? From my perspective as a homeowner going through hell to try to get a mortgage modification, it appears the banks, aided & abetted by the government, have blithely stolen money from the U.S. taxpayers, and are getting away with it before our very eyes. Who's going to bail the rest of us out, and when??
169 Marina Donovan Boston Massachusetts 02125 8/6 - 5:36 pm est
170 Gary Kresge Stroudsburg Pennsylvania 18360 8/6 - 5:35 pm est
I'm a professional artist [landscape painter] represented by 5 galleries and the market is DEAD! I've been in the fine art business for 35 years and I have never seen the market this bad.
171 Jacksonville Florida 32246 8/6 - 5:34 pm est
It really hurts my feelings to hear people say I am "living off" of unemployment at $275 a week in Florida! I can't afford a place to live (last year I had to give up my apartment) and I couch surf with family. I sold what I could and put the rest of my things in storage. I barely can afford the bills I do have which includes COBRA. I have medical issues and without health insurance not sure what would happen to me. It's a scary thought! I look everyday and weekend day for jobs and apply to hundreds. I am still hopefully something comes along! I pray to God for his grace.
172 SHELBY Montana 59474 8/6 - 5:34 pm est
173 Saint Ann Missouri 63074 8/6 - 5:33 pm est
Two college grads (married hetero couple for 23 yrs.), over 50, BOTH of whom have been "downsized" from $70,000+ jobs, each, in the last year and a half: one employed at job for 15 years and the other for 11 years. We are looking at budget every week to see what we can do without to keep our roof over our heads and have health insurance until we reach 65. We have STERLING job history & references, and excellent credit history. We are hanging onto the middle class by our fingernails. FIX THE PROBLEMS WITH OUR ECONOMY. PLEASE. AND QUICKLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
174 lyn savino tampa Florida 33629 8/6 - 5:29 pm est
175 Sheryl Weichbrodt Raleigh North Carolina 27603 8/6 - 5:29 pm est
176 Carla Freitas Alioona Alabama 35952 8/6 - 5:27 pm est
177 Steven Ray Davies San Francisco California 94103 8/6 - 5:27 pm est
178 linda risatti Athol Massachusetts 01331 8/6 - 3:46 pm est
179 kathleen bryant Cedar Park Texas 78613 8/6 - 2:59 pm est
United we stand, divided we FAIL!!
180 Emma Beverage Navasota Texas 77868 8/6 - 2:16 pm est
181 Louis Evangelista APO AE New York 09123 8/6 - 2:13 pm est
182 Kathleen Angier Ripton Vermont 05766 8/6 - 7:49 am est
YES--at first look I thought; "man, another reactionary hate-fest". Yes, let's leave the separatism out of it and move forward with common sense and compassion.
183 Joanne Robrahn Palm Coast Florida 32137 8/5 - 5:38 pm est
We need more activism in the House and Senate.
184 Lynne Lefler Grangeville Idaho 83530 8/5 - 3:56 pm est
Repeal tax cuts for the rich. Pass a balance budget ammendment for perpetuity...NOT just for political advantage! Tax incentives to ALL businesses for the first two years of new-hires.
185 STEPHANIE ROBERTS Garden Grove California 92845 8/5 - 3:37 pm est
186 Jenifer Destroyer Las Vegas Nevada 89103 8/5 - 3:27 pm est
We need to stop giving these ingrates raises, or just suspend their paychecks altogether until they fix this economy and quit sending out all our resources to FOREIGN nations. Failure to do an adequate job is grounds for dismissal, and the decisions these reps are making are not good ones. They need to quit all the posturing and give us back our jobs, and our well being. I see a future of our out-of-work citizens turning to crime to feed their families and pay their bills, I see riots in the streets of every major city in this country by year's end, and I see people dying in the steets of starvation and exposure to the elements. Sound like a great future to you?
187 KAren Zentz Lees SUmmit Missouri 64081 8/5 - 3:22 pm est
We as a country have the right to vote on a candidate for President. The candidate with the majority wins and that is our president for the next 4 years. Like them or not that candidate is the new leader of our country. That is how America works. What happened to the rules and the AMerican Way, this past election??? The Republicans have made trouble since the elction was won by the first Bi-Racial candidate. This is not the American way.. The new President is given 4 years to do something right for ALL od America. If not that person is not re-elected. But they get that 4 years to try... Republicans by trying to divide this country is makin git even easier for terrorists to strike. Because of all this unrest. So if you all love this country as much as you say you do. QUIT THIS FIGHTING AND DIVISION> LET THE MAN DO HIS JOB> HE WAS ELECTED ACCEPT IT AND GO ON....
188 KATHLEEN DARGAN MANCHESTER Connecticut 06040 8/4 - 11:07 pm est
189 Nancy & John Granger St Augustine Florida 32092 8/4 - 7:00 pm est
Having just recently 'found' The Coffee Party, I am so pleased to be among a bipartisan group of fellow citizens who want FACTS -- not opinion, who prefer civility and respect of one another -- not THEATRICS or RUDE & CRUDE behavior, who prefer impartiality -- not the shouting of what they SHOULD think, etc. This group demonstrates Democracy!
190 alan wuest Redlands California 92374 8/4 - 6:54 pm est
this is a msg to congress,im 54 yrs old and nobody will hire me . I had a stroke in 05 and do work at pizza hut but can't pay bills I had when I was a truck driver and bank of america wont modify my home loan.I'll be homeless in a few months because my loan is in default. the gov't helped the banks and wall st why not me get me working and let pay my bills ,to be a true american. Joe worker
191 Daniel Kreyer Santa Barbara California 93101 8/4 - 6:05 pm est
192 Misti Neal Charleston Illinois 61920 8/4 - 1:48 pm est
193 Julian Keith Wilmington North Carolina 28403 8/4 - 12:00 pm est
194 Marge Eiseman Shorewood Wisconsin 53211 8/4 - 10:34 am est
195 Carol Wood Worthington Ohio 43085 8/4 - 8:48 am est
196 Lynn Englund Winona Minnesota 55987 8/4 - 7:01 am est
Instead of pouring money into schools and infrastructure in Iraq and Afghanistan please help the people of this country first...Remember what happens when you say "let them eat cake"....It's time to make jobs, offer healthcare and fix the infastructure of OUR country!!!!
197 Eileen Connell Overland Park Kansas 66223 8/4 - 2:23 am est
198 George Warco Greenville South Carolina 29607 8/4 - 12:51 am est
199 Chris Cherry Winnsboro South Carolina 29180 8/3 - 11:43 pm est
200 Ontario Oregon 97914 8/3 - 10:57 pm est
You people ought to be ashamed of yourselves!