The Great Recession that started in December 2007 ended in June 2009 and recovery began to be a reality for certain sectors of the U.S. economy. However, involuntary unemployment remain high among more and more families who had depleted their savings, lost their homes, and for many people, lost their hope. Unemployment is down, but for many people, they have not recovered from long periods of involuntary unemployment. U.S. citizens living in one of the most advanced nations in the world, rich in resources, talent, and knowledge--all the ingredients for prosperity and a decent standard of living for all-- remain in a state of intense pain.
Too many people on so-called Main Street (which include side streets, back streets, the back roads, the other side of the tracks) are finding today that they cannot succeed no matter how hard they work, and no matter how scrupulously they follow the rules. At the same time, other Americans, including the worst of Wall Street, apparently cannot fail--no matter how inept, corrupt, or lazy they are, and no matter how many times they break the rules. President Obama, in his State of the Union address, tried to reassure ordinary citizens that there is still hope, but we have to help him make America do the right thing for all of its citizens.
There are 400 families controlling more wealth than 180 million Americans. But corporate America's millions of casualties are beginning to find their voices, stand together, and fight back against joblessness, homelessness, and despair. Inclusion and fairness must continue to be the mantra as the movement of millions of people--committed to fixing our democracy--find solutions to income inequality while progressive business groups find new pathways to prosperity for their communities.
There is always some unemployment in a complex, dynamic economy like that of twenty-first century America. However, "not since the 1930s have so many Americans find themselves seemingly trapped in a permanent state of joblessness." Long-term employment is deeply demoralizing for workers anywhere. Losing your job often means losing your health insurance, household family savings are depleted, bill can't be paid, and homes are lost. Lose a job in this economy and you will find it hard to find another. And if you stay unemployed long enough, you will be considered unemployable. The blow to this dilemma is also a blow to dignity and self-respect.
In America today, we have both the knowledge and the tools to end this suffering of involuntary unemployment. Being a citizen in America means different things to people. But the center of gravity is always the same: in our country, an ordinary person with citizenship--who was not born with great wealth or a famous last name, but who is willing to apply herself of himself--should be able to find employment, live in a safe community, make progress financially, retire with dignity, and give her or his children a better life. We are talking about living a life of consumption; it is about being able to live a life with meaning and purpose, productivity and contribution. Thus, using smart choices, honesty, and hard work should be sufficient keys to a fulfilling life.
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