lbey
08-05-2008, 05:31 PM
Dear Mr. President Bush:
I doubt if you will ever read this but I need to have my voice heard. My husband and I have grown up in this county, gone to school here and we are raising our children here. I have watched this town go from blue collar workers to very rich people who have chased our mom and pop stores away as well as our friends and families. It saddens me that the middle class is quickly going away. I foresee the future as either wealthy or poor people. I have worked in this county for over 10 years. My husband has worked as a journeyman mechanic for over 25 years. We have alway s thought that we made a pretty decent income, enough to scrape by each month. We have two children, a daughter in college and a son who is graduating high school 1 year early. They both have worked since they were little whether it be volunteering or for a paycheck.
My husband recently had to have surgery due to an injury at work and is not working. Each month has been a struggle for us to make ends meet. I am watching as our family is slowly going down the tubes along with other families. The insurance company actually had the audacity to deny his surgery. My husband’s doctor did the surgery under our insurance or he would have been permanently disabled. I am not sure if you are aware of what is happening to the middle class especially here in California nor do I feel that you care because I don‘t think you or your family has ever had to worry about these issues.
I have been paying back taxes for the last 5 years and I asked that they are deducted from my paycheck, Federal and State. I have my medical, dental, and other misc. things deducted. By the time I get my paycheck it is not even enough to pay bills and put food on the table. About 2 weeks ago I received a letter regarding my stimulus payment and how I was going to receive $1,500.00 on July 6, 2008. I was extremely happy because it was coming at a time that we needed it the most. My check never came. I called the IRS after sitting on hold for over an hour and I was told that it was going to my back taxes and there wasn’t a thing I could do about it. Why would they ever have sent a letter saying it was coming? Isn’t a stimulus check suppose to help stimulate the country, wasn’t that the purpose? Or is it just another ploy so that the American people think they are getting something. I think it is more of a gas stimulus payment. I actually thought wow I can go and pick up some groceries and pay some bills. Boy was I wrong, disgusted and disappointed.
I do not see any relief in site. I have been trying to ration food, gas, money and anything else I can. I do not feel that it is fair or right that we are being drug down by the price of gas, food, insurance cost and everything else. I have watched a very good friend, who is a single parent struggling so that she can make sure that her daughter stays in college at the expense of herself. She received a letter that she may be laid off in September after 10 years. What will she do, she is 60 years old? I have watched my relatives struggle to keep their heads afloat and work harder then they have ever worked before, when they should be retiring. My cousin has a debilitating psychological disorder and can not get any help at all. He has no job or medical insurance but was denied by everyone. Is this right? I feel that if I was either an illegal immigrant or a homeless person there would be more opportunities and programs for me, my family and friends.
I am trying to keep my kids in college so that one day maybe their voice may make a difference. Every year the tuition has gone up and this being my daughters Senior year and my son starting college in January I am scared. I have no idea how I am going to pay for their education anymore. Student loans are not that easy to come by even with the small amount that the government lends you after filling out a FAFSA, it is still not enough to pay for college. I have watched kids from lower income families have so many college opportunities handed to them. They will go to college (all expenses paid) never see a student loan payment or have to give back something for what they received. Mean while I am working myself to death at a hospital and watching indigent people slowly crippling our hospital and county. Currently, our hospital is laying off many of the workers due the fact that we are in a deficit of 12 million dollars. These people want to work and provide for their families but are being forced out of their positions because the system is being abused. I see patients drive up in very expensive cars and they are on well fair and sucking the system dry. My cousin who truly needs help with his health and getting back on his feet is not entitled to the same benefits? He was told that he should just get a job because he has a college degree. Do people with college degrees n ot get sick or have problems? Is the system only for whomever they want to help. A psychological disorder is just as debilitating as a physical disorder. Why is this? Do we not know how to work the system and take advantage of what other people are approved for?
Our friends son is in the Marines because he feels that everyone should serve their country. Is it right that he is risking his life and the United States can’t even supply him with fatigues, boots and the necessary equipment he needs to serve his country. He has to buy everything, I don’t understand this mentality other than the fact that nobody really cares about their well being. I have seen patients come into our hospital that should be going to the VA for medical care. The care there is substandard at the VA. We have a very good friend who did 3 tours in Vietnam and would serve in Iraq if he could. He has shr apnel in his knee, has had brain surgery to remove a tumor (caused by agent orange) and can not get the proper care or benefits he needs.
Everything that I have mentioned is the real world. I never thought that this country would come to this and it is shameful. The people of the United States are in trouble and it is more important to help all the other countries that never come to our aid and to grant amnesty to whomever wants it. Have you forgotten about all of us “We the People?” I have never experienced having to see so much pain in our society than I have in the past years. Teachers are so underpaid that they have to move away or share apartments with 4 people just to get by. This is how they are paid back for trying to mold our future. There are so many killings, panhandling, homelessness, and hatred because of our economy right now. People are stealing so they can feed their families or put gas in their cars to go to work to provide for their families. They are trying to get fired because they would get more money on unemployment then putting gas in their tanks. They are calling AAA for gas to get 5 free gallons. Is it right that every day we have to decide if we are going to eat, pay for gas, PG&E or water? I don’t know about you but I can’t afford $5.00 per gallon for gas. I am sure that this is not an issue for you, your family or friends but this is a reality for most of us. We are all in a state of emergency and our lives are slowly being taken from us along with our freedom.
I am just one person and I know there is nothing that I can do, but I needed to write this letter in hopes that maybe my voice (a small chance that it is) will be heard.
Sincerely,
A concerned hard working American
I doubt if you will ever read this but I need to have my voice heard. My husband and I have grown up in this county, gone to school here and we are raising our children here. I have watched this town go from blue collar workers to very rich people who have chased our mom and pop stores away as well as our friends and families. It saddens me that the middle class is quickly going away. I foresee the future as either wealthy or poor people. I have worked in this county for over 10 years. My husband has worked as a journeyman mechanic for over 25 years. We have alway s thought that we made a pretty decent income, enough to scrape by each month. We have two children, a daughter in college and a son who is graduating high school 1 year early. They both have worked since they were little whether it be volunteering or for a paycheck.
My husband recently had to have surgery due to an injury at work and is not working. Each month has been a struggle for us to make ends meet. I am watching as our family is slowly going down the tubes along with other families. The insurance company actually had the audacity to deny his surgery. My husband’s doctor did the surgery under our insurance or he would have been permanently disabled. I am not sure if you are aware of what is happening to the middle class especially here in California nor do I feel that you care because I don‘t think you or your family has ever had to worry about these issues.
I have been paying back taxes for the last 5 years and I asked that they are deducted from my paycheck, Federal and State. I have my medical, dental, and other misc. things deducted. By the time I get my paycheck it is not even enough to pay bills and put food on the table. About 2 weeks ago I received a letter regarding my stimulus payment and how I was going to receive $1,500.00 on July 6, 2008. I was extremely happy because it was coming at a time that we needed it the most. My check never came. I called the IRS after sitting on hold for over an hour and I was told that it was going to my back taxes and there wasn’t a thing I could do about it. Why would they ever have sent a letter saying it was coming? Isn’t a stimulus check suppose to help stimulate the country, wasn’t that the purpose? Or is it just another ploy so that the American people think they are getting something. I think it is more of a gas stimulus payment. I actually thought wow I can go and pick up some groceries and pay some bills. Boy was I wrong, disgusted and disappointed.
I do not see any relief in site. I have been trying to ration food, gas, money and anything else I can. I do not feel that it is fair or right that we are being drug down by the price of gas, food, insurance cost and everything else. I have watched a very good friend, who is a single parent struggling so that she can make sure that her daughter stays in college at the expense of herself. She received a letter that she may be laid off in September after 10 years. What will she do, she is 60 years old? I have watched my relatives struggle to keep their heads afloat and work harder then they have ever worked before, when they should be retiring. My cousin has a debilitating psychological disorder and can not get any help at all. He has no job or medical insurance but was denied by everyone. Is this right? I feel that if I was either an illegal immigrant or a homeless person there would be more opportunities and programs for me, my family and friends.
I am trying to keep my kids in college so that one day maybe their voice may make a difference. Every year the tuition has gone up and this being my daughters Senior year and my son starting college in January I am scared. I have no idea how I am going to pay for their education anymore. Student loans are not that easy to come by even with the small amount that the government lends you after filling out a FAFSA, it is still not enough to pay for college. I have watched kids from lower income families have so many college opportunities handed to them. They will go to college (all expenses paid) never see a student loan payment or have to give back something for what they received. Mean while I am working myself to death at a hospital and watching indigent people slowly crippling our hospital and county. Currently, our hospital is laying off many of the workers due the fact that we are in a deficit of 12 million dollars. These people want to work and provide for their families but are being forced out of their positions because the system is being abused. I see patients drive up in very expensive cars and they are on well fair and sucking the system dry. My cousin who truly needs help with his health and getting back on his feet is not entitled to the same benefits? He was told that he should just get a job because he has a college degree. Do people with college degrees n ot get sick or have problems? Is the system only for whomever they want to help. A psychological disorder is just as debilitating as a physical disorder. Why is this? Do we not know how to work the system and take advantage of what other people are approved for?
Our friends son is in the Marines because he feels that everyone should serve their country. Is it right that he is risking his life and the United States can’t even supply him with fatigues, boots and the necessary equipment he needs to serve his country. He has to buy everything, I don’t understand this mentality other than the fact that nobody really cares about their well being. I have seen patients come into our hospital that should be going to the VA for medical care. The care there is substandard at the VA. We have a very good friend who did 3 tours in Vietnam and would serve in Iraq if he could. He has shr apnel in his knee, has had brain surgery to remove a tumor (caused by agent orange) and can not get the proper care or benefits he needs.
Everything that I have mentioned is the real world. I never thought that this country would come to this and it is shameful. The people of the United States are in trouble and it is more important to help all the other countries that never come to our aid and to grant amnesty to whomever wants it. Have you forgotten about all of us “We the People?” I have never experienced having to see so much pain in our society than I have in the past years. Teachers are so underpaid that they have to move away or share apartments with 4 people just to get by. This is how they are paid back for trying to mold our future. There are so many killings, panhandling, homelessness, and hatred because of our economy right now. People are stealing so they can feed their families or put gas in their cars to go to work to provide for their families. They are trying to get fired because they would get more money on unemployment then putting gas in their tanks. They are calling AAA for gas to get 5 free gallons. Is it right that every day we have to decide if we are going to eat, pay for gas, PG&E or water? I don’t know about you but I can’t afford $5.00 per gallon for gas. I am sure that this is not an issue for you, your family or friends but this is a reality for most of us. We are all in a state of emergency and our lives are slowly being taken from us along with our freedom.
I am just one person and I know there is nothing that I can do, but I needed to write this letter in hopes that maybe my voice (a small chance that it is) will be heard.
Sincerely,
A concerned hard working American