wearethe99percent:

At the age of 22, the most I’ve made per hour is $9.50.  I have worked on the books since I was fifteen, and babysat before that.  My family was working class down to our roots.  My dad worked two sometimes three jobs to make ends meet…and my mom still had to go to work. 

When I left on maternity leave, I was making little more than 8 dollars an hour.  After the baby, I was informed that since I didn’t qualify for FMLA, I was being let go.  I could “reinterview” for my position.  I was on unemployment for about four months, which paid less than 200 dollars a week.  How do you provide for a baby on that??  Then, when I applied for assistance, they told me we made too much money.  I wanted to ask the lady where that extra money was, cause I could sure use it right about now…

Thankfully, I got a job now; but we are just barely afloat.  I see no decent cars in our future, nor do I see us able to buy a house.  I shop at discount grocery store, I buy second hand, and the dollar store are my saving grace. 

I would like to feel secure from week to week.  I would like to have a savings account, and be able to put away money for my baby to go to school.  I would like to buy a house and have a reliable car that isn’t jimmy rigged together.  I am not afraid of working.  As I said, I’m a working class person…but I would like to get paid a living wage, and have a career instead of fast food. 

IS THIS SO MUCH TO ASK?

When I was a kid, they told us about the American Dream, and how we could be whatever we wanted.  This isn’t really what I had pictured.  I have a kid, that’s true…but bankruptcy, a small apartment, two beat cars, and a ton of bills just wasn’t what I had hoped for. 

I don’t even have the picket fence.

We are the 99%.
occupywallst.org