People Before Profit

I am upset.  I guess upset doesn’t quite describe the undercurrent of fury that’s clouding my day to day activities.  And no, it’s not the driver who cut me off on 95 today or the tantrum my kid threw that caused me to be late for work.  I’m mad because I can’t seem to get a grip on where my once disposable income is going.  I’m mad because I, like millions of other Americans have always done the right thing and there’s no relief coming my way.

 
I work; I pay taxes; I pay my bills on time and try to put something away for a rainy day.  I also donate generously to foundations that make a difference while spending much of my free time volunteering in my city. In short I do everything I can to take care of my family and contribute to my community and country.  And I count my blessings that I am able to do those things.

 
So maybe in part because of all that I do, I am angry that regular working people like myself will not see any bailout coming our way.  Huge corporations are bailed out by our government, companies that can afford to take their execs on $440,000 trips to the Carribean while I can’t put any money away at all due to rising grocery prices and having to fill my gas and oil tank when prices went through the roof.  I am angry that my tax money that I work so very hard to contribute doesn’t go into social programming to strengthen the very fabric of the nation but to bail out companies who have made bad decisions.
 

It seems that profit came before people again.

 
But I’m not just angry, I’m fearful.  I work for a wonderful organization that DEPENDS on workplace contributions to be able to fund the programs that are making our communities better.  And as folks are faced with less money in the bank, I am worried that they will look to the very institutions that will provide the safety net in these times of need as the first place to “save” money.  I am writing this in part because I seek some relief from my angst, and in part as a plea to others out there feeling the way that I do to not give up on the good that you do in the community.  I take solace in the contributions I make as money and time well spent.  I ask you to look deep within your heart when you start cutting costs as I have, to not take away from the most crucial organizations –like United Way- who are continuing to do exactly what they set out to do not for profit but for the betterment of our community.