Posted by James K on September 5, 2006, at 16:01:12
This post is somewhat political, but it also involves my personal depression, so I'm going to put it here.
Last night I was watching last weeks episode of "the contender" a reality show about professional boxers. the losing boxer this episode was an older fighter (mid-thirties?) with four kids and a wife. He used to be a contender and was trying a comeback. He made some allusion to emotional problems in the past. I guess that triggered me.
He said one of the reasons he was still fighting was to buy his kids a house because they were all living in a 2 bedroom apartment. I started thinking about the amazing physical skill and stamina he had and the dedication to train and take care of his family. He was articulate, seemed decent and honest. It is very hard to be a boxer. I started to think "If he can't earn a decent living, with his strength and dedication, how can I ever?"
A guy like that should be the employee of the year in any warehouse in the nation. But employee of the year in a warehouse doesn't cut it anymore. We reward work so randomly in this country these days.
So I guess all that is to say I don't think we have realistic living wages in America anymore, and it is an issue that affects me in an emotional and real life way. Hard work isn't enough to "make it", and it used to be.
I've been scared to start over the last two years, and fearing that no matter how much I give, it won't be enough makes me more scared. But I have depression and I'm not so young anymore.
To sum up --- I'm in favor of better compensation, and I need to get past my fears, because we can still rise above on an individual level, I just wish more of us could rise above.
James K
poster:James K
thread:683412
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20060809/msgs/683412.html