This economic mess that is going on right now is becoming scarier and scarier. Not only in the aspect of our future, really the desperation of other people.
Bad financial times add stress. Stress to relationships, stress to job security, everyday costs, etc. I think we’re all feeling it.
But some people are falling into a desperation that is becoming dangerous.
- Last week, a man in California killed his entire family and himself due to his financial failures. He felt that killing his family along with himself was the “honorable” thing to do.
- We all have most likely read about the 90-yr-old woman in Ohio who shot herself while a foreclosure notice was impending. Thankfully, she survived and the loan debt was forgiven. (I think it’s great that the mortgage was forgiven, but I’m a little nervous about what this might lead to.)
- A housewife in Virginia (I think) committed suicide due to her inability to pay the mortgage. With her suicide note, she left a life insurance policy and directed her husband to pay the mortgage with the proceeds.
- Other stories are coming up in crime news and blogs attributing violence and suicides to people’s financial stresses.
- Domestic abuse shelters are being crowded due to an increase in domestic violence.
- Bank robberies are climbing at what I feel is an astronomical rate. We live in an area with very low crime levels (not my neighborhood, per se, but the surrounding area). We’ve had 6 bank robberies in our surrounding towns this year alone. One recent bank robbery was in a very small, secluded town and was so professional and so violent that the bank has a town cop on duty during bank hours now to prevent this robber’s return.
- At a local corporation, in another small CT town, an older gentleman (maybe 70 or so) was laid off as a contractor a few months ago. He recently returned to the property and committed suicide in the parking lot. I can only imagine that his reasons included financial strain after being unemployed in an impossible market.
People are feeling strained and desperate. I cannot begin to understand how this turns to violence for so many people, but I guess it seems like a logical means to an end for someone who just wants to put food on the table and has no other options.
But there are other options. There are crisis hotlines. Shelters. Food stamps. Job seeking assistance. Anything. I hope that more people who are near the verge can see that the desperation is impending and take steps to find a better way out.
We all have issues. Every one of us faces difficulties in one way or another on a daily basis. Trust me, when I took the route to go on meds, I was shocked to find out so many people I know took meds or used frequent therapy, people who I always thought had their shit together without any help.
I think pride gets in the way too often. I’m guilty of it myself. Good thing I have a well-grounded partner who knows how to keep me from drowning.
I sincerely hope that if anyone I know feels like he or she is drowning that they know to reach out.
We’ll all drowning together, maybe we can climb on the same raft.
merr said,
October 16, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Those stories are horrible. I had no idea! We all need to take care of eachother though these bad times, and then maybe we’ll climb off the raft onto a nice ship!
KJ and the kids said,
October 16, 2008 at 8:18 pm
I need 10.00.
(that was me reaching out:)
holly said,
October 16, 2008 at 9:13 pm
K – I got your $10 right here…smartass.
You’d have to take a plane ride to collect!
But I’m proud of you for reaching out.
Ky said,
October 16, 2008 at 9:58 pm
I only need $5 – can I jump in line in front of K? Seriously, I know more people right now in financial distress and it saddens me. You know if the government would have taken the billions of dollars earmarked for the bail out and just cut us all checks – most of us would not have a mortgage and we’d all have felt a lot better. I know right now I am giddy over the fact that I am paying less than $3.50/gallon for gas. I remember when paying $3.50/gallon was enough to make me puke. I’ve missed you! Thanks for your messages – I should be back around more regularly now.
Michelle said,
October 17, 2008 at 3:46 am
If I sit patiently, can I get $2.50 from Ky after she gets the $5 from Holly? >:) You said a mouthful. We live in Ca and were stunned when we heard that that man thought he was doing ‘the honorable thing’. Unbelievable. Right on point gals!
Linda said,
October 17, 2008 at 8:24 pm
This is scary stuff. We just had a murder/suicide here due to financial strains. Not to mention the increase in bank robberies, and employees staging robberies because they don’t make enough money.
Freightliner is closing it’s Portland plant next year which means 900 more people without jobs…
Today is payday, so I can give the $17.50 requested. I would just spend it on booze and cigs anyway…..
meg said,
October 19, 2008 at 2:57 pm
It is sad… I sure hope we see a turn around very soon.
ELLIE said,
October 19, 2008 at 10:00 pm
it is all crazy – it is said that it is most difficult to keep your wits about you when the financial market is scrambled – I believe that!!!
Our retirement fund has taken major hits but i refuse to look at it – I will just keep praying for the best!!!
climb aboard our raft – we got some room – lol
take care–Ellie
Nina said,
October 26, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Unfortunately, I’ve been through such crisisis (sp?) more than once in my life. What’s known to the rest of the world as “perestroika” was a horrifying experience to those who had to live through it. I’m from Moscow, and my family used to belong to the equivalent of local upper-middle class. My parents, grandparents, extended family had all lost jobs – they used to work in scientific research centres, which all got closed in a split second, so I was the only one to provide for the entire family. All stores had closed – you could not even buy pantyhose or a needle to repair pantyhose (I had to wear same 3 pairs for 3 years.) Food stores contained no food what so ever – just plastic bags. So, we mastered cooking art by preparing 10 dishes out of cooked cole slaw, beets, tomato paste and pork bones. The older generation lost their savings in 1 day. My grandfather used to be on board of directors or major factory (30,000+ employees), and they left a very frugal lifestyle because they wanted to have a good retirement. In 1991, all their life savings were not sufficient to buy tiny tv set. On 9/11/93 my grandfather committed suicide. Life started getting better by 1994-1995, but on 8/17/98 rouble had collapsed. Inflation turned to 300% and I had to pay my employees salary 3 times a day so that they can buy at least something to eat. Anyway, the most important lesson that I got out of these expriences, is that you must live no matter what, to remember that one day it would get better, it helps to have a collection of great DVDs (at that time it was video cassetes) to bring you through dark evenings, solid clothes and shoes to save you from cold weather, and pack of cocoa because it’s very nutritional and can keep you going in case there are problems with food supply. So, looks like I’m mentally ready for Great Recession