My Clients Tell Me It's Going To Be Okay

We're going to make it out of this. Our economy will start to create jobs again. You will find a new job. Our lives might be different-possibly very different- but we will survive. How do I know? That's what my clients tell me.

I work at a food bank as Director of Food Collection. On December 1st, President George W. Bush, decider in chief, informed us our economy is in recession.

"Today's job data reflects the fact that our economy is in a recession," Bush said.

Jeez. I could have told you that months ago.

Since October 2007, we've had a 56% increase in the number of clients turning to us for emergency food assistance. Every food bank in the nation is seeing the crush

We service an area outside Washington, DC. The suburban county that we service spans the spectrum of sociopolitical strata. Some of the richest zip codes in the nation straddle part of the country. In other parts of the county, co-mingled humanity struggles to keep their homes and feed their kids.

The crush of clients can be overwhelming at times. Some have been coming for some time. They know the routine. Most are grateful, gracious, and courteous.

Then there are the folks that have never been to a food bank - or never been as a client. "This is my first time. What do I do? Where do I go? Thank you so much. Bless you." You smile say "you're welcome" and move on to the next thing that needs to be done.

The vast majority of our clients maintain a stoic, proud posture when they come. Some donors though are more visibly shaken. It's a look of hopelessness and desperation. "When will this thing turn around? What could we have done to stop it? Am I next? Are we next?"

It is a scary time in America and in the World. But, this can be an opportunity to make some real and lasting changes that can effect for the better not only our country but the entire world.

We are Americans. We will get through this. And we will be stronger for it. How do I know? My clients tell me.

Oh, like for the homeless

A few weeks ago, I drove across the river to Arlington to join with 3 generations of my family for a get together.

My family is the typical DC area family: Some ex-military, some progressives. Some Democrats, some Republicans. We work in government, for NGO's, in the public and in the private sector.

In the course of the evening, I was speaking with my Uncle's ex-wife. When I mentioned that I was a director at a food bank, she said: "Oh, like for the homeless."

MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS
WASHINGTON - Employers shed 159,000 jobs in September, the ninth consecutive month of job losses and a sign that the U.S. economic downturn continues, the government reported Friday.

The unemployment rate, however, remained unchanged at 6.1 percent, the Labor Department reported.

The dismal numbers gave urgency to a vote in the House of Representatives on Friday on a $700 billion economic-rescue package.

Analysts said the sharp increase in job losses raised the likelihood that the Federal Reserve Board would approve deeper interest-rate cuts in the months ahead to stir the economy.

"Oh, like for the homeless." Actually, like for the middle class.

I don't need to tell you that we are having an ecomomic meltdown in our country. But, I do want to relay what the situation is like on the ground, from a food bank.

We started experiencing a serious rise in the number of clients that access emergency food assistance last fall. Foodbanks and other social service agencies are the first to see a problem and the last to experience the solution.

What I mean by this is at the onset of a crisis, before economic indicators register a problem, we start to see an uptick in the number of clients in need of emergency services. When the crisis has run it's course, and long after it's out of the press and off the radar, only then does a sense of normalcy resume.

That is, if normal is seeing your neighbors in need of food to feed their children. In essence, we are the canary in the coal mine for the economy.

And that coal mine, in the shape of the U.S. economy, is toxic. Wages are stagnate. "In 2008, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all food is projected to increase 5.0 to 6.0 percent," according to the economic research service at USDA. Unemployment nationwide rose from 5.7% to 6.1% in August. Locally, unemployment in Maryland rose to 4.4% in July.

"We're in a state of transition," said Richard P. Clinch, director of economic research at the University of Baltimore's Jacob France Institute. "We've avoided any significant harm from the national slowdown, but it seems to have come home at this point. ... Clearly the pain is beginning to filter its way into the Maryland economy."

At the food bank I work at we are experiencing a 45% increase in clients accessing emergency food. That's on top of a 50% increase over the prior 5 years. Every other food bank and help organization I've spoken to is reporting the same or worse. The numbers are staggering, stressing the systems to the breaking point.

The reason we have seen such a massive increase is this: More and more people are dropping out of the middle class. More and more people are choosing to pay for medication instead of food. People are living in their car, because they've lost their home. School systems have seen a noticeable increase in homeless students.

Folks, I write this for one reason: We need to elect Barack Obama President. We need to elect Barack Obama because our country and it's citizens cannot handle another Republican administration.

On taxes, Barack Obama's tax plan is sensible, McCain's is out of touch and dangerous for the economy:


In addition to cutting taxes for 95% of Americans, Barack Obama will invest in America, rather than give money to millionaires as John McCain will do.

Obama's plan (from Barack Obama.com):

Expand Access to Jobs

*Help Americans Grab a Hold of and Climb the Job Ladder: Obama and Biden will invest $1 billion over five years in transitional jobs and career pathway programs that implement proven methods of helping low-income Americans succeed in the workforce.

John McCain's Plan is big on words but short on substance (from John McCain.com):

*John McCain believes we should send a strong message to world markets. Under his plan, the United States will be telling oil producing countries and oil speculators that our dependence on foreign oil will come to an end - and the impact will be lower prices at the pump.

*John McCain's policies will increase the value of the dollar and thus reduce the price of oil. In recent years, the declining value of the dollar has added to the cost of imported oil. This will change. Americans will have a stronger economy, a stronger dollar and greater purchasing power for oil, gas and food.

Strong messaging. In other words, talk. That's all John McCain has. Talk. The economy is falling into a full blown depression and all John McCain has is a strong message.

There are people in the United States of America who's life literally depends on Barack Obama being elected President.

This is why it is so important we elect Senator Barack Obama.

Cross posted at Dailykos.com