Few working at Staples make a living wage.

[Honeycombe8]

150. Do you want the people's situation to get better, or not?

I sympathize. I get it. I was homeless myself for a short while years ago. I'll stack my hardships up against anyone else's at any time.

But we're talking about people working at Staples who want profit sharing because they don't think min. wage is enough...and yet they have min. wage jobs.

There ARE ways out of that situation. It's not easy. It's not fast. It's not slick. But you either stay where you are and suffer, or you work out a way out of it. That's my point.

I do my best to get out of a situation. It starts with a plan.

As for money...my sister went to college on grants. It's important that Republicans not get into office any more than they are, because they want to do away with grants, one of the most important ways to get an education and get out of poverty.

We are in a dire situation in our country. All the more reason to consider moving. That's when I moved to Dallas from Louisiana years ago. The 1980's recession. About 30% unemployment where I was. I researched (no internet...I had to go to the library on weekends) the closest big city to move to that had the lowest unemployment and the highest wages for what I did (I had just finished school, learning a SKILL). I moved to Dallas.

I worked at the time. I got paid about $20,000 a year (and had to support a deadbeat husband). I sent out letters for interviews ahead of time, then paid for a trip to Dallas for two interviews. I got an offer from both. I drove back to L.C. (I had stayed in a seedy motel...I was upset I had to pay $5 to park for one of the interviews! It took $5 out of my food allowance.) I accepted one of the offers. We divided up what money we had. I got a u-haul, packed my sstuff, left my deadbeat husband (who MIRACULOUSLY FOUND EMPLOYMENT AFTER I LEFT..isn't that a coincidence?), and drove to Dallas, rented an apt, and that was that.

It didn't cost that much for the move. I drove there several times, so there was gas, the motel charges, a small food allowance (I bought food at convenience stores), then the $ to rent a cheap apt in a not so safe part of town.

It was so hard. I can't believe I did it. Oh, and I was pregnant at the time. Had the miscarriage on the bus home from work in Dallas late at night, alone. Got chewed out by the boss for missing work the next day.

Now I'm in my 50's, own my own home & car, am completely debt free, with a 401k and emergency savings. I don't spend $ on vacations or fancy things. But I do okay. Moving was the best thing I ever did. The economy where I come from STILL sucks. But I've been continuously employed here, in my chosen field. Good, diverse economy here. I work my butt off, but enjoy my work.