Brutal job search reality for older Americans out of work for six months or more

[Newest Reality]

4. There is a seedy underbelly to this, BTW

Your options at the end-of-the-rope that we are allowing are often, (if you have no family to take you in) are homelessness, suicide, or indentured servant. That third option may be making a comeback.

If you cannot find work in your late fifties and beyond there are people ready and willing to exploit that fact. Since you are, at that point, desperate and don't want to become a wandering criminal, (homelessness is illegal in many places) there is not much in the way of negotiation you can do, so you acquiesce to survive.

You can end-up with a "live-in" position, (taking care of someone's elderly parent, for instance) where your only compensation is a place to live. You work 24/7 with not even a stipend. You may be cooking, cleaning, driving, yard work, etc. You may be required to provide your own food with food stamps. The list goes on.

You have no workplace rights and if you want to be on the street, try complaining or asking for something you want or need.

The trick is, these scenarios are last resort, but the people who take advantage of this can often take on a mentality that they are "helping" you.

There is a new form of potential "slavery" that awaits us and the term "golden years" becomes spending the rest of your working life living years of tin, scrap and broken glass.

There is no value in age in a country where people are merely a commodity. No value whatsoever. We are as good as fodder for a batch of Soylent Sepia.