Has your income decreased? Are you as tired as I am?

[CoffeeCat]

62. If you don't mind me asking...

I'm wondering why your income fell, and if your reasons are similar to our own.

I'm wondering if companies are just paying workers less--across the board? Does corporate greed include fighting minimum wage but also decreasing salaries for professionals as well?

I mentioned some about our situation. My husband was working as a network engineer with 15 years experience. He survived 7 rounds of layoffs, which mean that he was now working 3 jobs for the same pay (someone had to pick up the work that was lost in the layoffs). Then, he was laid off for six months--gained employment again but at a 20 percent pay cut. Then, laid off again, and is at his present job that is a 30 percent salary cut from his original job.

I'm wondering if 2008 wasn't some big excuse from the corporate jerks--to lower salaries and capitalize on the desperate workers who were fighting for jobs--due to high unemployment.

It's none of my business what salaries everyone around me are making. However, I do think that if we all hunker down, hiding in our houses and embarrassed--thinking that we're the only ones--it doesn't help anyone.

Maybe it's time we all pooled our resources and started relying on each other and helping each other (bartering services, community gardens, etc.) so we can counteract this deliberate squeeze on all of us.

I don't like that we're all so isolated and ashamed to admit that things are tough. Maybe if we all begin speaking about what we've experienced, this honesty can be the beginning of some creative solutions.

Just my thoughts...