What were life setbacks and who was responsible?
Leading up to the presidential election there were all sorts of accusations that candidates and their parties irreparably harmed me.
Since I’m retired, I have the luxury of reflecting and concluded that I made my own bed and only I am responsible for sleeping in it.
No mayor, governor, president, political party or government policy caused any of the following setbacks:
Bought a car while still making payments on another car.
Bought a condo and the real estate market collapsed and the neighborhood went to hell in a handbasket
Built a house and shortley thereafter employers of both my wife and I issued us pink slips. Different companies and the layoffs were for different reasons none of which could be traced to any politician, political party or government policy.
Got notified with no prior notice and for no perceptable reason by a despicable former boss that my salary was being slashed by $20,000. Asked if I was being cut back to part-time status and they said NO. So I was working full time at a part-time rate.
Worked 2 and 3 jobs at the same time for over 40 years to keep financially afloat.
Put 3 kids thru college but accumulated tremendous Parent Plus debt that will last well into my old age or till I drop dead, whichever happens first.
While fellow voters frequently attribute their misfortunes to politicians, political parties and government policies, I take responsibility for the choices I made and the path my life has taken. However, in my meloncoly reflections, I wonder why I have payed so much, worked so hard and accompished so little. I do not suffer from addictions such as gambling or alcoholism. I have not been arrested, spent time in jail, had to pay restitution for lawsuits, divorce, alimony, child support or other financial albitrosses other than exorbitant interest rates on auto loans and mortgages.
And that gets around to my explanation for the dismal circumstances of myself, fellow baby boomers and working class Americans.
The root causes of this generational backslide can be traced to the following examples of commodification and speculation which collectively have stunted the American Dream:
The unholy alliance of the realtors, financers, and speculators that have transitioned the basic necessity of shelter to a debilitating survival march. Spending 25 years house-poor in a fixer-upper that never could get fixed up soiled the phrase Home Sweet Home. The American dream of ownership was achieved but at what cost for this pyrrhic victory?
The unholy alliance of higher education institutions, college loan financeers, unhelpful FAFSFA, and U.S. Dept. of Education created the perfect storm of life-long indebtedness. The American dream of college education was achieved but at what cost for this pyrrhic victory.
The unholy alliance of the insurance, pharmaceuticals and finance industries that pad costs, hide transparency and offer no rewards for loyalty. Clients are steered toward Medicare Advantage plans when Medicare Supplement might be more appropriate. Ever changing policies, steadily increasing rates, escalating complexity and soaring deductables is the modus operandi of the revenue hungry insurance industry. My driving record is perfect and I’m paying for those who are uninsured. I live a healthy lifestyle exercising regularly and eating healthy but health insurance costs escalate.
So any candidate or political party that can address head on these unholy alliances will garner my support. The candidate and party that can offer outside-the-box alternatives to the housing and education cost trap has my vote. The candidate and party that simplifies insurance, finance and pharmaceuticals has my vote. Don’t distract me with wedge issues. Stay out of my bedroom, my medicine cabinet, my bookshelf and my value system. Instead, disrupt the cabals that inflate prices, commodifying basic necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, and health.
Dunn Writes Well 