Steven,
"- since I joined the ranks of the recently unemployed in July."
I have been there, being unemployed from Jan. to Aug.. I truly hope your
new status is short lived. My sympathies to all who have lost their jobs it
being Labor day and all.
I'll try and be concise and bring this around to cars, Tigers etc.. In 1985
(age 27) I developed a heart arrhythmia. It was a difficult 5 years until
1990 when a good fortune allowed me to work part time and the arrhythmia
subsided significantly. It required giving up my $50 deductible Blue Cross,
Dental and Eye benefits now valued at $12,000 a year. I've spent well over
$100,000 on "don't loose your house in a crisis insurance" the past 18
years. I won't call it health insurance because after I pay the $7,000
premium and the $5,000 deductible I couldn't afford to live.
Back to Cars (sort of): About the only people who can qualify for a car
loan today have a decent, stable job. The cars that were deemed "clunkers"
didn't look like they came from the poor by any means. I don't mean to
insult anyone who used this program. But, a fair amount of people (not
everyone) who complain about assisting with a basic human need (healthcare)
seemed to have no problem with the general populace (including the poor-er)
helping them out to get a new car.
I'll say I am NO fan of the current proposed health system. So, I'm not
pleading that angle. I'll pay my fair share. But why did a doctor who asked
my son to wiggle his legs after surgery (spent all of 2 minutes with him -
if that) charge $350??? I found some part time work while unemployed. It
took me 32 HOURS to earn what that doctor then asked for 2 MINUTES of his
work. That is just not right!
My Tiger of 10 years still sits on jack stands. Increasing healthcare cost,
decreasing CD interest rates (my "second source of safe income") and
inflation have me living (existing) on half the equivalent income I had
nearly 20 years ago. So, I was a bit overwhelmed when I saw the "quality"
clunkers yesterday. It was just another vivid example as I slide out of
the dwindling middle class.
I'm glad I bought my $5,000 Tiger "basket case" back in 2000. Maybe it will
always be a garage ornament, but at least I've felt like I was "one of the
boys." The wife already know if times get harder, it will be one of the
last things to go.
Tom
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