Michigan Economy

[nilhil_glory]

the thing that baffels me is

the nation is just now starting to show signs of being in a recession

michigans negative growth has been over a couple years, doesnt that put michigan in the depression catagory?

think about all the mass amount of people collectivly who lost their jobs and their homes over the span of michigan being the overall economically worst state for over 3 years? i can remember being in high school and my teacher was talking about us being the only state in the country in a recession that was three years ago....

[Fierce Critter]

We are actually doing better than we ever have. As I said in another thread, Jon switched from one company to another and then went back to the original company, all since last year October. His income went up $6.00 an hour, and he's now earning in the low $20.00 per hour range. From what I hear, that's fucking good for Michigan right now. And exceptional for a guy who has no higher education or job training. (Jon is an automatic door repairman, spending his days driving from city to city to work on doors at places like hospitals, grocery stores, the airport, etc.)

But I'm still on pins and needles because the company Jon is with is having major financial problems. The bank has taken over their finances. Today, their gas cards were shut off, which has been happening on and off over the past year. They hired Jon in with all this going on, and he's the highest paid person in his job category. So there's some little reassurance that they are at least doing well enough that hiring him was feasible. And he kicks ass for them, making a lot of sales & bringing in business, so he earns his income.

Also, if they just can't make it, more than likely they'll be bought by another door company (there's already interest) and Jon would probably be able to keep his job. And at worst, they might have to declare bankruptcy, but would be able to remain in operation. But all that is uncertain at this point.

But over the past few months, we were without medical insurance, and also there was an almost 3-4 week period where Jon was between paychecks due to the way/timing of his job changes. We were late with rent, and owe late fees. But the worst was the lack of medical insurance due to the prescriptions we are on.

We had been paying over $400 a month out-of-pocket for our medications for things like allergies, high blood pressure, anxiety, etc. And that wasn't even ALL of the ones we were supposed to be on. I let my depression meds go for a few months, and that partially resulted in me having a major breakdown that sent me to the hospital ER for a psych evaluation and nearly ended up with me being admitted. I wasn't, but we owe $1,700 now for that non-insured evening in the ER.

We're still recovering from all that. And now that we have prescription coverage again, I am absolutely horrified when I think about people who do not have health insurance. I went to the doctor a few weeks ago, and had a general checkup done and had all my prescriptions rewritten and filled. Some of the meds I had filled are asthma-related inhalers that I only need on very, very rare occasions. Like, maybe once every couple months or so. I don't have to fill them monthly, but many people do. And I totaled up the cost of all those medications. Out-of-pocket they amounted to over $570. I can't fucking believe it. How in fuck do people with asthmatic kids and no insurance keep their kids alive?

Anyway, we're doing very well. But I can't totally relax and revel in our good fortune, because until Jon's company is out of hot water, this could possibly end very suddenly at any time. We could end up both having to go to work at $10.00 per hour jobs in such a case. I'd probably end up at some kind of elder care facility, and Jon would be stuck in some thankless manufacturing job - IF he could even find one.

It's comfort without comfort, you know?