This is what our healthcare, financial, retirement dilemma has come down to. I have read this diary over a couple of times. I admit it's written while I'm in a negative mood. I suspect I'm not the only one who feels like this at times. My SWEET significant other offers more help than I use (my fault).
The point here is that our world is pretty friggin' ugly. It is forcing some of us to re-evaluate our value to society. Pay attention, boys and girls, life is fixing to show it's most basic face.
I'm a pretty proud sort of guy. I'm not looking for sympathy. Rather, I'm simply telling you this story to illustrate how deep our national problems are.
I once told a car salesman that he didn't need to have someone assess the value of my trade-in, because I had perfected the art of causing all the systems to fail simultaneously. He said, "Okay, I'll give you a hundred bucks, Okay?" My reply was, "Sounds fair to me." BTW, he got the worst of the deal.
Well, as it relates to my bodily functions, and my financial well-being ... all systems are failing ... simultaneously.
I only offer this, embarrassingly personal information, to illustrate a point that may not be apparent to many in this community.
If you're still interested, read further, below the fold:
I'm simply not going to put on a hair net and cook snacks in the super-market for the neighbors. Sorry ... just too proud ... my problem.
I'm simply not going to stand in the doorway of a Walmart saying "Hi", to the neighbors who used to look up to me as an educated, experienced member of our/my society. Sorry ... just too proud ... my problem.
I am NOT going to pretend that I have nothing more to offer, when I do. I will allow this society to decide to kill me first. Isn't that an odd statement? In a normal society, it would be, but not in ours.
Before the cruel among you start, let me assure you I have tried HARD, to get something going. I have tried for years. But, after a certain age, trying simply won't get you a job.
I can't blame business people. Why the hell would they want to assume the insurance cost of some "old fart". "Old farts", notoriously aren't "team players". After all, they say the silliest things (like "Credit Default Swaps" have nothing to do with reality) ... really, who want's to listen to "old farts".
I am on the ragged edge of deeding my worldly goods to the only person I trust. After that, there is little I can do. My body is failing (my own fault), my finances only cover the most basics. According to the latest actuarial projections, I still have another 30 years to live.
Now, honestly, I ask you, why would I want to live out those remaning 30 years while fighting every day to continue being irrelevant?
I know a lot of shit. But our current society doesn't give a shit.