Thread: In memory of Mark B (former ALIPAC member)

I had just found out about his passing, because aside from not hearing from him since late last year no matter how hard I tried to contact him, I was without a phone/computer from Feb this year until a few weeks ago... Mark and I belonged to an unemployment site, became friends, and then he then joined ALIPAC in mid 2010. I'm sure some of you remember him, he was such an inspiration to me with his intellect and great sense of humor. He just couldn't take it anymore...
Please never forgot those who lost hope. I miss you Mark, rest in peace.



To the unemployed, sick, disabled and poor:
Hello,

I’m unemployed over two years now, a 99er without any benefits for three months. I followed Unemployed Friends almost from its start, never posted until now, but am grateful for my time with you all. I did as asked with calls and e-mails, etc. I’ve a confession to make to you all. I’m a criminal.

I’ve obeyed the 10 commandments and all laws except: I’m unemployed and that’s now a crime, I’m poor and that’s a crime, I’m worthless surplus population and that’s a crime, I’m a main street American Citizen born and raised in the USA and that’s now a crime, and I’m euthanizing myself as I write this note — so arrest my corpse. This isn’t a call for help, the deed is done, it’s not what I wanted. Death is my best available option. It’s not just that my bank account is $4, that I’ve not eaten in a week, not because hunger pangs are agonizing (I’m a wimp), not because I live in physical and mental anguish, not because the landlady is banging on the door non-stop and I face eviction, not that Congress and President have sent a strong message they no longer help the unemployed. It’s because I’m a law abiding though worthless, long-term unemployed older man who is surplus population. Had I used my college education to rip people off and steal from the elderly, poor, disabled and main street Americans I would be wearing different shoes now — a petty king. Hard work, honesty, loving kindness, charity and mercy, and becoming unemployed and destitute unable to pay your bills are all considered foolishness and high crimes in America now. Whereas stealing and lying and cheating and being greedy to excess and destroying the fabric of America is rewarded and protected — even making such people petty king and petty queens among us.

Since the end of 2008, when corporate America began enjoying the resumption of growth, profits have swelled from an annualized pace of $995 billion to the current $1.66 trillion as of the end of September 2010. Over the same period, the number of non-farm jobs counted by the Labor Department has slipped from 13.4 million to 13 million — there is no recovery for the unemployed and main street. We taxpayers have handed trillions of dollars to the same bank and insurance industry that started our economic disaster with its reckless gambling. We bailed out General Motors. We distributed tax cuts to businesses that were supposed to use this lubrication to expand and hire. For our dollars, we have been rewarded with starvation, homelessness and a plague of fear — a testament to post-national capitalism.

Twelve years ago, I lost the last of my family. Ten years ago, I lost the love of my life, couldn’t even visit him in the hospital because gays have no rights. I fought through and grieved and went on as best I could. Seven years ago, I was diagnosed with Diabetes and Stage 2 high blood pressure with various complications including kidney problems, mild heart failure, Diabetic Retinopathy. These conditions are debilitating and painful. I am on over eight prescribed medications, which is very difficult without insurance and income. But I struggled on and my primary caregiver was very pleased with my effort overtime with my A1C at seven. Still these physical disabilities have progressively worsened, and I have had a harder and harder time functioning in basic ways. All the while, I give thanks to God because I know there are many more worse off than me — and I tried to help by giving money to charities and smiling at people who looked down and sharing what little I had.

I am college educated and worked 35 years in management, receiving written references and praise from every boss for whom I worked. Yet, after thousands of resumes, applications, e-mails, phone calls, and drop ins, I’ve failed to get a job even at McDonalds. I’ve discovered there are three strikes against me — most 99ers will understand. Strike one — businesses are not hiring long-term unemployed — in fact many job ads now underline “the unemployed need not apply.â€

That brought tears to my eyes and a heavy heart. I too have been un-employed for a long time and am living off my savings. It is for people like your friend that I will always stand up against the injustices of the world. With millions of un-employed citizens, millions of illegals should not be holding jobs!!

This is an outrage and should be spread far and wide for all to see. One mans plight against the system. There are so many people falling through the cracks, losing hope and giving up. This should not be happening in our Country. No foreigner should be placed above an American citizen for any reason!

My heart breaks for this man and for everyone who is struggling and trying to survive.

I am so sorry to hear about this.

Oh my, this is heartbreaking. I totally understand how he feels though. People who have never been poor just don't have a clue. I used to be one of those clueless. Now like Mark I am diabetic on a bunch of meds, but I am VERY blessed to have a free clinic that handles those drugs for me. I would be dead without that clinic. Those who have never been poor are many times ones who say it's okay to let the illegals take "jobs Americans won't do" or that we need those H1B visa holders because there aren't enough educated Americans.

I pray Mark has found peace in the arms of a loving, forgiving Savior.

Heart felt emotion in that letter. And as some of you ,I am also without a job for the past 2 years. Thank God I have savings (so far).

But listening to the man reading the letter appeared to blame the GOP (only) and not the entire government and bankers and schemers.

He went on to say that in some other countries when you had a conservative government,the suicide rates were higher. So it appears he blames this mans demise on conservativism

Sorry to hear about Mark i dont know if he ever searved in military or not but he did fight on this site for his country and i salute him for that.Sorry to hear of so many of you out of work hope and pray that you find some work soon and exstend unemployment for you 99rs.Hope the reps.dont shut down those free clinics for some of you thats all you have.May God bless Marks family and bless all of you that are struggeling.

Heartbreaking. I do remember MarkB and Im so sorry he chose to end his life this way. I too hope he found comfort is Jesus's loving arms.

I expect to hear more stories such as this one in the months to come. The govt is doing NOTHING to get more jobs created - Obama's too busy thinking about this career and legalizing illegals to bother himself with the rest of us. I see some really dark says ahead for so many of us. I am really starting to understand why when Gerald Celente told America to get yourself mentally strong for whats coming. I think we are going to see some mind blowing things happen this summer, thru the rest of this year and for years to come...

I hope God forgave him.... PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, NOBODY ELSE TRY SUICIDE TO ATTEMPT TO LEAVE THEIR PROBLEMS BEHIND, OK? DON'T GAMBLE WITH YOUR SOUL!!!!

Try sending this letter to the Communists who say Americans oppress the illegals, I wonder if they will realize their hypocrisy?

Originally Posted by Kiara

That brought tears to my eyes and a heavy heart. I too have been un-employed for a long time and am living off my savings. It is for people like your friend that I will always stand up against the injustices of the world. With millions of un-employed citizens, millions of illegals should not be holding jobs!!

This is an outrage and should be spread far and wide for all to see. One mans plight against the system. There are so many people falling through the cracks, losing hope and giving up. This should not be happening in our Country. No foreigner should be placed above an American citizen for any reason!

My heart breaks for this man and for everyone who is struggling and trying to survive.

You're absolutely right Kiara...All above plus tent cities everywhere w/middle class citizens occupying them. It's like a third world country out there. Only the ones with jobs, moreso the rich have no clue and don't want to know what's going on. Please be careful with your savings. Even if you do land a job, which I hope you do, be pro-active just in case. Check out the 211#, energy assistance, social services (you might be eligable for foodstamps since you're unemployed, property tax assistance and food banks. Check out as many resources as you can since you still have the internet, then log everything down. Yes it's outragious it had to come to this in this country, but my husband and I neglected to do this ahead of time. Thinking he would land a job soon, we went through our savings and CD's in no time... from 90thou/yr to 0... It was rough, very rough for the first two months after he completed his unemployment. His field was the fashion district which was outsourced in 08'. All what's left in his field, is the illegals are being hired...
God help us all.

Originally Posted by imblest

Oh my, this is heartbreaking. I totally understand how he feels though. People who have never been poor just don't have a clue. I used to be one of those clueless. Now like Mark I am diabetic on a bunch of meds, but I am VERY blessed to have a free clinic that handles those drugs for me. I would be dead without that clinic. Those who have never been poor are many times ones who say it's okay to let the illegals take "jobs Americans won't do" or that we need those H1B visa holders because there aren't enough educated Americans.

I pray Mark has found peace in the arms of a loving, forgiving Savior.

So glad you also have a free clinic. We have diabetes too, along with MS on my part, yes we're grateful for that too...The only thing is I have to bite my tongue, and put my blinders on in the waitng room. It's full of illegal scum, wall to wall...disgusting.