CHAPTER 1, JANUARY
I watched Wall Street Week on TV today, and all the economic forecasts for 1984 are better than 1983. Well, that's terrific, but I can't visualize it when eight out of seventeen households immediately around me are unemployed. Last Friday the local daily newspaper stated that the "real unemployment" in this area is closer to 25% than the 10.4% the government figures flaunt. It makes me wonder if the government counts the people collecting welfare, Aid to Dependant Children, Veteran's Assistance, or people whose unemployment benefits have expired, and I'm sure there are other categories of uncounted people. Just because the claims for new unemployment benefits are dropping doesn't mean that unemployment is less. I would like someone to answer my question - how many millions are on welfare, Aid to Dependant Children, Veteran's Assistance, have run out of unemployment benefits, etc. Then, I would like to compare that number to the total population of able-bodied people to see for myself if the real unemployment nationwide isn't closer to 25% than to the 10.4% government statistic. If I want an answer to that question, how many others would like the same question answered? If I had unlimited resources, I'm quite sure I could do some research and find out an approximate answer, but I think that the people really concerned don't have the resources to be able to do that. Will the "real unemployment" people please stand up, because there are certainly plenty of them in my neighborhood.
The America Telephone and Telegraph was ordered by the government to disperse it's monopoly, effective today. Estimates of the rate increase varies, but it is agreed overwhelmingly that the rates will go up, maybe even as much as 300%. How are the 25% 'real unemployment' people going to be able to pay it?
I've made several New Year's resolutions. I'm going to remove the three small warts on my left hand. I am also going to scrub my face with my complexion brush every day, instead of every two or three days. I filed jokes in my joke file today, the jokes I saved from my last good job, for future reference. I've been procrastinating since I was laid-off in September. One never knows what one will need in the future, but most likely a sense of humor is mandatory.
My Love called. He has to go to the veteran's hospital this week, the whole week, for tests. I'll be glad to have him gone, but I want him here too.
