"All My Working Life"

JUST IN!

All my working life the IRS had used my employers as their agents to involuntarily collect tax revenues from me for the U.S. Cookie Jar. It always seemed that no matter how hard I worked or how many hours I worked, I could never get ahead. If my rent didn't go up, my taxes would.

All my working life members of congress didn't do what they always said they were going to do to get themselves elected...cut spending, be fiscally responsible, represent America's interests, and look after me. Instead they always had their hand in the U.S. Cookie Jar, spending my hard-earned money on such things as lavish congressional offices while I had to work over-time to pay a summer electric bill.

All my working life (38 years) only ONCE had anyone called me "lazy", and that was a co-worker and friend of mine who was only being sarcastic, and had joked because I always made it in to work earlier than he always did. Now that I'm 55 and being discriminated against for age, I'm being called lazy again...and worse, some are even calling me a "liar".

All my working life I feared my employers the way I feared my own father when I was a child. The boss always has the control and power over your livelihood, promotions, reprimands, and terminations. I did everything I could to avoid getting on the boss's bad side without being accused of being a "brown nose" by my fellow co-workers. But the boss must be feared, or you could become homeless.

All my working life I've done what most people do. Pay rent or a mortgage for shelter, pay car payments and insurance for transportation, pay utilities for lights and heat, buy food, clothes, and other necessities, and save or invest money whenever possible. We enjoy what we MIGHT have left over after those expenses, and what congress has forced us to contribute to the U.S. Cookie Jar. Maybe we'll go out to dinner or see a movie. If we're lucky, we might even travel and take a nice vacation in places like Hawaii.

All my working life I've busted my working-class ass, sometimes suffering with all kinds of ailments. But I always gave it my best, never stole, and only called in sick if I was REALLY-REALLY sick. (If I didn't need the money, why did I bother applying for the job in the first place?) When I was young and stupid, I always believed in "loyalty" to the company, not realizing then that they would just as soon as piss on you for a little more profit. They kept my wages low while congress kept my taxes high.

All my working life I was concerned about ending up being one of those elderly people in an "old folk's home", all alone, with no family, and having orderlies that abused me when I was too helpless to defend myself. Or being forced to work until the day I died because congress had to raise the Social Security retirement age to 78, because they raided the U.S. Cookie Jar too many times, and spent money on other frivolous things THEY wanted instead....such as bridges to nowhere.

All my working life my work has defined me, and was part of my identity. I took pride in the jobs I did because it reflected on my moral values and represented my worth of character, both as a person, and as a citizen of this country. I was judged as a man by the quality and quantity of my life's labors and ambitions. I had work ethics. I was too proud to ever allow myself to be thought of any less. But today, people who don't know me call me "lazy" or stupidly accuse me of making "mistakes" and "bad decisions" in my life. Those poor people have no clue what life can throw at them.

All my working life I have worked, lived, loved, wept, and tried to enjoy the fruits of my labor, sometimes responsibly, sometimes recklessly by spending my hard-earned money on luxury items such as big TVs or cars I couldn't afford - or gambling in the Las Vegas casinos. But it was MY money...it's what congress and the IRS didn't take to deposit into the U.S. Cookie Jar, only for THEM to recklessly squander. (And sometimes I gave money to the homeless too, realizing that they may spend it on whisky or drugs...but I didn't care, for it was then THEIR money to do with as they pleased).

All my working life (hell, my entire life) I have never lived with a dog either, but now I am - - - in the past I sometimes had cats. His name is "Fu" and he still has to get used to having me around. He's a "guy dog" so I suppose it's the "Alpha Male" thing that he has to get over. It's HIS house, so I have to respect that. Maybe one of my miss-informed, immature, and ignorant critics (such as "DUKE") can come over some day to meet him - and Fu will bite him in the ass ;) Ha-ha!!!

A Dog Named Fu