CHANGE.GOV

President-Elect Obama,

Thank you for inviting me to share my story. I'll be as brief as possible.

During the George W. Bush presidency, I've lost two good-paying jobs, a home, and a lot of pride in my country.

The first job I lost was due to refusing to steal for a company that had deep Republican support on The Hill; a company that paid the largest-ever fraud settlement to the U.S. Government, at the time (and perhaps since). I refused to steal for them long after this bombshell hit -- and in fact, their stock price ROSE on the news that the settlement was only going to be $1.7 billion. Only...! I was told for at least a year that I was not considered a "team player," because I refused to turn a blind eye to the thefts my management supported and my colleagues were committing. Once all my important assignments were taken from me, I decided to resign, in June, 2003, and seek work elsewhere. Had I stayed another month, I would have likely been laid off, as many other were, and eligible for severance and unemployment benefits. However, the environment was so toxic, I felt I had no better options, at the time.

I was only able to find sporadic, low-paying temporary jobs for the following three years. Then, I secured a very nice temp job with Vanderbilt University's Peabody College, working on their web site. I had no benefits, no vacation or sick days or holidays, but I made about 65% of my former salary from 2003.

I trimmed back -- I sold my 1997 Mustang convertible, and bought a cheap, Chinese scooter. I rode it everywhere, rain, shine, cold, or rain. On really bad (snow, ice) days, I would walk over a mile to catch the bus(es) into work. I'd already lost my modest 1400 sq. ft. home in West Nashville to foreclosure, and moved into a friend's rental condo, saving over $400/month, where I still live. He also lost a job, recently, and I'm trying to brainstorm and work to help him to keep his income at a level where he can keep his two rental investment condos, here.

My cheap Chinese scooter was stolen just months after I started at Peabody, so it was back to the bus. A friend of mine who worked in another part of Vanderbilt would many times give me a ride, which was awesome. Without her, B--- J---R----, it would have been much tougher. However, in a few months, I was able to buy another small scooter, and a year later, a bigger, better, faster scooter. I really liked the idea that I was doing my part to lower our dependency on foreign oil. I still ride both scooters as my exclusive form of transport.

The job at Peabody ended in May, 2008. The college had a need for a web person AND a print person, but could only afford one. The fiscal year ending June, 2008, saw Peabody's print work outsourced to the tune of more than $100,000, and hence my fate was sealed.

As of now, I am still without work, but not eligible for unemployment benefits. Since I was hired through Vanderbilt Temporary Services, they still consider me "available for work," and hence, not "unemployed."

At any rate, I have worked and networked for the Obama-Biden campaign, using the "neighbor-to-neighbor" application, and meeting with local bloggers and campaigners to do what I could. I heartily congratulate you on your election to the highest office in the land. A weight has been lifted from the nation's soul, and I feel like smiling more now than I have in a very long time.

I have hope, and as one of the people you will soon govern, I say, "Yes, we will."

Thank you, and may God bless us, every one.