Tami Booher’s Story:
I was laid off from my last position in June of 2008. I have sent 50 + applications and resumes out to various job opportunities and received two interviews in the lat 6 months. Luckily I have been able to supplement my husbands income by painting decorative letters for an online boutique. My husbands work is in plumbing supplies and he drives a truck that has also been slow at times and we are often one month or more behind on our mortgage. We now rely on one vehicle to save cost.

Tammy Long’s Story:
Where I work, we make automotive parts. The company is owned by Goldman-Sacs. Their CEO's upper eshelion have been making more and more every year to push paper. They have down sizes not only the union workers(they have cut our work force more than 1/2 and told us that we had to cut our in wages temp by 10% or they would shut us down, decreased our insurance benifits and increased our premiums and froze our wages. Our COLA has only been .25 over 3 years how do you keep up?

Tanya’s Story:
well I am 23 years old and I always knew life wasn't supposed to be easy but wow it really is so much tougher than anyone ever said it would be. My parents have always had it rough and it just seems I have it rougher and I just can't seem to get ahead these days with the bills piling in and debt crashing all around you. I can't afford clothes, i can't afford to smoke, I cant even afford to live in a home of my own without someone elses income to help cover the rent. It truely is a sad world!

Teresa Lowry’s Story:
My husband got laid off in January of this year. I am disabled and unable to work so I stay at home and care for my grandchildren while my daughter and son-in-law work. We ( my husband, younger daughter and I had to move in with the older daughter, her husband and two children. Today, my husband's boss called and told him he is totally severed from his job and needs to come in to sign new papers. He will get a small severance package but will no longer have insurance. I will be rough!

terilynn’s Story:
I'm a born-again American My children have fur and four legs They come from the abyss Of the forgotten and missed But here they live out their best of days. I used to take in the "gimps and geezers" of the critter world. I moved to save myself, get benefits, out-survive my denizens. I am grateful to have a job and sympathetic vets, and care for mine as best I can, but can no longer take in pets whose owners can't afford to care for them. I hate euthanasia for lack of funds.

Terry Root’s Story:
Trying to buy our own home, my hubby is laid off most the time, he's a trucker. I work for fairly small wages, but at least I have a job! My son had to move home with his fiance' and new baby because he couldn't make it on his wages with the economy the way it is. My two daughters have to share a place, one's out of work and the other has a part time job well attending nursing school. We struggle but at least we have each other. I am thankful for family! during these times.

Tierney Fitzpatrick’s Story:
My husband and I are both prior military and yet for almost a year now we haven't been able to find stable employment in our community. We are both attending school to try to aquire marketable skills that will enable us to find decent jobs one day.

tina’s Story:
Hello everyone, I am an unemployed single mother. My career is a carpenter in the union. However, there hasn't been work for several months now; and I am terrified. I completely trust Obama, but feel it will be too late for me. In two weeks my car will be repossessed. If I lose my car, I lose my ability to work. The city bus as transportation is not an option for me because of the tools needed and different locations to travel in my line of work. I don't know where else to turn.

Todd E Willits’s Story:
IN 1989 I WAS HURT AT WORK I HAD TWO SURGERYS THAT YEAR AND IT DIDNT WORK THE PAIN JUST GOT WORSE I HAD TO GO ON SSI AND IGOT A SMALL SETTLEMENT SINCE EVERYTHING HAS GOTTEN WORSE GAS HAS WENT UP MEAT AND FOOD ELECTRIC HAS WENT UP IM ON A FIXED INCOME WITH BEING IN THE HOSPITAL AND GOING TO THE DOCTOR 30 TO 40 TIMES A YEAR I HAVE TO MAKE A CHOSE IF IM GOING TO BYE FOOD OR MEDISON I HAD TO GET A CREDIT CARD SO I COULD BY MY PAIN MED,S SOMETIMES 1000 DOLLARS AT A TIME. IM GETTING TIERD OF IT ALL.

Tom Evans’s Story:
I am of the firm belief that life is what you make of it, and that within every trial there is an opportunity for growth. For too long, this country has existed under the belief that life should be easy, and that all of our troubles should be solved or salved by government. But this country was built on a foundation of faith in God, as well as in the strength and worth of the individual. This economic crisis presents an opportunity for so many of us to prove what it really means to be American.

tommy rediker’s Story:
just a few months ago i had to take a disability for medical reasons and you would think after 27 years of service they could do better than half your salary because it takes forever and a day to even get a answer from social security and with the economy the way it is it is tough to raise a family on half your salary