Velma Hart Now Looking For A Job!

Velma Hart, the woman who famously addressed President Obama at a September town hall meeting has lost her job as a chief financial officer for the non-profit organization Am Vets. Her job loss was a part of the organization's efforts to cut expenses. She gained national attention when she told the President the following:

"Quite frankly, I'm exhausted. Exhausted of defending you, defending your administration, defending the man for change I voted for, and deeply disappointed with where we are right now. And quite frankly, Mr. President, I need you to answer honestly, Is this my new reality?"

With Hart's national notoriety and talent she probably won't be unemployed for long, but her job loss is just another example that the economy is still struggling to recover despite what some economic pundits may state. The gainfully employed should not take their situations for granted, because employers have no emotion when deciding who gets to keep their job. It's all about business.

State Of The Union!

President of the United States, Barack Obama gave his first State of the Union address last night. The President gave a very convincing speech of optimism during our current storm in the country as expected. Here's hoping that the stimulus package that was recently passed will convince small business owners and major corporations that all is not lost, and that they can begin to put people back to work.

Our President's speech of optimism is fine, but the reality is that businesses are still hemorrhaging jobs and negatively impacting the lives of many workers by changing compensation plans, cutting hours or simply laying people off. I'm just not sure if the recently enacted stimulus package will have a short term impact on this occurrence. The bottom line for any business is profit, and if expenses continue to increase, then employees will continue to be in peril.

Job Losses In Philly!

Yesterday, it was announced that the nation lost an additional 598,000 jobs. The losses are coming from all sectors, and hitting hard amongst all demographic areas. The Philadelphia Inquirer profiles the economic impact of job losses in Philadelphia. John Hobbs, 57 recently lost his manufacturing job, and is debating how to cover his health insurance of $800 on an unemployment check of $241 a week. Deborah Jackson-Smith went from 3 part time jobs to none, and is trying to save her home from foreclosure.

Well I guess help is on the way with an agreement being reached on a ridiculously sounding $827 billion stimulus package. By contrast, 16 years ago, then President Bill Clinton's stimulus package was $35 billion. Now, that's super inflation! I sure hope that our elected officials with whom we've put our trust in know what they're doing, and that Hobbs and Jackson-Smith both benefit from the future stimuli coming from our government.