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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
Since I lost my job, this has been my near-daily sight. The only way I can keep income is by doing "gig work," like DoorDash and Instacart. There's no job security with any "gig work" either. The rating systems and ways to get deactivated due to customer actions are copious. It has been getting hotter outside, so I've been stuck waiting in parking lots in 90-100+ degree weather waiting for orders to pop up so that I can complete them and make money. I can't let my car run for the A/C because it'll put more wear on my car and waste gas. I'm overdue on an oil change, overdue on an alignment, overdue on new front tires. I can't even afford to pay all of my bills, so I don't know how I'm going to afford basic maintenance on my car (now my main source of income). I've been applying to jobs in numerous places, but haven't gotten any calls back or responses. I can't afford the commute if it's outside of my main city, unless they're willing to pay more. I just got my Bachelor's degree and I haven't even been able to use it because the only jobs at this level that have been posted are the same crisis work/work that is currently too overwhelming for me, mentally, or work that doesn't pay enough to survive. I shouldn't have to sacrifice my mental health to survive. I wish we had better social services for our country. It's such a shame that it's considered "lazy" or "unpatriotic" for this country to help its own people.
June 2, 2021
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
The vaccination rates are depressing in my county and it shows in the CDC transmission rates. With a family member getting chemo and a very frail 98 FIL I am still skipping my YMCA tai chi and swimming classes and miss my friends who are still going there. I am getting increasingly impatient with these anti-vax types who are keeping our transmission levels at the high levels. When the levels go down to moderate, I will be able to return to a normal life - finally! .Talking to people on LinkedIn etc., there are some interesting long term consequences that might make this whole pandemic experience worthwhile. It is heartening that people have resisted returning to sub-living wage jobs with no benefits and companies are being forced finally to pay something closer to a living wage. That is a good thing because frankly, as a taxpayer, I am damn tired of subsidizing companies’ slave wages requiring rental, food, and Medicaid supplements. Frankly a company that can’t pay their people a living wage shouldn’t be hiring anyone. Taxpayers shouldn’t be subsidizing slave wages in the 21st century. So if the capital equation rebalances to treat employees as human beings fora change that can only improve life for all of us as a society.
June 14, 2021