No small reflection

I lost my job at Cabela's in 2008. I was a respected manager by my employees, delivered excellent return on investment for the company and was even recognized by the CEO as the top corporate manager.  I wasn't bitter, nor angry. It was more shock than anything else. I took my severance and continued to live my life, searching for a new position at or above my previous level. It was just before the economy turned badly, and I held out, drawing a meager unemployment check that was one fifteenth my previous salary, thinking that I would secure employment in my field soon enough.

Reality intruded finally, not uncoincidentally, when my unemployment ran out. It was interesting to note that when you have nothing, and you are not a piece of trash, how willing you are to do anything to earn a living. In my case, I was fortunate that my ability to relate to people on a personal level was able to be translated into a new career choice, which I jumped into with both feet.

I had given up any serious thought of returning to my chosen profession in technology, when I was approached by a former co-worker in Pennsylvania. It seems my particular area of expertise in workflow design and project management, was needed to bring some order out of chaos borne of over extended employees and increased acquisitions.  Having lost my house to foreclose the year before, I sold the only other possession I owned outright, a 2010 Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle, and purchased a program car from my then current employer, Wolf Auto in Sidney. The word came in that my new employer wanted me to be in PA on or about February 1st.

The salary was about 65 percent of my prior technology salary, but it was more than twice my current salary and more than 5 times unemployment. More important to me however, was the fact that it was technology related, and the validation afforded me by coming back to a prior employer who sought me out for my expertise was quite rewarding.

Since I have been in my new place, I have traveled internationally on my company's behalf. I have been asked to participate in discussions and testing programs that will set the stage for future success for the entire creative platform and designed and implemented an automation tool that will save significant costs and increase accurate, real-time communication for my business unit.

Throughout all of the turmoil I have been through, I never once thought to blame my situation on anyone, nor sought a bailout from the government. The "Occupy Wallstreeters," and the democratic politicians who soil themselves with love for this movement fail to capture the essence of self-reliance.

By definition, we will most likely not be one of the one percent that people are railing against. It is impossible to redistribute enough wealth from this group (or even the tope 70 percent) to not leave someone out of the goody bag. This country was founded on a different set of principles, ones that have become quite foreign in today's world.

The notion that we are obligated to help our neighbors has been co-opted by the left in this country. Charity no longer begins in your home, but the White House. If your house is underwater, don't worry, just wait for the government to "forgive" your debt principle. It's ok, we'll (leftists) will take it from those who need to, "pay their fair share."

One only has to look at the healthcare debacle, the failed stimulus package, and the continuing failed episodes of quantitative easing (printing and putting into circulation more money) to see that we are still in desperate times. All states, including Nebraska, need to examine with scrutiny, the voting records of their elected representatives.  Senator Ben Nelson is up for election next year and I keep hope alive that people will remember all the hollow promises made to people in this state that have not come to fruition by him, just so he could prop up his political party, that somehow, people will realize that actions speak louder than words.

The government that governs least, governs the best. The Lord helps those who help themselves. Both of these sentiments are rooted in the believe that self reliance and self actualization are the key to individual success. It was never the design of our founder's that this government should be the provider of hearth and home, but to be the land of opportunities. We are what we make of ourselves.

Perhaps it is time for the Occupy movement to actually occupy something worthwhile. Occupy yourselves with something that builds and does not tear down. Occupy yourselves with something that brings opportunity to find self fulfillment and inner happiness.