99ers struggle for survival includes fight to save lives

The efforts of the 99er community have extended far beyond calling faxing, emailing - and begging members of Congress to help the long-term unemployed; now they are also fighting to save the lives of 99ers who are giving up hope with decisions to take their own lives.  Twice in less than one week, 99er activists have stepped up to the plate and made unbelievable - valiant - efforts to contact two individuals who posted notes that were clearly either a suicide letter, or were potentially suicidal in nature.

This morning a 99er friend of mine on FaceBook (FB) posted a note on her FB page that simply stated "I can't do this anymore."  Within minutes (seconds), Donna Hoagland another (non 99er) friend, saw the note that had been posted and sent me a *911* message saying that our 99er friend was potentially suicidal.  Thankfully, I was online at the time (it was sent via message and not posted to my wall where others could see it if I had not been online); I saw the message and immediately contacted my group of friends on FB and the 99er group via email.  This was 4 hours ago. 

Within minutes, a flurry of activity was set into motion; FB messages were posted, Rhonda Taylor and other 99ers who have previously been in contact with this person tried to reach her by phone, email (this individual had recently moved from one state to another and no body was sure how to reach her via phone/address at her new place of residence).  There were already nearly 70 posts made within just a few hours pleading for this person to respond and for the rest of us to find contact information that could be provided to the police department.  Other friends, including Matt Yeazel, made several long distance calls to South Carolina and Florida in attemps to track down any information that might help locate the individual who posted this message and might be in trouble.

After receiving no responses, the information that had been gathered was used to identify which police department to contact; and the police are in the process of responding as I write this.  In the meantime, and with immense relief, I am happy to report that this individual did respond to the group by posting the following on FB:

"I'm ok- so to speak .. and aren't you ALL the most wonderful most beautiful and compassionate people I never had a chance to meet in my life ???
I am sorry if I alarmed you all-- I am not suicidal-- I just can't live like this anymore...
I just wish Mandy (my only family- my schnauzer) and I could just disappear ...
I know it's the depression from it all... but there is simply no help here for anything- believe me I've tried...
I love all you guys too ;)
Thank you all for caring so much ..."

At the time this article is published, the police department was still looking to do a 'well-being' check on this individual.   The efforts of many individuals - but particularly the efforts of Donna Hoagland were nothing short of heroic in the sense that every effort was made to contact, locate and send help for their fellow 99er friend. 

I would like to reiterate that this is something that has impacted every single 99er in one way or another.  For me to write 'these are extraordinarily difficult times' is nothing short of an understatement - a slap in the face of all 99ers.  In other words, there is no way to describe the constant fear and despair the 99ers have lived with for months; I receive emails and comments from many friends saying much of what Mark (below) and others have said.  Thoughts of suicide have crossed the minds of many 99ers at some point in the last months- and these are NOT voluntary thoughts.

On Thanksgiving Day a 99er known only as 'Mark' posted a suicide letter on three separate 99er websites, Tier5.webs.com, Unemployed Workers Action Group (UWAG) and Unemployed States of America.   (It was later re-posted on the website 'A Company of One' by the sites owner/administrator).  'Mark' addressed his letter 'To the unemployed, sick, disabled and poor:' and he goes on to write a heart-wrenching and poignant description of his decision to take his own life; he did so in a highly educated and articulate manner. 

Mark's letter was not posted as a FB note or comment; as stated it was posted on three 99er websites - making it more difficult to respond or to get help.  In the same manner as above, a group of 99ers - including the owners/administrators of various 99er websites**  and others - went to unbelievable efforts to locate 'Mark'  and get help.   These individuals tracked his [Mark's] movements through IP addresses, use of online latitude/longitude software and pieced together as much information as possible to give police - including the FBI.  At one point, the group believed it had been able to identify the apartment complex that was possibly the residence of 'Mark' but was not able to provide a specific apartment number, full name, et-cetera.  They were not able to locate Mark or to confirm whether or not he even resided at that complex and were denied further assistance by the complex management. 

The same type of roadblocks (ie lack of information and/or cooperation) were encountered with various police departments as well as the FBI, but the 99ers learned a great deal as a result of this ordeal.  They are now trying to determine if and how it may be possible to implement registration processes on their websites that, in the future, would make it possible to track down an individual if - and when - needed.

The story of Mark, while it is believed to be legitimate - and the 99er community does believe 'Mark' took his own life -  has not yet been able to confirm this.  There has been no activity posted by 'Mark' since he posted his letter on the eve of Thanksgiving Day. 

I would like to point out that this is NOT the first time this sort of activity has taken place; it is simply just time to write about it.  The lame duck, mainstream media (this is one area where I can agree with Palin ) chooses to ignore these stories - and has continued to do so for months.

I received the following response from Kian Frederick, Political Director of Flashmobs4jobs:

"In addition to the SFPD and the FBI, we all hit roadblocks with the ISP’s, as well.  This raises the question of how can we possibly get help to someone if we only have their IP?  The answer seems to be that we can’t.  The FBI is the only place that told me they had the capability to trace an IP address, but no jurisdiction because this is considered a 'local' matter." 

You can read Mark's letter in its entirety on any of the websites mentioned above or here, in Mike Thornton's article, "A tragic Thanksgiving letter from one valiant 99er who gives up hope."   Wherever you go to read the letter, it is suggested that you DO read his letter.

Based on many comments, emails - as well as personal opinion - Mark spoke very directly to the point about what the 99ers have faced as well as what the elected officials in Washington have done to once successful, middle class Americans who became victims of this recession. 

Every member of Congress, President Obama, the entire White House staff and members of media outlets across the country should be forced to read - meaning read, comprehend and acknowledge - Mark's letter. 

I include the media because, in many ways, the media is more responsible than Congress for the plight of many who are suffering beyond belief because the media simply chooses to ignore this story- this very real part of the ongoing recession - which is in reality a very real depression for millions of American citizens.  As I've stated before, 'If it is ignored, it will go away" is the mentality of Congressional leaders and media producers everywhere.  

Let me to you - IT is NOT going away.  I am not going out on a limb by saying that the people of Haiti have gotten more from the U.S. government than the 99ers have received.  I will remind you all that the 99ers are, and always have been, tax-paying citizens.  (Yes, back taxes are owed on the unemployment benefits that 99ers received).

The message for all who are struggling is this:  please do not give up; there are many who care about you and will stay in this fight with you - just reach out to one of your friends and they WILL not desert you in the same fashion that the rest of the country has deserted you.

 S3706 - The Americans Want to Work Act was introduced in July, but remains stalled in the Senate Finance Commitee as wealthy millionaires in Congress fight over whether or not to extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich while, at the same time, find ways to pay for extending U.I.  Simply extending the current EUC program which expires tomorrow will not help the 99ers; another 'Tier' (additional weeks) must be provided to help the 99ers.

**The 99er website and administrators involved in this effort included the following:  American 99ers Union, Unemployed Workers Action Group (UWAG), Flashmobs4Jobs, Tier5.webs.com, Unemployed States of America, Layofflist.org, aCompanyofOne, survivingintherecession.blog;

Please accept my apologies if I have inadvertently left any individual or website out of this list; intentions are to include all who have been so diligent in their efforts to help locate and save these (and other) individuals.