As the U.S. economy continues to be in a recession with the unemployment rate now over 10 percent at an official rate of 10.2 percent, and the underemployment rate is an official 17.5 percent, I find myself thinking more and more of the sentiment that one of the descriptions of true personal integrity is how you treat people who can do nothing for you. We are all part of a reality now that many of our past business associates, friends, and family members are losing their jobs or businesses on a weekly basis. We are watching many remain unemployed for what even a couple of years ago would have been considered an unimaginably long period of time. In addition, we have all heard of people we know having their hours cut or that have accepted a job that would legitimately have seemed woefully underemployed for them just a year ago.
I personally know two friends that are facing foreclosure and one past business associate that is facing corporate and personal bankruptcy due to the failing economy. All were successful for years in white-collar jobs and have never had a financial problem prior to 2008. These are not people that lived way above their means, and they seem shell-shocked that it is even possible this is happening to them. These sobering observations have had me noting more fully how the people in my circle treat the severely affected. I’m asking myself what is my personal integrity in this recession. The reactions to the recession misfortune of people in my circle run the gamut:
I have some in my circle that have found the recession to be a boom for them. They still have jobs or businesses, and some are even doing better than prior to 2007. This group’s talk at social gatherings is full of excitement over all the bargains out there in stocks, vacations, and vacation or investment property, etc. They can’t wait to tell you about the great deal they just got on the new Lexus SUV Hybrid or the picture-window-sized flat screen television they just bought. They post on Facebook how wonderful their life is or on LinkedIn how wonderful their business is going. Or, they post how much they hate their job (which of course seems to be a recession-proof position) or the last business meeting they felt forced to endure at work. (If I see one more FB post about how much those not affected by the recession hate Mondays or can’t wait for Friday to get here on Tuesday, I am going to scream.) I am a big believer in creating and living in prosperity and wish nothing but success for all people. Yet, I notice this group seems to have not received the internal memo that many are struggling, conspicuous consumption may not be in the best taste right now, and that some of their FB comments in general seem a bit insensitive to the times—or at least they do to me. I have found this group in my circle to be quite self-absorbed in some ways. Were they always like this, or am I just seeing it for the first time? With this realization, I’m forced to ask myself: in my very best financial years am I like this? This group tells me, yes, they have been getting tons of networking emails and calls lately from laid-off friends, but they don’t really seem to understand or emphasize much with their plight. Some may make a call or two on behalf of their closest friends, but many tell me they find these calls awkward and are tired of dealing with them. I’m sure some in this group in general are trying to help those who can do nothing for them, but I’m not seeing a lot of that personally. I find the ones that are volunteering to help others are simply those that have always volunteered.
