2009 to 2018 I had no gainful full time job offers. I applied by resume for over 300 brick and mortar jobs requiring manual labor. I had 80 k hours on the job experience in over 10 different trades. 2018 I was hired full-time in a small machine shop as a go-for. The shop went from 5 to 28 employees starting in 2016. The only thing different between 2009 and 2016 was Trump. (I didn't vote for the first time in my life in 2016 because of disillusionment.) I traveled 3 states to other small manufacturers in mill towns once abandoned who were pushing multiple shifts to maintain work orders. Anyone who wanted work became necessary again. A freak brain injury sidelined me in 2019. I went back to part time in 2022 until 2024 when I was unable to manage working a 4 hour shift. When I worked at Home Depot for 4(2014 to 2018) years they were full of white collars abandoned by the market. I referred to Home Depot as the island of misfit boys. They hired anyone abandoned by market interruptions and economic downturns.

Aging out of job opportunities is not a pleasant experience. In 2009 the handwriting was on the wall. Old age and poverty were highly likely for my future. 51 and a permanent back injury sidelined me from making good money in the trades any longer. I laid out my options. Suicide was one. If not for my daughters and grandsons I may have opted out. The opioid epidemic coupled with alcoholism and downturn in economy had claimed 25 people I knew in a similar disposition as I was in. Fortunately I was 5 years sober and managed to survive. Currently 21 years sober living on SS age 67. What I saw for my future in 2009 was accurate.

mattman, I agree with you that Iran getting a nuke is totally unacceptable and was being ignored by everyone till Trump.

One of my memories while I sat at my desk at Anthem Blue Cross in North Haven as each strike of planes was announced on the news……I barely got on Fox internet because everyone was online trying to get information……was that people were barely functional. Most were completely and understandably in shock.

But one thing that went through my mind was, what if these were atomic strikes that were being announced? There would be no recovery in that scenario…..maybe a retaliatory strike, but no recovery.

Trump did what no other President in my life would do and he is making sure Islamic fundamentalist don’t get a nuke.

Trump could have ignored the problem and had gas at $1.99 and cruised to the end of his second term as the most beloved President in history……but he did what he had to do and I tip my hat to him

God is still being VERY patient with our country……but how long can He put off righteous judgement when a mom strangling her kids is deeply debated?

Or when fundamental Islam and godless Communism, both of which always fly below the radar until in the majority, and then ruthlessly take control of a country…..are tolerated in the land of the free?

I believe America is still being blessed by God because there is still a remnant of people who still fear Him, love Him and love His people Israel.

When that stops…..and judgment falls…..there won’t be an America to run too……so maybe we should be adults and demand that the children stop drilling holes in the bottom of the boat when we’re 150 miles offshore