by Nancy Todisco

Created on: May 09, 2009   Last Updated: May 12, 2009

Large proportions of the American population are over worked, over tired, overstressed; and under paid. The problem exists because far too many of us work far too much, for so very little in compensation. We are chasing rainbows and losing focus on priorities, in an effort to protect our families, our priorities, in a struggling and strangling economy.

Yes, there does exist a minority of employees that will get fat off the riches of their labor. The lucky few who appear to labor so weakly, and get paid so abundantly. But for the rest of the average "Joes", or "Josephine's", life is a struggle, and a desperate one at that; to get paid for our work product, to support our families, to feel secure in our earnings; to get what most of us truly deserve in wages.

Americans aren't greedy when it comes to their wages. We work multitudes of hours, and then we work some more. We search for first jobs, secure them, and then sadly require second jobs to meet our living expenses. We suffer as a result of low earnings. Our health is compromised, our time with our families is severed, our mental health is flawed, and it isn't because we are greedy. It is because, like a patient condemned to a disease, we do everything and anything to survive. Human nature intuitively instills within each of us, a struggle to survive, a desire to conquer; a survival of the fittest.

Imagine a world where American's could labor forty hours and pay their mortgages, send their children to colleges without completely destroying the financial health of their families. Try, if you can, to muster up every childhood illusion, and imagine. Imagine if fantasy and fiction collided, and one parent could support the American family. Try to visualize a world where children and teens came home to their parents for homework help, after school advice, love and support. Put yourself in the mindset of Martin Luther King who had a dream; "an awesome dream". His dream today might not be for racial harmony, but for employer/employee harmony. He might dream of a world where Dad's can spend their evenings with their children because Blackberry's wouldn't interrupt their family time, work calls wouldn't interrupt dinners, and parents could "steal a date" because their budget allowed an evening together. Consider that awesome dream.

In the words of my own beloved Grandmother, "The golden years aren't so golden!". What has lead to these golden years being less than stellar? I believe it is due to decades of stress, struggling to work in and out of the home, and the toll it takes on Americans, both fiscally and physically.

In order to return some serenity to our economy and some sanity to our minds; Americans must be fairly compensated for their work, and be allowed to work hard and play hard with the family, and the people they enjoy. The only way to rejuvenate and protect the basic survival of the human spirit and family, would be to reconsider and revamp our pay scales; thus allowing Americans to reclaim their lives and confidence in the American Dream. Yes, I have a dream....an "awesome dream".

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