The Relevance of Being on my Good Side

Currently, our nation is in an economic recession.  Everyone feels this anxiety and has many concerns plaguing their minds.  They all worry if they will be able to keep their homes, clothe themselves, and feed their children.  Now, being the holidays, it will be like Miracle on Main Street after the Crap on Wall Street.  Of course, the pervasive spirit of Ebenezer Scrooge graces our lives, as many insensitive chief executives dismiss countless employees, to save some money to fatten his/her paycheck.  

Five days ago, my department chief decided unexpectedly to dismiss my friend, who is also a social worker who works with me in my clinic.  Now, this poor young woman will not have a job in thirty days, her husband will start accounting school, and she will resume her other day job as an expert barista at Starbuck's.  All the hard work and relationships she has fostered are severed, as she will be searching for another social work position.  Of course, as her friend, I am very distraught to know that she was dismissed from a job she did well.  Obviously, we are not in control of our destinies.  Also, we are not in control of the most minute moments of our lives, such as waking up in the morning and having a job that pays a salary.  We take for granted that things won't change, and then, it all crashes in front of us.  However, in this facade of what we consider reality, there is a better truth that exists, and my friend will find that truth.  She will also have a better job and feel more respected and validated.  Interestingly, although I am directly impacted from a clinical efficiency standpoint, I was never consulted.  Instead, I was told that this would happen, and I was never given an ample opportunity to express myself.    All of that said, the chief and the office manager both made a point to say to me that they don't want me to be angry with them.  Now, for me to get angry requires genocide in Darfur, child abuse, fighting a needless war in Iraq, children going hungry, and children being deprived of education--obviously, there are more.  I was shocked and bewildered that my opinion of these two individuals actually mattered to them.  Nonetheless, though they may care if I am angry, they don't care enough to actually let my friend keep her job.  

It is a shame that the true victims of the financial crises are the people who are putting forth their 100% and being laid off from their jobs.  Yet, the chief officers can still fund their private jets, buy their office-purchased 3G iPhone, and assure that the idiots like me who remain are still agonizing over getting our never-ending work completed.  Such a travesty in our system.  Now, it seems economic hardtimes are hitting our nation's governors.  Yes, I'm talking to you, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich from Illinois.  I guess he was trying to secure a high-paying job for his wife for Christmas, as well as some bling for him. Didn't work--He has a hefty jail sentence in his near future.