Before it's too late

Middle aged office worker was fired from his job, went home, opened a few letters from debt collectors threatening legal action, read the eviction note, took his gun, shot his dog, shot his wife child and himself...
When and where did it happen? The ironic part is that we are getting used to those stories. From Scandinavia to Mediterranean shores, from former Soviet states who hoped to have a better life decade ago to the rocks Atlantic cost such stories are filling in the newspapers; they are not making headlines anymore-unless another unfortunate who lost his home, job, future, saving would take on the VIP in the rage of desperation like it happened in Holland recently.

For more then half a century people in Europe knew: if work hard, if you commit yourself to your task, if you will contribute to society you will get your fair share. May be not by becoming a millionaire but at least you will be free from a most destructive fear which cursed Europe from millenniums-fear of poverty, fear of hunger fear of need...

Not any more.
The average salary or income of free lancer in Europe is 2000 euro, 2500 max, while most people get less.
The "mandatory" private health insurance which most conservative governments so willingly forced to the people cost 100 or 200 per month, while they don't even cover the basic package.
Your rent or mortgage which seemed such a good deal in 1998 when you got it, now costs 75% of your salary, while your house price went down and you are in debt even if you sell it. Sounds familiar? I don't know many families who pay less the at least 1000 euro for accommodation? Telephone, Internet, and, worse of all-the energy costs are taking off another 500-600 a month. You are late with payment? You will have debt collector at your door within a week claiming twice the amount. So you barely make an ends meet for a few years already, sometimes even not being able to save enough money for food... And if God forbid you make a mistake like will get yourself a speed ticket (200E or so) will make a mistake in tax declaration or else, then say good buy to your savings.

But as long as job goes on, you carry on. Then one day you receive a letter that your job is now gone with a wind, because the Big Corporation Inc where you used to work is now officially bankrupt. Good bye and "we sincerely wish you success with new employment".

From 100 employment agencies which you might visit 99 will also wish you a good luck with job seeking in a same letter where they will tell you that "although you have strong points in your CV the other candidates match job profile more." And the last one will simply ignore you pretending you don't exist.

The social contribution takes 100-200 per month for you "social security": don't ever expect this money back, most people who are jobless around the continent are subject to various sadistic harassment from social workers; depending on the social workers fantasy. The treatment of welfare receivers in many EU countries, especially those who have conservatives in charge is not much different then treatment of the criminals on parole. And God forbid pure champ form say selling even piece of metal or trying to earn extra Euro for a family like we have seen in a Full Monty. You will be down and out for violation of rules in no time.
And forget any sympathy form society. The conservative media succeeded to stamp the idea that anyone who lives off the government payroll is a parasite into everyone's mind; of course no one remembers that some 900 or so Euro which average unemployed champ is receiving was actually taken off his own salary during years and years of hard work.
If you happen to be "self employed" situation is even worse. You have "chosen" to be self employed they will say, so forget any social benefits. Have problems, your house price went down, your mortgage went up, and your invoices are cancelled? Well it is your choice so screw you.
To save readers time and energy I will spare the story of those who happen to be .. natives of the countries, far away from Europe and had lost job or income recently.

You trying to find an answer with municipality, with social workers with colleagues. "If you have problems it is your fault" they say, if you were thrown out from your house, our lost your job it is a consequence of your own mistakes, so pay for it. You trying to get answers in TV, in movie in the books but Hollywood generated pop culture just pointing finger on you and saying "you are a loser!". Does it surprise you that some people who feel like the World came to the end are pointing weapon against own self?

I wonder what happens to those who don't... Increasing crime rates combined with increasing unemployment rates and increasing prices possible give the answer.

By the way I assume we all care about environment; but let's say if after all this above someone will offer you a job in some obviously nasty company which polluting nature big time.... Will you accept or proudly reject the deal?

This is a life of average European today in 2009, in the time of unthinkable technological development, decades after the end of Cold war and half a century from last World War.

Will social democrats from PES change this? We don't know but what we know they are only ones who honestly arguing for change. Most conservative liberal parties are simply saying that problem is that their ideas were not implemented to the proper scale. We had not enough wild and nontransparent privatisation of public services (including even a water pipes), not enough rigid and "law and order" with zero tolerance, not enough border control, not enough militarization and police surveillance. Thanks but I think we had enough. You can not get our of hole by digging

So we need to give change a chance. We don't know if PES will let us down breaking their promise and letting Europe sink deeper into the poverty, bankruptcy and social division, or will manage to give us a fresh start and solution.

But to find out we need to give them a chance.
So that's why we decides to do what we can , artistically or otherwise to make sure that all people who might listen would go and vote for more social Europe at June 7th...

That's it for a first post