I am a labor/employment neutral, and I also do domestic and foreclosure mediation. In all my work I see that times are tough all around, and it seems like the struggle to get and keep a job, and earn enough money to support your family in current economic situation is not getting any better. My husband thinks this is the “new normal” and I’m beginning to believe him.
The news stories of other families struggling to make ends meet, to keep jobs, to meet bills, etc. certainly seem to bear out his theory. See David Brooks, NY Times Op-Ed, “The New Normal” (Feb. 28, 2011) at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/opinion/01brooks.html; Alice Gomstyn, “Finance: Americans Adapt to the 'New Normal” (Jun. 15, 2009), at http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Economy/story?id=7827032&page=1. And, as households reorganize their personal priorities and finances in this economic environment, we should not be too surprised to see similar reorganizations going on, as well, at the state, national and international levels. We should also not be surprised that such reorganizations are as painful on these larger stages, as they are in our own homes.
