I am proud to be an American, but not proud of everything that the United States government has done in the name of freedom to countries across the world, and am not truthfully proud of how the American government lets some multi-national corporations walk all over the rights of the American people that support them. 

When the chips were down after 9/11, then -President George Bush asked everyone to go shopping to support the struggling United States economy. In some areas, people were scared to leave their homes because of fears of a terrorist attack. The United States government bailed out the airline industry because many were too scared to fly. 

How did the corporations and the banks reward the American people for their loyalty to American businesses in the time of a national crisis? How did the corporations reward the American people for their hard work at the office, in the factory, or out in the field? 

By laying off their employees. 

I’ve watched it time and time again. Any time a corporation needs to cut down, employees are laid off. Some are lucky and get severance packages. Some do not. The decisions for layoffs are usually made at the top and mid-level managers and HR managers get the all-too fun job of telling their staff members that they don’t have a job any more. 

Others are forced to work on contract; a few contract positions come with great benefits, but most don’t. When the contract is finished, the contractor has to scramble to find work because in most states, contractors are ineligible for unemployment benefits. 

So, with Thanksgiving coming up, I’d like to say say a big sarcastic thank you to the American government for allowing multi-corporations to take on more importance than the American people. 

Why is someone like me paying more taxes to the American government than a corporation like GE? What is wrong with the tax structure in this country? Why don’t tax breaks come with more strings attached to them? Like a requirement to create a certain percentage or number of jobs. Why are corporations allowed to lay off their workers at the drop of a hat without looking at other options first? 

The United States government needs to start taking care of its citizens a little better than it is now. Yes, we may need defense from other nations, but what about protection from the whims of American corporations and big banks?