Third World America MAP: Share Your Stories Of Struggle And Success!

All across the country, Americans are suffering. In her forthcoming book, Third World America, Arianna Huffington details the economic collapse, and the toll it has taken on so many people, families and communities.

Below, we've mapped the areas hardest hit by home foreclosure, unemployment and bankruptcy this year. But the map of Third World America is not yet complete: participate below to add your story. Submit text, pictures or video -- and share with us how you personally have been affected by the financial crisis.

How have you been impacted by the financial crisis -- and how are you bouncing back? What are you doing to help prevent America from ever becoming a Third World nation?

SHARE YOUR STORY!

 

We want to hear how you and those you love have been affected, how you are recovering, and what you're doing to improve your own community -- and, by extension, the entire country. Let us know in writing or upload a video to YouTube and send us the link, and we will add your story to the map!

SOURCES: Unemployment data, foreclosures data, bankruptcies data.

CUSTOMIZE your pledge below by adding what you will do to rebuild the American Dream.

Pledge for the American Dream!

I pledge to spend at least 4 hours this month strengthening my community so America never becomes a Third World nation.

Pledge on Facebook or Twitter:

Comments

[Gustavo Rejivik]

01:43 AM on 10/05/2010

Look for more Green push-pins the longer Progressives run things .. which they have run Congress for 3 years now ...

[Voting citizen]

05:43 PM on 09/29/2010

The sad thing about all this hurt and pain is that no one is listening. Our elected officials are too busy with their fancy lives to give a tinkers dam about our lives. They have a roof over their heads, lunch in fancy restaurants, drive fancy cars if they want...they can even see a doctor and pay deductible. So in reality...whether you have or have not doesn't make any difference to them. They my dears...DON"T CARE!!!! So...as one of our elected officials said once...get over it. Our only recourse...is our ability to vote and that is the only thing they can't take away.

[farmerpatsy]

05:38 PM on 09/29/2010

Let’s face it, Housing is just too expensive and has been for years. The price of buying a home in the last 20 years has climbed straight up. Think about this, when you rent a piece of property, you have the landlord, buy the screen door, fix the water heater, put on a new roof, right, plus the Landlord pays the taxes and insurance on the rental. But when you get a mortgage, you are responsible for the whole thing. You really don’t own the house, the mortgage company owns it. They can throw you out, just like a landlord can. So what’s the difference? Nothing. The mortgage Company makes you believe you own it, so you pay the taxes, insurance, do all the repairs, and then when you miss a few payments you’re out. We are programmed by societies, this is how it’s done, you buy home, and you are responsible for it. Not true, the mortgage Company is. In reality, the mortgage company is responsible for all the fix up and taxes and insurance. Yes, maybe it silly, but next time your home needs a new roof, give the lender a call, tell them you will be sending them 3 estimates for a new roof. Besides, why should you protect their interest, when they don’t care about yours. The sad part we continue taking out 2nd mortgages to pay for repairs and up keep, when the lender is truely responsible.

[Gustavo Rejivik]

01:46 AM on 10/05/2010

Good luck getting the Mortgage Company to fix your roof .. although I hear ya on this one ...

I paid 10x more in taxes last year than I paid down my house .... after 30 years I will have paid over 500k in interest/Mortgage and over 500k in taxes .. its disgusting. Hell, the City should fix my roof !!

[pflickner]

05:04 PM on 09/29/2010

We're struggling somewhat right now, but considering everything, we're in half-decent shape. My girlfriend of 13 years was laid off nearly 3 years ago and then lost her home the beginning of January and she and her daughter moved in with us. She finally got hired, started work this week, and is looking for an apartment. It hasn't been easy for any of us -- I got plenty of practice in the art of patience -- but I'm sure that for her, it was really rough. My job was easy -- making sure she and her daughter had a safe place to live while she looked for a job. I don't want to imagine what she would have done had I said no. That wouldn't have happened, however. She was my manager when I moved out to Phoenix 13 years ago. She saved my job when I went off the deep end after my brother's suicide and I always told her that whatever she needed, I would be there for her. I'm grateful that I finally got the opportunity.

[Shaddup]

03:15 PM on 09/29/2010

Success story: My first book was published Sept. 3.
The Success? Sept. 28th I finally had the money to order a copy.

[siouxkiel]

03:04 PM on 09/29/2010

I'm close to 30 years old, I have only been able to find part-time work this year. I bring home less than $300 a week. I spent a little over a month homeless this year something I thought was never going to happen. I have car payments, car repairs (car was also broken into while living out of it), credit card debt...medical debt. I've already lost everything, including my pride and dignity. I didn't choose to be here it just happened. I don't live beyond my means, most of what I own was purchased used or a decade ago. I happened to get sick, I had insurance but that only covers so much. I had to leave my job and move closer to my family. From there it got worse, there were no jobs then I lost the roof over my head. I finally have a roof over my head but I can't afford to eat more than a meal a day. I can barely afford to take public transit to work. I can't afford my medications anymore so I stopped taking them. It's exhausting but I still get up everyday and do what I need to do. Being part of the working class hasn't always been this hard and I don't see it getting better. I won't point fingers or play the blame game. We're all in this together and that gets us no where. Want things to change? Then do something about it.

[Patrick Lally]

02:56 PM on 09/29/2010

After graduating college and having no immediate opportunities, as well as being $10,000 (conservatively) in debt, I took a construction job, which was basically labor. The job basically was enough to help pay my monthly student loan payments and feed myself, not even enough to help me move out of the parent's house. As the economy dove into recession, the company went belly up and I was stuck searching for a new job once again. I had to return to waiting tables at my old college restaurant and found myself singing birthday songs to 5 year olds, once again. I've decided to return to school and am pursing my MBA. I am currently living very modestly during this time, as the only money I have is student loans. My debt now soars over $40,000. I've applied for over 200 jobs with no avail. I'm hoping a graduate degree helps separate me from the herd. I'm praying that the unemployment numbers decrease.

[baronmerlot]

01:26 PM on 09/29/2010

I'm a freelance illustrator who works in the advertising business. This year work has dropped 50% from last year and there are no signs it's going to improve as most agencies are keeping the work inhouse since clients are spending less on advertising budgets. I've called several agencies to get studio work, reps and art directors I know who tell me the same thing: it's slow for everyone, but it should pick up soon.

In the meantime I've had to put off medical and dental procedures, borrow money from family and possibly move in with family. It's been a very humbling year.

The scary thing is I'm a very hard worker, with a strong work ethic, but the work just isn't there right now.

[BJD44]

12:47 PM on 09/29/2010

**************************************************

I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT WE ARE
A SUCCESS STORY.

My 24-year-old daughter and one of her
best friends are just getting ready to purchase
the cafe/coffee shop she has been working
at for the past 2 years.

This is something they've wished to do for
probably about 5 years now, and now it's
actually becoming a reality for them.

I would never have thought even just 2 months
ago that we would be able to make this
happen. And now all sorts of small business
owners are coming to them saying they
think it's great that two such wonderful young
women are small business owners.

I AM SO PROUD OF THEM BOTH. THIS
WILL CHANGE THEIR YOUNG LIVES.

YES, I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT
WE ARE A SUCCESS STORY.

**********************************************************

[barefootinMN]

01:39 PM on 09/30/2010

I can't rejoice with you. I know I should, but your tone is so snobby... I hope you didn't intend to come across that way. So, what is it that "happened" that made the magical dream come true ? How in the world did they obtain the financing ???? You'd encourage people and maybe even help if you'd share some of that info.

[YourMoralCompass]

12:26 PM on 09/29/2010

Here is our situation: Job ending (contract), no prospects for employment at same or close to same wages, house has been for sale since July, house updated with new granite counters in kitchen/master bath, new tile, glass frameless shower, all told about $20,000 of updates, all paid for with cash in anticipation of greater/faster sale. We have lowered the price 3 times from $399K to $379K and now to $369K, and also put it up for lease (not by choice). The $369K price gets us out of the house with $1K in our pockets once all closing costs are paid. We have done all we can do to sell our house, but we are not going to do anymore and Sept 1st was the last payment. We took about 30% of our savings and bought a travel trailer, and we were able to get a full sized truck on credit to pull the trailer. As it stands right now, we will be walking away from our home. Corporations do this all the time, its business. We will be "homeless". Our plan is travel from city to city looking for work. I've been in IT since 1993 and have a lot of experience with networks/server and desktop finding work will be easy, it just wont be regular. We are not those people that have run up tens of thousands in debt. Before we purchase the truck our only other debt was the house. See you on the road!

[owiseone]

11:16 AM on 09/29/2010

We all need to learn to live simply. Conserve. Plan ahead. Help each other.

This is not the end of the world. We have always coped and risen above whatever.

If we look at the times we are still in, they are way better than a generation or two back. Reminding me of that was a conversation with friends recently, who remembered the day when if a woman was widowed or deserted that she often had to turn to orphanages to care for her children in the hope that she could find work and get on her feet. Some made it and some not.

We have to look to a brighter future, though it may not be what we had, it can be good in another way.

In the meantime, we must elect those who will keep our social programs in place. They have been a God send for many who were/are teetering on the brink.

[wakeup804]

09:36 PM on 09/18/2010

It is time for us to get to work........connect with your local politician and start making phones call, hand out literature, whatever we can do.....can you imagine how bad it will be if we allow the Repubs to take over again

[granolagoddess]

10:12 PM on 09/18/2010

I am someone with hidden disabilties and I have a law degree. Please read my blog about being and intellectual who lives in poverty.

http://seattlefeministinpoverty.blogspot.com/

[MarshaMarshaMarsha]

03:42 PM on 09/30/2010

Don't bother, all she does is whine.

[fortressfountain]

07:05 PM on 09/18/2010

Raise your hand if you feel it is your job to sacrifice so more and more people can breed irresponsibly globally, if you want to pay high health care costs so you can recieve rationed care and if you want to give up your social security so the young can have it?

[Religulous24]

11:50 PM on 09/15/2010

Oddly enough, I got my pink slip election night '08. What was meant to be an amazing night suddenly collided with an uncertain future for myself and my colleagues. I was mostly fresh out of college, with a year at the company under my belt. I was constantly noted for my good work and outstanding customer service.

So, it's been almost two years and no new job. My unemployment went out in April and I've only stayed afloat because I'm a penny-pincher by nature. I lost track at the number of applications I've put in but so far it's been for nothing. My responses have been that I am too over-qualified for hourly work yet under-qualified for professional work. It doesn't help that there are dozens that also apply to all the same jobs I do.

Pride is a thing of the past but I cling to hope because that is the one thing that I can still afford.

Best wishes to everyone out there :)

[wakeup804]

09:43 PM on 09/18/2010

You keep your head up, it will get better. Trouble and hard times come to pass, never to stay. We need to start getting together by state so we can help each other. If you can make it to the workers rally in Washington DC on October 2nd, you will be amongst like minded people. I think the only way alot of will be able to make it is to create our own jobs. You sound like a nice, kind person, things will work out for you.

[owiseone]

11:43 AM on 09/29/2010

I can identify.
My approach is to remind myself that the world is made up of individuals, all valuable in their own way, and that it is ok to exist for whatever is basic and important to us--like family, and that our identity is in that, not in the job we are or were, or in posessions or extravagant life-styles we are even yet being sold by the media.

[Diane Plesset]

03:54 PM on 09/15/2010

I've always believed in the American Dream, the entrepreneurial spirit that has driven this country since its inception. Until the economy crashed and burned two years ago, I've survived previous business slumps for over 25 years. My business dried up totally in 9/08, which resulted in our new home being jeopardized by foreclosure, because my husband couldn't pay the mortgage and living expenses by himself. Our mortgage company, First Horizon, received TARP funds, but they stonewalled our attempts to modify our mortgage, so we could keep our home. I fought with them daily, complying with all of their demands in a timely manner, for 15 months. I wrote numerous letters to all of the elected officials who are supposed to represent me (Bill Kennemer, Martha Schrader, Kurt Schrader, Jeff Merkley, and Ron Wyden, Vice-President Biden and President Obama). The only one who was somewhat helpful was Kurt Schrader, through his administrative assistant, Megan. Government-sponsored agencies were USELESS. I'm used to stress, but the stress of trying to rebuild my career while fighting to keep our home compromised my immune system, and allowed cancer to develop. Fortunately, I have had the support of my husband and medical practitioners who have helped me recover physically. But like so many American solopreneurs, I feel totally abandoned and discounted by a shifted economic and political system that does not resemble what our Forefathers created. Feeling depressed, discouraged, disappointed, disgusted -- but hopeful that I/we can make a positive difference. How?

[owiseone]

11:45 AM on 09/29/2010

Courage!

[barefootinMN]

01:46 PM on 09/30/2010

Diane, I sure understand! the stress of my kids' illnesses compromised my immune system, & my ill health almost cost my career. Am just hanging on by my fingernails. Look around you for a need & see what you can do to meet it. I met a gal last fall who wanted to gather seeds from a basswood tree in my yard. She said the DNR pays by the gallon for the seeds; then they plant them in their nurseries -- for loggers to use later, in re-planting the logged-out areas. Who'd-a thunk it ? I never would have. There will be something for you.