In Michigan, the economic collapse caused in good part by Wall Street greed continues to cause suffering for unemployed workers and struggling families, while the top 1% are doing better than any time in history. Our Governor and Lansing politicians just don’t seem to get it. This year, while corporations got a $1.8 billion tax cut, the rest of us were made to shoulder the burden with higher taxes, less services and now we face even more cuts. All of this was done with the promise of more jobs. We’ve seen no jobs, only more suffering: more unemployment, more poverty, and more slashing of the safety net - and now politicians in Lansing and Washington are talking about more tax giveaways to the top 1% and cuts to our Social Security and Medicare. People in Michigan are rising up to say stop. We are rising up because we have a voice. We realize there is more that unites us than divides us. These are hard times. Anger, sadness, fear, hope - all that emotion and energy - let’s work together and channel it into action. These are our stories. WE ARE MICHIGAN’S 99%. var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push([‘_setAccount’, ‘UA-26812327-1’]); _gaq.push([‘_setDomainName’, ‘wearethemichigan99.tumblr.com’]); _gaq.push([‘_trackPageview’]); (function() { var ga = document.createElement(‘script’); ga.type = ‘text/javascript’; ga.async = true; ga.src = (‘https:’ == document.location.protocol ? ‘https://ssl’ : ‘http://www’) + ‘.google-analytics.com/ga.js’; var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Tumblr (3.0; @wearethe99michigan)http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luvcacb8AJ1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I am a 25 year old college grad with serious health needs who has been kicked off my parents health insurance because I “made too much money,” yet I didn’t make enough money to move out my momma’s house.</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12973703383http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12973703383Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:20:00 -050025<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luvc4ciRNz1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I have a son in college, will he have a job after graduation?</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12973604720http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12973604720Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:16:00 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luvbmd2WYD1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Lost wages & benefits.  Looking at a taxed pension :(</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12973310181http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12973310181Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:06:00 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luvba4B1bq1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I am 25 years old from Southfield working on completing my college degree.  I have a decent job with out finishing my degree, but how will I pay my large student loans off when Jobs are not increasing pay.  And I have a family to support.</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12973106259http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12973106259Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:58:00 -050025Southfield<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luvb50K66N1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I live in Traverse City.  I work in a warehouse 40 hours a week.  I work overtime every chance I get.  I only make $19,000 a year.  It makes it hard to eat and sleep. I have no insurance and no savings.  I want something better for my kid.</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12973022393http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12973022393Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:55:00 -0500Traverse City<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luvb0700ad1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I am 26 years old.  I am from Detroit, MI I am here because I am jobless, homeless, and soon to be hopeless.</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12972943080http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12972943080Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:52:00 -050026Detroit<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luvarsDUMP1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>My name is Colin.  I am 22 years old.  I am here b/c I have bipolar disorder.  I am from Saint Clair Shores originally but I have moved 8 times since high school.  I am in student loan debt and unable to get a steady job to keep a home or my disorder in check.  We all deserve a future where debt isn’t square 1 and the rest of life isn’t paying it back.</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12972806360http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12972806360Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:47:00 -050022Saint Clair Shores<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luvan7MZpx1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Hi I’m Benjamin from Austria.  Really appreciate the effort everyone is puttin in the movement.  Together we can make it!  Keep it up!</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12972732514http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12972732514Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:45:00 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luvaemfCFd1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I am 26 yrs. old.  I live in Allendale, MI.  I served as a medic in the Army for 4 years.  When I moved back to Michigan, I immediately began searching for a job.  I dilligently searched for a year.  No one cared about my military medical training.  I decided to go to school.  I enrolled, and being a single mom, I applied for state aid for day care.  I could not afford to live on a part-time salary when I was in school full time and paying out of pocket for day care 40+ hours a week.  The state denied my request because of $700/month I received from the GI Bill.  I could not afford school, then, because I was a single mom and a veteran.</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12972591985http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12972591985Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:39:00 -050026Allendale<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luvaahuyM51r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I am 55 years old and underemployed and uninsured.  I have four college degrees and working two part-time jobs.  I will never be able to retire because I have no savings.  I am looking forward to getting health care when the Health Care Law goes into effect.</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12972523884http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12972523884Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:37:00 -050055<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lus9d4A3Wh1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Elizabeth, 50 from Roseville.  I’m for change.  I propose:</p> <p>Let’s have 1% work for 99% for a change….</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12910673778http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12910673778Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:12:49 -050050Rosevillesubmission<iframe class="tumblr_audio_player tumblr_audio_player_12881318834" src="http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12881318834/audio_player_iframe/wearethe99michigan/tumblr_lurbzcUFz51r4bafu?audio_file=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Faudio_file%2Fwearethe99michigan%2F12881318834%2Ftumblr_lurbzcUFz51r4bafu" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" scrolling="no" width="500" height="85"></iframe><br/><br/><p>Great song for the 99%: ‘I’m a 99’ by the Nomadic Firs.  Send us your favorite music for the 99% at mi99percent@gmail.com or upload here. #mi99percent</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12881318834http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12881318834Wed, 16 Nov 2011 09:23:36 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lupzpgRskr1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Hola - I’m Laura from Dearborn, MI.  My husband and I are just retired.  Now our Republican government wants us to pay our of our pension to give big business more. Do they really need bigger boats?</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12847862608http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12847862608Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:00:00 -0500Dearborn<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luppr9qU8F1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I am 64 years old unemployed - no insurance no retirement - I have worked all my life & now they want to tax my S.S. and lower my medicare benefits (when I get them)</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12840588976http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12840588976Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:25:00 -050064<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lupp0c3CvB1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I am 25.  I need to work 50 or more hours a week to be able to afford my bills.  Everything goes up except for my wages.</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12840119886http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12840119886Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:09:00 -050025<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lupo23D2ol1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I’m 24 from Warren.  After graduating from college in 2009, I had trouble finding full time employment.  Because student loan debt, I missed a credit card payment.  BofA raised my interest rate from 10.99% to 29.99%.  How am I going to pay it off now?</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12839561784http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12839561784Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:49:00 -050024Warren<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luomhvt7rf1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I am 19 years old.  I am currently in my 2nd year of college and unemployed and I am afraid to complete school because I see so many people that have completed school and did things the right way and they are unemployed with thousands of dollars in debt.  I really question if the system that is supposed to guarantee success will help or harm me if I follow through with it.</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12820284308http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12820284308Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:17:00 -050019West Bloomfield<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luomg1lbHH1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I am 20 years old from Woodhaven, Mich.  I am here to stop the wealthy from making my country an Oligarchy!</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12820230713http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12820230713Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:16:00 -050020Woodhaven<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luom97EcRB1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I am 21 from East Lansing.  I work 30 hours per week on top of being a full time student.  I will graduate from college with $54,000 in debt from college loans & no current job offers.</p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12820023986http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12820023986Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:12:00 -050021East Lansing<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luom0y3t4F1r4bafuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I’m 31 from Sterling Heights.  I am a second generation Macedonian American and am proud to live in America.  I did everything by the book, worked hard in school, paid my through college with no debt, and received a Master’s degree.  Despite playing by the rules, I am facing a huge pay cut, huge increased costs to my healthcare and longer hours, all to make sure that the rich and prosperous continue to amass more at the expense and cost of hard working citizens.  Is this what the American Dream that made my parents come here become? </p>http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12819776665http://wearethe99michigan.tumblr.com/post/12819776665Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:07:00 -0500