Economy and the Community

I know several people who have been directly effected by the economy. My father has actually been laid off twice in the past 3 years, and has been unemployed for extended periods of time. He had to lower his standards for a workplace just to find work, for some time he worked for a company that didn't offer any health benifits, vacation time, or even overtime. This company also seemed to be running a very unethical buisness, (my dad drives 18 wheelers, and this company would actually make their employees drive down side streets of chicago to avoid paying tolls.) Luckily, my dad found a new job, but it is only a little bit better then the last one he had. To me it is really sad that these companies are able to treat their employees with no respect, and they only reason they get away with it is becuase they know there are hundreds of other people out there that need work. My fiances best friend, Joel was in the army reserves, he decided to quit and move down to flordia, you see he lived in Grand Forks and said he was sick of the cold. When Joel got to flordia he was unable to find any work, nor decent housing (with a Grand Forks budget.) Within a week he moved back up to the cities, and he lived with me and my fiance for two months trying to find a job, he still hasn't found one.