
Mood of the Nation: Struggling but seeking no help
By Mitch Weiss
Topics: From the Wires, News
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — On the eve of the 2012 elections, The Associated Press interviewed dozens of Americans to try to gauge the economic mood of the nation. People were asked about jobs, housing, gas prices, retirement and other issues. Among them was Ray Arvin, 47, of Mineral Springs, N.C., outside Charlotte. Arvin has struggled financially since a business he owned that supplied the power and aviation industries collapsed in 2009. He worries about his future and about the direction of the federal government.
___
When Arvin isn’t worrying about his own financial plight, he’s fretting about the government’s. He’s troubled by gaping budget deficits and galled by what he calls lax leadership in Washington.
What America needs, Arvin says, is to restore a spirit of individual self-reliance. And force the government to become leaner and more responsible.
“I’m against that government-down approach — spending without a thought of how we are going to balance the checkbook,” Arvin says.
He tries to live by his own words.
When his company went bust three years ago, Arvin fell into unemployment for several months. He had blown through his savings — more than $100,000 — trying to save his business.
He now works in sales for a company that sells supplies to power companies. His income has shrunk.
Arvin’s 2005 Chevy Suburban has 235,000 miles on it. When gas prices rise, his take-home pay drops. When the car breaks down, he fixes it himself to save money.
“I’ve lost my retirement that I had built up,” he says. “I’m having to start from scratch right now, looking at an economy and a government that is going to make my great-grandchildren pay the price for what they’re doing.”
Political leaders in Washington leave him shaking his head. It isn’t just President Barack Obama. Arvin opposes Obama. But he’s also appalled by the actions of long-serving politicians.
“We have too many people in government who have made it their career to be in government,” he says. “And they don’t seem to be in it for the country. They seem to be in it for themselves or their party.”
He isn’t looking for the government to help restore his financial security. He says he’ll keep working hard and hope for the best.
It’s an impulse rooted in American culture, he says.
“What made our country great,” Arvin says, “was people sucking it up, working hard and being energized to go in a direction because they could believe in their dreams and know their dreams were possible because they believed in themselves.”
One way he thinks he may realize that dream is with an invention he hopes catches fire: A makeup case Arvin decided to design after noticing how powder from his wife’s compact case would spill.
His wife is trying to turn the cases into a business. He says she’s sold hundreds of them at trade shows and on eBay. And Arvin is seeking a patent for his design.
“Maybe this will take off,” he says. “Who knows? But you just have to keep trying and not give up. That’s the American way.”
___
To watch video of Arvin and for more on this topic, go to: http://bigstory.ap.org/topic/mood-of-the-nation
You Might Also Like
More Related Stories
-
Five easy steps for becoming a rape apologist
-
How Obamacare shortchanges low-wage workers
-
Hackers replace Brazil World Cup website with protest footage
-
Billion-dollar bioterror detection program under new scrutiny
-
GOP's war on women has a new face: Marsha Blackburn
-
War against Issa heats up, as Cummings releases IRS transcript
-
São Paulo anchors Brazilian protests
-
No, Brazilian riots are not an "overreaction" to fare hikes
-
Hacktivists strike north of the border
-
House hearing in celebration of NSA spying
-
Texas councilwoman outraged over billboard featuring gay couple
-
Miss Utah gives wonderfully succinct answer to question about women and work
-
GOP lawmaker: Extreme abortion ban justified because of masturbating fetuses
-
US begins peace talks with Taliban
-
Ray Kelly, who oversaw secret Muslim spying, slams NSA secrecy
-
Reputed Mafia captain tip behind new Hoffa body search
-
Gitmo "indefinite detainees" revealed
-
Pentagon to begin training women for elite combat roles by 2015
-
Unions give boost to Turkish protest movement
-
Charles Saatchi cautioned over assault on wife
-
Protests explode across Brazil
Featured Slide Shows
Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)
close X- Share on Twitter
- Share on Facebook
- Thumbnails
- Fullscreen
- 1 of 11
- Previous
- Next
-
The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.
-
In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.
-
This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.
-
Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.
-
An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.
-
Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.
-
Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.
-
People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.
-
On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.
-
The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.
-
Recent Slide Shows
-
Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)
-
The week in 10 pics
-
Photos: Turmoil and tear gas in Instanbul's Gezi Park - Slideshow
-
10 summer food festivals worth the pit stop
-
- Share on Twitter
- Share on Facebook
- Thumbnails
- Fullscreen
- 1 of 11
- Previous
- Next
-
The week in 10 pics
-
10 summer food festivals worth the pit stop
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
9 amazing drive-in movie theaters still standing
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
Netflix's April Fools' Day categories
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
Related Videos
More Related Stories
-
Five easy steps for becoming a rape apologist
-
How Obamacare shortchanges low-wage workers
-
Hackers replace Brazil World Cup website with protest footage
-
Billion-dollar bioterror detection program under new scrutiny
-
GOP's war on women has a new face: Marsha Blackburn
-
War against Issa heats up, as Cummings releases IRS transcript
-
São Paulo anchors Brazilian protests
-
No, Brazilian riots are not an "overreaction" to fare hikes
-
Hacktivists strike north of the border
-
House hearing in celebration of NSA spying
-
Texas councilwoman outraged over billboard featuring gay couple
-
Miss Utah gives wonderfully succinct answer to question about women and work
-
GOP lawmaker: Extreme abortion ban justified because of masturbating fetuses
-
US begins peace talks with Taliban
-
Ray Kelly, who oversaw secret Muslim spying, slams NSA secrecy
-
Reputed Mafia captain tip behind new Hoffa body search
-
Gitmo "indefinite detainees" revealed
-
Pentagon to begin training women for elite combat roles by 2015
-
Unions give boost to Turkish protest movement
-
Charles Saatchi cautioned over assault on wife
-
Protests explode across Brazil
Most Read
-
Why Sarah Palin actually matters again Joan Walsh
-
GOP plan to appeal to millennials: "Make abortion funny" Alex Seitz-Wald
-
Why didn't anyone help? Mary Elizabeth Williams
-
Lynda Obst: Hollywood's completely broken Lynda Obst
-
To my daughter on Father's Day: Sorry I used to be a sexist Mo Elleithee
-
Rahm Emanuel is losing control of his city Mark Guarino
-
The best of Tumblr porn Tracy Clark-Flory
-
TSA agent allegedly tells teenage girl to "cover herself" Mary Elizabeth Williams
-
Museum that discriminates against people says it is being discriminated against Katie Mcdonough
-
Study: Reading novels makes us better thinkers Tom Jacobs, Pacific Standard

Popular on Reddit
links from salon.com

2990 points2991 points2992 points | 440 comments

270 points271 points272 points | 6 comments

57 points58 points59 points | 20 comments


Comments
0 Comments