There are, doubtlessly, many "stories" around the world which mirror those of Americans - as collected by The Nation from some of its readers:
"In February, The Nation asked our online readers to be our eyes and ears--and report how the recession is making itself felt, in big ways and small. Here's a sampling of the reports we received, reporting on what's happening in the workplaces, the corporate offices, local governments, kitchens and classrooms across America."
Read some of the responses here. Take this as one example:
"The effects of the recession and the stress and aggression it has released became apparent to me during a contentious business meeting I sat in on last week. The senior executive in the room, burdened by a vulnerable deal, reacted to a challenge to his authority by balling up the meeting notes and throwing them at his interlocutor. He followed this up with a torrent of swear words.
I reacted by displaying the measure of calm and control I've needed to cultivate in order to be a manager in corporate America. In truth, part of the reason I did not react was probably because I was still processing what was happening as it was occurring. I had never witnessed a scene like this in my entire time in the professional world.
It is a measure of the uncertainty and pressure this recession has placed on people that an intelligent, dynamic, accomplished person could react this way. I am still grateful for my response. Dignity is one is one of our birthrights--as we move through economic pressures, our seminal qualities must be unmoved by the fluctuations of the market. To lose that would be far worse than an erosion in wealth."
"In February, The Nation asked our online readers to be our eyes and ears--and report how the recession is making itself felt, in big ways and small. Here's a sampling of the reports we received, reporting on what's happening in the workplaces, the corporate offices, local governments, kitchens and classrooms across America."
Read some of the responses here. Take this as one example:
"The effects of the recession and the stress and aggression it has released became apparent to me during a contentious business meeting I sat in on last week. The senior executive in the room, burdened by a vulnerable deal, reacted to a challenge to his authority by balling up the meeting notes and throwing them at his interlocutor. He followed this up with a torrent of swear words.
I reacted by displaying the measure of calm and control I've needed to cultivate in order to be a manager in corporate America. In truth, part of the reason I did not react was probably because I was still processing what was happening as it was occurring. I had never witnessed a scene like this in my entire time in the professional world.
It is a measure of the uncertainty and pressure this recession has placed on people that an intelligent, dynamic, accomplished person could react this way. I am still grateful for my response. Dignity is one is one of our birthrights--as we move through economic pressures, our seminal qualities must be unmoved by the fluctuations of the market. To lose that would be far worse than an erosion in wealth."
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