1.6.05
Back to work, been pretty busy. Already setting up new meetings and processing paperwork. I’m a little impressed with how many people are back so soon after the holidays. It was like a ghost town only a week ago, DC is really a city of people from all over the place. At least when it comes to the people that actually have decent jobs.
However, I’m realizing that the city has a large population of people in limbo, mostly residents who are kind of put in a weird employment market, with so many educated and qualified people flocking to the power and opportunity. I’ve noticed a large contrast in customer service at certain stores and shops, depending on where in the city you are. I’m sure that a lot of people commute long hours on the metro or bus to work at these places, for long hours and much less than a living wage. Additionally, the demographic markers are striking. The types of work you see people doing falls in line almost stereotypically, everything from store clerks, to panhandlers, security guards, to attorneys and federal employees. Not to mention the delegation and staff working on the hill. It is no wonder how people develop stereotypes and prejudices, rural, suburb, or urban setting it doesn’t matter.
Something as simple as catching a ride on the metro, the minimum fare is now $1.35, even if it is just one stop on a line downtown, which might be less than a quarter of a mile distance. Several times I see people asking for money, holding up a metro card asking for some change. Instinct might say that its just a front, I’m sure quite often it is. I wonder what I would do in that situation. Walk, I suppose. Of course I once wondered why, if the person doesn’t have a job to go to, does he need to ride the train so urgently, especially during rush hour? If I was that poor then I would stay put. Then I thought that in a sense he is commuting to where his “job” is, that is, where the largest number of people with spare change in their pockets walk by, downtown. Essentially, not that much different than the average DC denizen who lives way out in VA or MD suburbs and commutes an hour at the expense of the government. Really just like the rest of us.
On a side note, DC really should get a voting delegation in congress. I’m starting to get annoyed by this taxation without representation bullshit. Another reason to not be a Republican.
Reflecting on my own situation, I have to say that I’m in good shape, things could be a lot worse, definitely. Trying to figure out my budget for 2005, which will be tricky, especially if I do start school again in the fall. It’ll be prety tight, but I think I could hack it with minimal public assistance. Who knows what the new year will bring, really.