My grandfather worked for the CCC, a WPA-ish organization known as the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. President Roosevelt created this make work program to give the unemployed a job and it kept my family going. He would take a government bus from Riverside, NJ to Fort Dix and he would dig holes and plant trees.

When I was out of work in 2007 and all during 2008 I was hoping Obama would do the same. Hell, he kept saying ‘hope and change’ and ‘help is on the way.’

I predicted he would be the greatest president since FDR. Because we all know the Republicans are for the rich and the Democrats are for the little guy. I had tears in my eyes on election night.

But during 2009 all I saw was TARP, the troubled asset relief program. We must save the banking system was the mantra. If only they gave the money to the people.

Then I thought, don’t just give us cash, give us a job so we can be productive and get through this recession. But nothing ever happened. There was no change and we lost hope.

And today, August 30, 2016, I still have tears in my eyes.