Doesn’t Make $ense

Money...

The value of the dollar and cent,

Minimum wage increases

To match the ever rising inflation.

Everything “free” comes at a price

Whether or not there's fine print

In little black letters at the bottom of the page.

The only comfort for the family

After the funeral of your loved one is over

Is the mercenary thought of the inheritance –

Whatever's left of it after probate court, anyway.

It just might be enough to pay off the mortgage

On that house the children grew up in,

Which they'll inherit when it's your turn to go.

You know that machines are becoming

Pickier than people about taking money

When one spits out the cash you offered

Just because the corner was crumpled.

How much more honest can you get than a Lincoln?

Technology is supposed to save us time

But filing isn't any faster

When both computers and taxes

Are getting more complicated.

The Robin Hood that gets you a return from the government

Is now HR Block or Turbo Tax.

Ironic, but these times of uncertain change

Produce the most job security;

Particularly for psychiatrists and psychologists,

Police officers and the prisons.

They will always have work.

Consumables are another constant.

Unfortunately those who need the most

Can least afford to pay it.

It's hard to go shopping when you're hungry

And see everything on the shelves you can't afford.

Suicide is not allowed

But survival is living death for a lot of individuals.

You need education or experience –

Sometimes both – to get work.

What happens when education isn't enough?

You can't work because you need experience

But you can't get experience because you can't work.

College graduates let go by the company

Are flipping fast-food like those with the GED.

Poverty is the great leveler.

Yet most of us are rich peasants –

Falling below the Federal Poverty Level

But earning more than we could in third world countries.

“Poor” is comparative.

You'd be a better employee if you could enjoy your work –

In occupation is found so much identity –

But you can no longer do what you love for a living

Because it just doesn't pay.

Art and music programs are the first to disappear

When the school board faces budget cuts.

Job stands for Just Over Broke

When employers reduce expenses

By hiring an increased number of people,

But fewer than forty hours a week each.

It becomes impossible to work two such jobs at once

Since the schedules of both are always shifting.

People live paycheck to paycheck.

What used to be set aside for retirement

Today is put into a Social Security fund –

Now mandatory instead of an option –

The benefits of which they'll never see

Because there aren't enough births

To support the previous generation.

(Having children eats through your income

Like they would a peanut butter jelly sandwich).

Cost prohibits convenience and choices.

If you don't have finances for formula

You have to breastfeed.

Whether it's better for your baby or not

Is a question only those with money consider.

Most people have to choose between money or time.

With kids out of the house and work days over,

Older folks come the closest to finally having both –

Only to discover that age limits their activity.

Life is unfair.