10/23/08

Americans just keep going — it’s our nature

by Beckye Randall, Editor

Like millions of others across the country, my family banks at WaMu. So the bank’s transition to JP Morgan Chase concerned me. What would I experience when I went in to my local branch to make a deposit?

Again, my experience probably mirrored that of WaMu’s other customers — nothing changed. The tellers were as friendly as ever, the branch manager was still efficient and professional. Except for a change in signage, no one would ever know these employees were working for a corporation in turmoil.

That’s how we roll in America. As a former employee of Idearc Media (formerly Verizon Information Services, formerly GTE Directories) I have first-hand experience with this kind of change of ownership, change of ideology and change of corporate culture. Through mergers and acquisitions, while the bigwigs posture and scheme, American workers just keep getting the job done.

And this dedication to purpose is certainly not confined to corporate America. As I visit with folks in our communities, I find that, despite the high cost of gas, volunteers are still filling their tanks to deliver food or transport the ill on their own dime. Grocery costs are rising, but food barrels are still being filled. Retirement accounts are shrinking, but that’s not deterring retirees from giving their time to the local animal shelter or kids’ clothing charity.

Small business owners are certainly feeling the crunch but they’re not passing that worry on to their customers. Pride in their company, respect for employees, and a dedication to service doesn’t depend on market conditions. Even a painful strike that hits many local businesses square in the pocketbook doesn’t alter our belief in workers’ rights or our esteem for the aerospace giant that employs them.

I didn’t experience the Great Depression, but I’ve lived through a number of economic ups and downs. No matter what the cause of financial upheaval, it always seems to land squarely in the lap of middle-class workers. And what do we do? We just keep working, keep giving, keep living our lives.

It’s not always easy, and that observation also comes from first-hand experience. Pointing fingers and placing blame may help us blow off steam but, in the end, we simply pick up the phones, turn on the machines, fire up the computer and get to work.

That’s what Americans do.