Unemployment and Your Credit

So while listening to the radio this morning as I always do I heard some commentary that I found very disturbing, especially considering our current world economic client. The radio personalities were doing their usual banter, during which they offered the tip that “If you are unemployed be sure to keep your credit in check as many companies now check an applicant’s credit report before even considering them for a position”.

Now in the past this was common place for certain places of business that operated in the financial sector of business, which in a very small way (my opinion) this was only slightly acceptable. However, they were commenting that more companies are now doing this, regardless of the type of business it is.

It is my opinion that this practice should be deemed illegal! Why do I feel this way and feel so strongly about it you ask? Well, allow me to give you some perfectly innocent reasons a person could get their credit screwed up. How many of us know a friend or family member that went through a messy divorce and/or custody battle only to end up having their credit completely ruined? Or perhaps you wish to increase your financial worth, as we all do to make life more enjoyable, and you just happen to make a poor investment decision. I could go on with examples but that isn’t my main point here. My main point here I will make also by example….

Something to Think About

1. If I work at a gun factory making guns, does that make me a killer?
2. If I am a chemist, does that make me a drug dealer?

Of course the obvious answer to both questions is “NO!” of course not! Not only is the answer no, but to think that way is narrow minded and ignorant beyond belief. So, I ask you now…considering the unemployment rate is so horrible right now, and knowing yourself that you must pick priorities when paying bills if unemployed…such as food, shelter, gas to get to work, etc…
I ask you this…if my credit gets screwed up due to my unemployment during these hard times, should I be considered a criminal and thief? (and do I really need to put the obvious answer to that question in this post for you?)

I think we should all write our congressmen about this subject. We have enough crap to deal with from current and prospective employers now days without having to put up with prejudices of this type, especially in this age! Yes, this is a prejudice just like racism, or gay bashing, or any other type. We, as a society, do NOT tolerate any other types of prejudice in the work place in today’s politically correct world so why in the hell should we put up with this? I mean hell, I can’t even be a gentleman and pay a female co-worker an innocent and polite compliment now days without the threat of being accused of sexual harassment, yet it is alright to consider someone a possible criminal due to their credit rating? I guess that means any priest is a possible child molester too right? The minute we start to think that way we become less than educated people, we become superstitious, prejudice barbarians.

I posted my opinion on this subject here to do two things:

1. provoke others to start thinking seriously about this problem.
2. to get some opinions on this subject from others.

Your Humble Host,
RJ Levesque, Jr.

HIRE ME NOW AT:
FREELANCER.COM