The Obama Economy Turns Teenagers into Breadmakers: Teenagers Going to Work to Help Mom and Dad

An interesting development, which I partially blame on the federal income tax, which robs Americans of wealth by taxing their work, was women going to work to make ends meet in homes across the United States. There was a time when women stayed home and raised kids--and America was better for it as values in the home were taught by the people that were supposed to instill values in our children. While many of those values have been sacrificed, it appears some values haven't.

In a sign of just how bad the Obama economy is, teenagers are going to work to help their parents make ends meet. Just like wives a few generations ago decided to leave the kids at home in exchange of a paycheck, kids are now part of the making ends meet equation.

CBS news reports:

Born out of necessity in this brutal economy there is now a different type of child support. This one involves teenagers looking for work in record numbers — trying to help their parents make ends meet.

But it’s easier said than done. The most recent numbers from the labor department show California’s unemployment rate at 11.1 percent. For teenagers in our state, the unemployment rate is at a staggering 35 percent. It’s the highest in the nation behind only Washington, D.C.

In the tiny town of Lockeford just east of Lodi, inside this small well-kept home, just off main street there’s a fight going on, but it’s not what you think. There are no punches being thrown. No blood being spilled, but there are tears being shed -– tears from a young woman in a battle she never thought she’d have to fight at such a young age.

“It’s pretty overwhelming,” said the Melissa Zarate.

The battle is survival in this gut-wrenching economy.

“Yeah, it makes me feel good because I can help my mom now,” said Melissa.

See, these are tears of joy, satisfaction and pride of a job well-done. It’s a job born out of necessity.

“I feel like I need to help my mom,” she says.

Eighteen-year-old Melissa is doing just that — by going to work.

The high school senior doesn’t make much working just 15 hours a week inside a Lodi thrift store, but nearly every penny of her paycheck (her first was for $128) is going toward fighting the battle so many families are facing. It’s going to help pay the bills.