The current economic state of America is nothing to be proud about. The unemployment rate is up 1.7 percent in only a year. The recession is around us, and there really isn't much we can do about it. There are hundreds of companies that are forced to downsize every month due to the economic crisis we've managed to get into. In California, residents are being hit hard by foreclosures due to being let off this year.

The number of Americans who are currently unemployed is astronomical. Over 10.3 million people don't have a job. They may just be statistics to you, but after you hear their stories and take a walk in their shoes, you will learn that it's not just a number, it's 10.3 million moms and dads who struggle to put food on the table.

The unemployment rate is going up, and the economy is going down. That's what happens when you enter a recession. It's the easiest thing to slip into if you're not careful and it's the hardest thing to get out of when you're in it. Our economy has been in a recession for over a year and we have yet to see any improvement. Millions of Americans lost their jobs due to downsizing, and millions more fear they will face the same fate in the new year.

The new year is supposed to bring a fresh start. However, for most companies, the story will remain the same. They will continue to struggle to produce and sell a product in an economy that can't afford their prices anymore. As a result, their employees will suffer by losing their jobs because the companies cannot afford to pay them anymore. It is going to be a small Christmas for much of America, and some Americans might not have a Christmas at all.

The unemployment rate isn't the only number that is skyrocketing. Due to this unemployment rate, millions of Americans have been left homeless or living out of their cars. 259,085 foreclosures were reported in the United States in November of 2008. This is a 28% increase from November of 2007. In that 28% increase, thousands of children were left without a place to sleep, and without a place to shower.

In result, many of these children stopped going to school and without a proper education, they won't be able to find a job to support themselves as adults. This downward spiral is on its way to repeating itself with the upcoming generation. If adults don't have a place to shower, it's no wonder why they are unable to find jobs. It's not much better of a situation for those Americans who have managed to keep their jobs, job security since job security is scarce.

It's a chain reaction with unemployment and foreclosures, and this chain doesn't seem to have an end. In the meantime, more Americans are losing their jobs, and having to leave their homes. For some, a depression seems unlikely. However, for many, we're already in one.

The solution to the problem is obviously not found on Wall Street, as we've discovered in the past year. Over 45.1 million Americans already know that the solution is working from home. These Americans have seen promise in the Internet business and are now currently working from home.

When the economy initially started to decline, many Americans reacted in their own way and now instead of facing unemployment, they're self-employed with unlimited job security. It isn't too late to climb down from the corporate ladder and begin creating your success, all you need is a lot of determination and a little bit of faith.