Dear Prospective Employer,

One of the greatest pains of being unemployed is feeling disconnected from larger society. Not only do you not have a place to go or belong, you can no longer participate in what is the chief activity of our culture: buying and spending. One of the reasons I want the job that you're offering is so that I can feel "normal" again.

But I must also confess this: I'm not the best consumer. I like to give my money away too much. Another reason I would like to work again is so that I'd have money to give away - to public radio, to the food bank, to the Red Cross, to the homeless shelter, to my sister-in-law, to friends and family in the form of unannounced and unexpected gifts that appear at random. (I suppose that's consumption.)

In any case, I hope that you can consider me for this job so that I can rejoin the flow of society and do my part to give back and spread my money around.

Sincerely,
Michael