World as we know it going to hell

[PrincessPerky]

I think this country has a very distored view of money, jobs, and needs.

Sure there are bad things happening 'in this economy', but also good things.

My kids have folk to play with after school, some because parents can't afford day care and are getting relatives to babysit, some because one parent lost a job I personally feel this is a good thing (not the lost job, the kids being around outside, free to have unstructured fun)

Many more scout parents have time to help the scouts...ok so they can't eat out before scouts, they can't afford all new uniforms..but they can afford the time to put into a fun meeting, a great (free) field trip, or just a one time class on their talent.

And many are finding that they don't need the air on quite so low, or quite so many nuked dinners. Some are not learning, and are going into debt to keep their lifestyle while they job search, but others are learning. And my kids sure do enjoy the company while they build 'forts', run 'carnivals', pick flowers, and whatever else they do outside.

[rizzmo]

I don't see where a new employer has any legal right to see my tax forms from previous years. Making a "competitive compensation package" makes no sense anyway. Given the current economy, what difference does it make what I was earning 2 years ago if I'm now unemployed and looking for work?

Believe it or not, sadly, this is more common than you think. Many companies find it appropriate to ask someone what they previously made, some even ask you to verify it. My wife used to work in HR and the logic goes, if you know how much they used to make you can be sure you are giving them just enough to make them stay. How do you do that? You give them just enough so that their pay with your company is more than they have made in the past. This makes it much harder, psychologically, for the average worker to get motivated to look for something better; after all they know they can make less than this, but the aren't sure they can make more.

Now you might think this is unacceptable, underhanded, and possibly illegal; I agree with you, but companies never get caught doing this to a person. If a potential employer asked you for this information and you refuse to give it, you simply don't get the job. They didn't discriminate against you based on you refusal to provide this ... they simply selected another applicant that needed the job so bad they didn't care. Right now, with many people out of work and overextended, I imagine a lot of applicants really need the job.

[scfr]

"I was just happy to have a job!"

That is what my late grandfather said about going to work stocking shelves at a shoe store after graduating from college during the Great Depression. (And that was back in the day when college graduates were NOT a dime a dozen.) The Depression ended, and he landed a job as a traveling salesman for a major corporation. When WW2 came, he enlisted in the Army where he stayed for about 10 years. After his military service ended, he went to work in government.

My grandfather never thought the job stocking shoes was beneath him. It was not the end of the road for him. He did not spend the rest of his life in the stockroom.

[snafu]

The economy is undergoing a huge structural change with globalization, government debt, banking and investment lines shifting. Both the housing and credit bubble has burst whether people were prepared or not! Retirement investment has lost as much as half it's value.

When unemployment figures for your community are published, you can double the figure understanding that government numbers are based on individuals collecting unemployment benefits. The figure does not include those who have used up their benefits, or not eligible for benefits, or no longer searching for employment...having given up.

We are all worried about the October syndrome, that is the month the market corrects itself so it is the time to worry, fret and pay attention to Wall street, your job may depend on it

[asmom]

Our standard of living is higher than it has ever been fueled in part by easy credit. Yes, we have all been shocked back to reality but for the most part, Americans still maintain quite a good life. I agree with others who maintain that you are not promised anything, it is what it is. If you have a home, a healthy family and you're not missing too many meals then you're doing pretty darned good.

[irmanator]

The company I work for has had a slowdown. They didn't technically lay anyone off, but they did fire some people who probably did need to go. They then cut the rest of us to 4 day work weeks. They got the paperwork done so we could get workshare which is a type of unemployment to pay us for the 1 day we didn't work. From what I hear a lot of companies locally are doing this. I can't say I was upset about getting paid to take Friday's off for the summer. Though I am glad it is over and we are back on 40 hrs. I do fear there may be some layoffs now as we don't have a lot of work.

[Scanner]

I'd like to offer a simple radical diagnosis and solution.

I think the problem goes back the Major News nowadays - the health of America has been in decline. Some of this is normal - aging. . .the other major part of it is unhealthy lifestyle.

American business just can't compete anymore when the workforces in Japan, China and Europe are healthier.

I think we need a major shift and stop worrying about money, money, money and start worrying about health, health, health, beyond healthcare. It frankly doesn't matter if it's socialistic or capitalistic. If the workforce is unhealthy, it's costly and companies will go overseas. GM used to joke that they were in the healthcare business and built cars on the side.

Not such a joke anymore, is it?

It's sad to admit - but the unhealthy American worker is the albatross around American industry's neck.

[jasonnoguchi]

People are employed because companies do well and has need of labor. When companies do not do well in times of economic recession, there is no way to sustain labor and laying off people is just the natural course of things. Companies do not have money by miracle and most often, labor is one of the biggest expense. This is not the first nor the final time this is going to happen. Everyone should learn to build multiple streams of income. If all you are doing is depend on employment income, then you can never be sure of your future as economic upturns and downturns happen every few years. This is what is known as the business cycle.

[kenyantykoon]

i have never really understood why money is such a touchy issue. its all we think about all the time. (say it it isn't so). everybody from the richest to the poorest person is always thinking about it. its vexing really

[maat55]

Besides, the Mayan calendar says we still have a little over 2 years left.

Can you imagine the atmosphere there will be the last few months before the date comes?


On topic. It's hard for people to accept that they might have to work for less money. People need to lower their expectations for personal lifestyle and start worrying about the opportunities for our future generation.

One thing they do not need is heavy tax burdens and lower purchasing power. The programs that get passed now will likely damage their future.

I agree with Scanner that people need to guard their health through better lifestyle choices. Rather than expect the government to provide expensive healthcare we should stop destroying our bodies.

Hopefully, people will use this recession as a wake up call and prepare better for the next rainy day.

[LuxLiving]

Nah, kenyantykoon, it isn't so - some of us think about s.e.x. a lot too!