Abandoned

[marmar]

via MichaelMoore.com:



July 13th, 2010 1:24 PM
No extension of unemployment benefits in sight for the long-term jobless

By Michael A. Fletcher / Washington Post


TOMS RIVER, N.J. -- Even before his unemployment checks ended, Dwight Michael Frazee's days were filled with the pursuit of any idea that could earn him a buck. But few are working out, and now his nights are filled with dread.

In the coming weeks, the Senate is expected to resume its debate about whether to extend the emergency jobless benefits that were passed in response to the steep increase in unemployment caused by the recession. But people like Frazee, who have suffered the longest in the downturn, will not be part of that conversation. They are among the 1.4 million workers who have been unemployed for at least 99 weeks, according to the Labor Department, reaching the limit for the insurance. Their numbers have grown sixfold in the past three years.

The 99ers are glaring examples of the nation's most serious bout of long-term joblessness since the Great Depression. Nearly 46 percent of the country's 14.6 million unemployed people have been out of work for more than six months, and forecasters project that the situation will not improve anytime soon. Currently, the Labor Department says there are nearly five unemployed people for every job opening.

Frazee, 50, has applied for work at more places than he can remember since he lost his construction job two years ago. He has tried car dealerships, Kmart, Home Depot and the funky shops on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, near Toms River. He looked into becoming a commercial crabber, working in title insurance and as a bail bondsman. But no dice.

While searching for work, he lived on $585 a week in unemployment payments. But the checks were cut off in May when he reached 99 weeks. Now Frazee, who is married and has a 5-year-old daughter, is in a financial free fall with no safety net.

"My life has been total stress. I sleep maybe four hours a night, worrying about money," he said. "I understood the president and Congress had to stabilize the banks, get Wall Street going. I figured something would be done for middle-class Americans, that they couldn't abandon us. But I was wrong." ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latest-news/no-extension-unemployment-benefits-sight-long-term-jobless

[uncommon]

1. 99 WEEKS?

I'm sorry but give me a break, really? No jobs anywhere in 99 WEEKS?

I've been a job hunter and pretty recently and it definitely sucks and is harder than it should be but still. That is a long ass time.

[marmar]

2. ..........

[vanbean]

3. When there are no jobs, it doesn't matter how long it has been.

[raccoon]

93. Yep. I was looking in the fall of 1982, at that time, the worse economic downturn since 1932.

There was NOTHING. Know when I finally found a job? When the economy turned around. Spring of 1983.

[Sherman A1]

117. Precisely

[LiberalEsto]

4. My b-in-law in NJ has been looking for 3 years

The only reason he's not in a homeless shelter is because some of his 7 brothers and sisters help him financially. He was a computer programmer.

I've been out of work since October, 2008. Luckily my husband has a job, but things are very tight because we have a daughter in community college, and are paying the student loans for the other daughter, who works as a nanny and barely earns enough for food and rent.

[closeupready]

18. Of the six people I've known who got laid off over the last two years, one

has found a replacement job at a comparable compensation package, but he had to relocate to another state. One other person found part-time work, but lost that job, too, last week. Nobody else has found anything.

[mdmc]

5. I have a major illness

if I lost my job I would never be able to find another. Who would hire someone that looks like walking death and will cost a fortune to insure? Lucky I rock at what I do or I would be on the dole like the rest of them. I can't even work at walmart or McD - I just couldn't do the physical part..

[uncommon]

14. Obviously my post is not directed at those with special circumstances.

I know full well there are people out there who are not considered employable. I am not discounting their suffering.

I am talking about capable adults who refuse to do whatever they have to do for work to survive.

[Catherina]

15. They're not all as perfect and blessed by *God* as you n/t

[uncommon]

19. Seriously? Does anyone here pay attention?

I put myself through college on my own minimum wage dime and through my own efforts without help. I was a stay at home mother for years because of financial constraints that made childcare expenses impossible. When I was divorced and had to get back out there, it took me half a year to find a shitty job because no one wanted to hire someone who hadn't worked in 5 years.

After that it took me 2 more years to get a halfway decent job, which I worked extremely hard at and parleyed into a better job.

No one blessed me and no one gave me a fucking handout. I did what I had to to get by. Too many others throw in the towel instead of really fighting.

Over a year of unemployment without serious extenuating circumstances is just putting a burden on the system that it can ill afford.

I don't like the way we live any more than any of you, but I also wouldn't throw my hands up and give up or keep waiting for something better to happen to me. All of these job seekers who are suffering for years and REALLY trying to find work and can't should take to the streets and start a revolution if they are sick of it. I would join them gladly.

[Hannah Bell]

23. five applicants for every opening. someone won't get the job. do you realize that

when you're on UE, it's a requirement to put out x number of applications/week & accept if you're offered a job?

[uncommon]

26. It should be. You can't just take the money and not expect there to be any requirements. nt

[Hannah Bell]

38. the point is, people don't just get ue money & lay around eating bon-bons. if they get an offer,

they're required to take it or be cut off from benefits.

and it's monitored, not just self-reporting.

so bullshit on your "everyone can get a job if they just try hard" talking points.

negative 8 million jobs, & more losses coming.

[uncommon]

42. If they get an offer for a job they actually chose to apply for, that is. It's not as if every

unemployment assistance recipient is automatically submitted for every available job in their area every week.

I'm not saying it's easy out there, just that it's not quite as hard as DU makes it out to be some days.

[Hannah Bell]

50. 5 applicants for every opening. 8 million jobs in the hole from several years ago.

according to you, that's all imaginary & everyone could find jobs if they wanted to.

sorry, but what you're saying is pure bs.

[liberalhistorian]

52. So quit your job and try to find another one within

a reasonable frame of time, if you're so damned sure of things. I think you'll be very unpleasantly surprised. And, once again, UE is NOT A HANDOUT. It is NOT PAID FOR BY TAXES. Period.

I will never understand why there's such antipathy toward unemployed, desperate people trying to find work and do what they can when there's nothing available, but none for the fatcats. NEVER understand it.

[Doremus]

57. Because there's that much stupidity in this country. Scary thought but sadly true.

"I will never understand why there's such antipathy toward unemployed, desperate people trying to find work and do what they can when there's nothing available, but none for the fatcats. NEVER understand it."


Even animals have an instinct for self-preservation.

[Enthusiast]

128. The antipathy toward unemployed

has never been like this before in my memory. I believe it is generated by Republican talking heads.

[Pithlet]

55. Someone close to me has been unemployed for close to two years.

A hard worker who was gainfully employed their whole adult life up till that point. . It has nothing to do with laziness. Plain and simple; you just don't know what you're talking about.

[truedelphi]

68. How old are you?

Sweetie, try this:

Put together a resume, like you would if you were out of work. List your experience and education.

Now fudge on the age. Put your DOB on the application as fifty five or sixty.

Now send out those resumes and tell me how many jobs you are offered.

You'll be amazed at how few job interview "opportunities" come your way.

[eridani]

84. Prove you're as good as you say you are

Quit your job now, and then demonstrate how easy it is to find another one.

[GOTV]

99. It's musical chairs with 5 people and 1 chair. There will be 4 people standing for a long time.

Why don't you get that? 5 people can not try really heard and all get the 1 available job. Maybe the person who gets the job will have tried the hardest but you're always going to have 4 people that didn't get the job. And until it gets to the point where there's something like 4 jobs for every 5 unemployed you're going to have long term unemployed.

[Jakes Progress]

100. Don't know how you keep your job with your math skills.

One Job. Five applicants. If five people apply for a job and only one gets it, how many are still without a job.

What part of there are more workers than there are jobs is so hard for you to get? That means if there are five thousand jobs there are twenty-five thousand applying. That leaves twenty thousand lying sleepless in bed at night wondering how they will feed their children. Twenty thousand families living desperately and in fear.

Forget you math skills. Try a little compassion and understanding. People are suffering and you sound like rand paul telling them to just go get a job.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but I didn't expect to get this kind of crap on DU. I know several people scrambling for work. This is exactly what the power elite want. They want you so scared of losing a job that you will do anything to keep it. They want you looking down on the people they have put in peril so that you will serve them all the more just so you can not be one of the people you have come to look down on.

[LanternWaste]

115. Precisely how hard does DU make it out to be...?

Precisely how hard does DU make it out to be...? And what is the reality? And these conclusions are based on what objective measure?

[Enthusiast]

126. Your attitude disgusts me.

That is all.

[bear425]

139. Since your profile says you're awesome,

I think I should put you on my "buddy" list.

I'll check back in a while. lol.

[fasttense]

105. My husband is one of those 99ers.

He had to do a log of every job he applied for and provide it to the unemployment office. They would call the offices he applied to and asked if he had applied. So, it is very difficult to scam your way through 99 weeks of unemployment. He was making $40,000 a year. He has applied for jobs as low as $9,000 a year.

He is 58 years old. No one wants to hire him. He has a degree in business and had worked as a mid level manager at a distribution center. When he 1st started looking for a job he was told he was overqualified. Now, they tell him his experience is too old. He is a Vietnam War vet and even applied for government jobs in the hopes that his vet status would help. It didn't. Most of the jobs he applied for in the federal government have since been eliminated. He applied for census jobs and was turned down too.

We have considered moving but we are stuck with a mortgage and we could never sell the house for it's true value. We would easily lose $100,000 if we sold in this market. Some of our neighbors have abandoned their homes and their overpriced mortgages and the properties look like weed lots.

We have decided to work our land. We have 14 acres with a good stream and a nice forest out back. The problem is he is 57 (I'm not much younger) and the farm work is very physical. But we do it anyway. I've lost 20 pounds since we started.

Luckily I have a military retirement and it is what is keeping us from starving. I still have one daughter in college but she has scholarships. In many ways we are lucky.

But when I joined the military and fought to protect this country, I never thought my country would abandon me for the uber rich. We both wish we had not done our military service (though he was drafted and didn't have a choice in the matter), and we had concentrated on making money instead.

It seems this country respects wealth more than anything, and if you are not rich you are scum.

[eilen]

119. Some states are self reporting

mostly because the state doesn't have the staff to monitor everyone's paperwork.

[liberalhistorian]

51. Excuse me, but I've been on unemployment and there

most certainly ARE requirements. You HAVE to put out a certain number of applications a week and, in my state at least, those applications are verified with the employers to whom you apply. You cannot turn down work without a valid reason and the UE Office, and not you, determines what a valid reason is. If you are sick or don't have transportation or can't find child care at any time during one week, then you can't claim that week. And on and on and on. More focus is put on keeping people from needed help than in helping them obtain it. And the UE payments are nothing close to what your regular salary was, often it's less than half.

Oh, and despite what RW's say, UE is NOT PAID FOR WITH TAXES. PERIOD. It's paid by the employer, into the state system. Which is why so many of them try every possible way to avoid having any former employees on UE, from claiming they were fired for cause or quit on their own, etc.

[northzax]

112. the extended benefits are absolutely paid with taxes

from the Feds.

just a correction.

[northzax]

110. it's actually a requirement

to accept a job (at least in DC, the only place I have been on unemployment) in your field and for within 25% of your last income. of course, I ended up in a job where my take home is actually LESS than my unemployment benefits were.

[waiting for hope]

138. Try 150-200 applicants here for every job

where I live .. and if I got an interview (only three in a year), they made damn sure that I knew that I was one out of 150-200.

[superduperfarleft]

27. Well, it wouldn't have been so hard if you'd been more responsible and had not had kids you couldn't

afford with a husband that was going to leave you.

[uncommon]

31. That's cute. I left him, for what it's worth. And I wasn't complaining about how hard it was.

Quite the opposite. I did everything in my power to improve my situation.

[superduperfarleft]

35. I certainly hope you didn't dirty your hands with food stamps or welfare in the meantime.

inb4 "of course I didn't."

[uncommon]

39. I was never deemed eligible actually, even at the worst of it. nt

[superduperfarleft]

41. Well, you should've gotten off your lazy ass and researched it further.

I find it hard to believe that a single mother working a minimum wage job wouldn't qualify for some sort of assistance, that is, if you're actually telling the truth.

[uncommon]

44. I was making about $250/week at the worst of it and apparently that

was considered plenty to take care of myself and my daughter (without child support I might add).

My aunt worked for housing assistance at the time and took me to every place possible to try to get help. Apparently I was too successful. /sarcasm

(And please refrain from talking to me like I am stupid or lying, it's childish.)

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

98. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Donnachaidh]

90. so you DID apply for all that *help for the lazy*? Bitterness

at being turned down turn into this *belief* of yours then?

[uncommon]

101. I never said people shouldn't get help - I said that 99 weeks of help seems quite excessive. nt

[JonLP24]

125. There is over 4 million people that

went over the 99 weeks. That 4 million is an excessive number IMO.

I don't think it is excessive at all given the state of the economy.

[unapatriciated]

145. I too raised my children without help from govt programs and little child support.

but I had other resources such as family who helped, not everyone is that fortunate. In 1994 I lost my job and health insurance. I spent a little over a year looking for work and probably would still be out of work had I not moved. Not all are able to do that. It is much harder now with so many looking for work and few jobs available. You have no idea what another's circumstances are and should not begrudge those who still need help. I'm sure they would rather be working verses barely surviving. The jobs are just not there.

[patrice]

43. And, of course, luck had absolutely nothing to do with any of your success. nt

[Catherina]

54. You seem congenitally incapable of understanding that not everyone is as fortunate

Congenitally: Of or relating to a condition that is present at birth, as a result of either heredity or environmental influences.

Dearheart, you are not better, smarter, or more worthwhile than any unemployed person.

You probably grew up in a place where you were able to get a decent enough education to make it to college. You were privileged enough to be a stay at home mom while still keeping a roof over your head, unlike many other moms in this country. You didn't work outside the home for 5 years while someone else supported you. LUCKY YOU! You were fortunate enough to get a job because you have half a brain and are YOUNG enough to to work for an employer who calculated he would make a profit off your labor.

You have no idea how blessed you are.

Not everyone is that fortunate. What don't you understand? Who's throwing their hands up? People are about to get out into the streets despite the happy, happy talk. Such a revolution may be coming. If you would gladly join, I'm sure you'll be gladly welcomed.

99 weeks. I honestly hope you never know such a terrible thing.

One more thing. The system can MOST CERTAINLY afford it. What it can't afford are wars, bankers, bailouts and corporate welfare.

[truedelphi]

69. I am loving all of what you said, especially this:

What it can't afford are wars, bankers, bailouts and corporate welfare.

[Tsiyu]

59. You may be perfect

except for that math problem.






Five people who need a job.

One job.

Leaves FOUR unemployed.




Do you get it yet?




5-1=4




or Five minus one equals four.

[crim son]

118. Five applicants per job? That's a laugh.

The last job I interviewed for, there were over twenty applicants. The one before that, I was told OVER FORTY APPLICANTS. That was just before the only big industry in our area quit hiring from the outside.

I've been a housewife for nineteen years and the chances of me getting a job at this time are miniscule. Thank GOD my ex husband is very good about paying support. I am indeed lucky but too many in this area have no luck at all.

[Tsiyu]

129. I hear you

Though I suppose 5/1 is an average over the nation as a whole.

More likely good jobs in larger towns and cities will have more applicants, crap jobs where people have no transportation will have fewer.

Whatever the actual number, jobs are not out there waiting for a bunch of deadbeats to get up and work them. They are just not there.

Anyone who thinks there are enough jobs for our nation's unemployed is living in delusion.

But, then, delusion is the number one health problem in america today.

[scentopine]

61. Sounds like you had trouble when unemployment was low

economy much better than today and jobs were still plentiful. I could easily surmise by your "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" post that you obviously were slacking and had you been trying you would have found a job more quickly. By not applying yourself in an era of relative prosperity you put a tremendous burden on the system.

Should we de-incentives against single motherhood and reduce employment benefits for them so that when the economy is better single moms won't liearound the house for six month moaning about not being able to find a job? This puts a tremendous burden on the system. They should be fighting tooth and nail doing anything to find any kind of work. Fist fights, sword fights, its all legal.

So, the question is, how low do we have to go such that "I did what I had to do..." bullshit means prostitution, drugs, etc?

I don't think you are so tough. And I wonder if you would "take to the streets" now that homeland security mentality makes it fashionable to not hire you if you are arrested in a protest. I don't think you are that tough.

Is that what gainful employment means now - spend 150K on college and them fucking "do anything" to get "any kind" of work to "get by"?

"Over a year of unemployment without serious extenuating circumstances is just putting a burden on the system that it can ill afford."

What should we do? Round them up and deport them? Maybe intern them in work camps?

I have a friend who is the real fucking deal, brilliant engineer, graduate degree, product management, visionary, smart good to work with, modest, 1.5 years, no job. Now - I will admit he probably hasn't tried the McDonald's drive-thru yet. Fucking slacker. He should be pimping some shit.

This is why we can't compete - people forced in to jobs "to survive". No career, just shitty jobs. And we should be happy for them.

Jesus - we are eating our own in defense of a corrupt system that democrats and republicans seem to be in love with.

Thank you. I appreciate a post like this because it exposes the raw honest ugly that more and more defines the modern democrat/centrist. It is beautiful in its own way.

[readmoreoften]

80. What self-righteous, full-of-shit crap you spew.

You did all those "miraculous and courageous" :eyeroll: feats during a better economy. My mother-in-law was a former bookkeeper and doesn't know the new software. She lives in a small rural community no where near a community college. She was refused jobs as a waitress at Shoneys. Nothing in town. She's in her fifties. Nothing for an older woman. I know people in Detroit desperate to work at McDonalds--with college degrees.

All you're doing is going off of assumptions--assumptions based on your self-righteousness and contempt for other people. You're living in fucking la-la land.

[Mopar151]

94. Wait til' it happens to you...

Too skilled for McJobs (overqualified), too old to dig ditches, too gimpy to climb steel.

[Bluenorthwest]

97. But you say it took you a year and a half to get your first job

after your divorce. 78 weeks. It took you 78 weeks, why again? you say it was because no one wanted to hire. You say that. But you do not extend the same thinking to other people.
How did you live during that 78 weeks? And why is 78 weeks cool for you, but not for others?

[TBF]

103. "The system" could afford to pay all of us not to work if we weren't

involved in so many wars. What makes you think people are throwing in the towel? What are they supposed to do when there are hundreds of applicants lining up for each miserable opening? Rob banks? Seriously, instead of belittling your fellow citizens maybe think a bit about who this system benefits. There are so many like you, so worried someone else is going to get something that you didn't get. This mindset that keeps us enslaved.

[frylock]

113. real bootstrapper, aren't you?

let's hope that you don't find yourself in a similar situation any time soon.

[Dogtown]

144. A "bootstrapper".

How admirable.

You should submit that story to Reader's Digest.

[axollot]

123. Exactly. As I remind people..."don't talk to soon, you could be next"

And yes, there are folks who cannot afford to "re-locate" to find a job or their credit has hit the skids because they are unemployed or underemployed so get passed over. (with exception to a handful of positions, it should be illegal to credit check a potential employee - worse - all those checks go AGAINST the person too!!)

NOW FOR A BIG HOWEVER....

My Mom and Dad (both lib/dems) who live in a real conservative county in rural Mississippi and need a full time CNA (2 actually - one on call/nights/weekends and one mon-fri for my elderly and senile/dementia affected gran) cannot find anyone who really wants to work.

They have acreage too. So they need yard hands all the time - everyone says "oh I want the work" but then NEVER turn up. I think it's the location and remind them that it's not like this all over the US. (and they know that too...but sometimes, just sometimes they need to be reminded).

cheers
Sandy

[LiberalEsto]

20. My daughter's best friend's boyfriend

just graduated from Towson U with a teaching degree. Can't find work, naturally. Supermarkets won't hire him -- they told him they won't hire anyone with a college degree because they "don't stay." He's absolutely despondent.

On the other hand, people I know who have worked for years at supermarkets have seen their hours drastically cut so that they no longer qualify for benefits.

[liberalhistorian]

49. You're kidding, right?

While I understand what you're saying, in a way, and there are people who hold out for only a certain type of job at a certain wage, the vast majority are desperate for and will take anything. The problem is, there is no "anything" available in too many areas right now. There are FIFTEEN MILLION people looking for work and THREE MILLION jobs available, roughly. It's all very fine and easy to say "take any job you can find", but when those jobs won't hire you 'cause you're overqualified, no matter how desperate and willing you are to do what they want, that doesn't work.

And the longer you're unable to find work, the harder it becomes to actually land a job. And the longer you're searching, the more desperate you feel and get, which comes across to employers no matter how much you may try to hide it, and that's also a strike against you. If there's one thing I can't stand it's people in secure jobs dismissing and mocking those who can't find work when THERE ARE NO FUCKING JOBS AVAILABLE. And the rejection fatigue gets overwhelming after awhile, too.

I've been looking ever since my husband and I married and we moved to a rural area for his job, with no luck. The retail and service jobs all go to the area teens and stay-at-home moms and retirees whom the local owners all know personally, or they're not interested 'cause I'm "educated", so they're afraid I'd leave at the first opportunity. And the more professional jobs existing in the nearest cities don't give me a second look once they see where I live (the nearest small city is sixty miles away and the nearest larger one almost two hours away). To get your hopes up time and time again and try to do well in interview after interview only to be continually rejected month after month after month after endless month is quite a psychological burden that can often turn into a physical one.

[raccoon]

95. This deserves to be repeated:

"And the longer you're unable to find work, the harder it becomes to actually land a job. And the longer you're searching, the more desperate you feel and get, which comes across to employers no matter how much you may try to hide it, and that's also a strike against you."

[liberalhistorian]

116. Well, it's definitely true.

Been there, done that. And employers can smell desperation ten miles away, lemme tell ya.

[Mnemosyne]

64. 5 applicants for 1 job. You are not comprehending the severity of

this country's employment situation.

Welcome to DU.

[Mojorabbit]

71. Half the people I know are unemployed

but they are in their mid fifties, have worked hard their whole lives in construction, and there is nothing for them. They have looked and looked. No one wants to hire men of this age. It still is pretty much a housing/construction apocalypse here in Cent. Fl.

[raccoon]

96. "No one wants to hire men of this age. " Or women. nt

[Donnachaidh]

89. again, you post with Fox talking points all over the place

*Capable Adults* are all that we SEE in unemployment lines. At least when you really LOOK, and don't depend on the sorry RW talking points.

*Refuse to do whatever they have to do for work to survive*? Are you fucking kidding me with this attitude? I guess the ceo of the startup that failed should just go out and clean toilets, yes?

Unbelievable callousness. :grr:

[Skidmore]

92. You assume that employers will hire you just because you are looking and

desire work. Try walking in for hourly employment with a graduate degree. You can't lie 30+ years of work history away, especially when you were in a career track job. Employers quite often consider you overqualified and likely to leave for something better, and then there's the age factor.

[Bluebear]

6. Wow, you're awesome!

:silly:

[scentopine]

63. LOL! -nt

[slay]

9. I see your hobby is "being awesome" - maybe everyone isn't as awesomely blessed as you are

you think all these people WANT to be out of work? you think they like not being able to take care of their families? they like barely getting by? ok.. yeah.. I'll be seeing ya around "uncommon".. maybe. :eyes:

[marmar]

11. delete

[uncommon]

12. I worked for minimum wage for YEARS trying to find a better job. I still worked. I did what I

could to put food on the table. Yeah, it sucked. But I worked my ass off to do better. People who don't take whatever job they can get frankly make me sick and I don't feel guilty about that.

If you really can't get ANY job, ANYWHERE, then you have my sympathy. You are in the very small minority.

[Hannah Bell]

29. bullshit. 5 applicants for every opening. we're down 8 million jobs.

just to get back to baseline, not to mention new entrants into the workforce.

fuck the horatio alger talking points.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/79-million-jobs-lost-many-cnnm-1248019835.html?x=0

[uncommon]

10. I really don't care if it makes people uncomfortable - this is not the great depression - there ARE

jobs out there. They might not be as good as the old job, or as good as someone wants, or good at all, but they could put food on the table.

My opinion is certainly colored by the fact that my clients at work are people who overextended themselves out of a sense of entitlement and have now "fallen on hard times" and refuse to take work they think is beneath them.

Obviously this doesn't apply to everyone, but for professionals out there who feel jaded and abused by the system bc those cushy jobs aren't there anymore, suck it up. Life sucks all around.

[slay]

13. Wow your attitude about this is heartless

there are NOT jobs out there. at the very least 5 people apply for every one opening - and that's in good areas. there ARE more people that need jobs than jobs available. good people are getting screwed and cause of a few bad apples you're ok with everyone getting screwed? wow...

[uncommon]

16. I didn't say I was okay with it --

and I am not "heartless" - I do feel for people who really try and can't make it. I've been there. But I would also do anything - I would move if I had to, which many people refuse to consider. I would work 2 or 3 crappy jobs to make ends meet. Maybe I shouldn't have to, but I bet a lot of DUers like to eat a Big Mac now and then so someone has to do the work.

[slay]

17. You're right

nobody should have to work 2 or 3 crappy jobs to make ends meet. nobody. everyone should make a living wage and if we have to end the wars and tax the hell out of the super-rich to achieve that, so be it. :P

[uncommon]

22. I agree with you wholeheartedly.

I think capitalism is murder. I don't like that I trade my life for just barely average wages and still have a hard time getting the bills paid on time. I don't think anyone should be in that position, at least anyone who is trying in life (or really can't).

IMO, there should be no "super rich" to begin with.

[Morning Dew]

109. Three Jobs?

Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that. (Applause.) Get any sleep? (Laughter.)

Shrub 02-05

[Mnemosyne]

66. Forget "two or three crappy jobs", most places want total availability and

will not cooperate with anyone not happy with 5 - 20 hrs a week. My friend was getting 8 hours at Arby's and 10 at McD's, age 45. She had to quit one job or lose both. A whole 18 hours at minimum wage, WOW!!!

Sounds as if you are a debt collector from your one post. What goes around, comes around...

[Mnemosyne]

70. And how would you move on a minimum wage income? Jebus.

You sound like my sister: "If your job doesn't have insurance, just find one that does."

[Pithlet]

21. Yeah, maybe that explains your opinion... n/t

[uncommon]

24. It is very difficult to muster sympathy for people who think they deserve

a whole lot more than they are willing to actually work for.

[Pithlet]

25. Shine those boostraps! Gotcha. n/t

[uncommon]

28. You know, it really isn't always a bad notion. People do have SOME responsibility for taking care

of themselves.

I hate the absolutism here sometimes.

[Pithlet]

40. It's an irrelevant notion. Who cares if your personal experiences and your perception of them

makes you think that somehow the still high unemployment rate, the numbers which don't even tell an accurate picture of what is really going on, is somehow a surmountable problem that anyone can overcome too, just because you did? I can tell you right now that I don't. Yes, the millions of people out there who still need the help just didn't want it as bad as you? So let's just base policy around that? Um. No.

[Missy Vixen]

107. You've been here since July 1st, and you "hate the absolutism here"?

:woohoo:

[uppityperson]

136. " People do have SOME responsibility for taking care of themselves" Who is arguing otherwise?

You seem to be of the attitude that anyone can do anything if they try hard enough. Speaking of absolutism.

[Lost4words]

74. I have sympathy for you because you are uncommon,

you are an unabashed angry hateful simpleton and you deserve a solid kick in the ass.

at the risk of delete,

[superduperfarleft]

30. I wonder how your clients would feel if they knew the shit you talk about them on the internet. n/t

[uncommon]

34. Ha well considering I haven't named them or myself I think they will survive. nt

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

65. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Lost4words]

76. agreed,....

[Lost4words]

75. It would not be too difficult to capture your IP addr,from there it becomes fairly easy

you are not invisable. Gary Hart once said, "If you think I am cheeting, catch me" the rest is history. Too far back for you?

Monkey Business was the yatch. You are not an IT engineer are you.

[patrice]

36. So, you are entitled to work that is suitable and fulfilling, but others are supposed to

take just whatever, even if it costs them opportunities to find work that makes better use of the skills and aptitudes that they have to contribute to the commonweal known as America?

(Debts aside, because there ARE people who are out of work, but not seeking bankruptcy . . . )

Why?

[uncommon]

45. I never said I was entitled to it, or that I even HAD it. nt

[patrice]

46. k, so it is good that you have work that is acceptable, but others should not expect that?

There's still the issue here of how a job can cost you opportunities and other stuff that is/are not equal to the benefits it brings.

[liberalhistorian]

53. Look, I will agree that there are people like that

and that they're annoying as hell. But they are NOT the majority. And it's easy to say that people should just take any job they can get, which they should, but when they're not hired or even considered for such jobs because they're "overqualified", which is usually the case, then that doesn't work.

[Lost4words]

73. this IS a depression, not calling it one dosent change that.

your saying the same old tripe, I glad you are OK, you wont be for long, its all connected. I cant get a job scrubbing toilets.

Your hateful statements highlight your lack of knowledge on this situation. Blame the victims is your approach and thats pretty lame.

[Lorien]

81. Just curious; how old are you?

You aren't speaking like someone with much in the way of life experience.

[eridani]

85. How in hell are you able to keep your current job while being mathematically illiterate?

5 applicants for every job - 1 filled job = 4 left unemployed.

[TwilightGardener]

111. Those "cushy" professional jobs that aren't there anymore--you mean the ones

that actually pay a decent wage and benefits and allow one to be middle class? Yeah, shame on all of us greedheads who thought we might own a home in a good neighborhood and raise our children in safety, and get them braces when their teeth go crooked, and put away money for retirement and kids' college, and even (gasp!) go on a vacation now and then. Crazy--what were we all thinking? We don't deserve that--and just because prior generations did it on ONE income, well...that means NOTHING.

[Raineyb]

114. Well if they're so easy to find then surely you'll find one rather quickly with your

can do attitude and perpetual sneer. Put you money where you mouth is.

Oh right, all chat no action. Easy to look down your nose at someone when you don't know what the fuck you're talking about. Gee, with that attitude I'm not really sure why you have a job where you're supposedly supposed to "help" people.

As to your "well maybe the job isn't good at all attitude but they should take it anyway" you seem to have problems understanding even rather basic math. If a job doesn't cover one's expenses it doesn't really put food on the table. How exactly are you in a position to counsel anyone if you don't understand something so basic even an elementary school aged child can understand?

[Hydra]

130. "This is not the great depression "

Yes, it is, actually.

The unemployment rate, even after they cook the books, is over 12% The true rate is guessed to be 25% or higher.

Jobs are disappearing. Not changing, not moving elsewhere, just plain disappearing.

For the last 2 years, I haven't been able get a job where I wasn't friends with the person in charge. By doing that, I'm keeping other people who might even be more qualified out of work...but I have to eat too.

We'll be waiting for you when you'd like to join reality.

[awoke_in_2003]

131. "suck it up"

it's against the rules, but you are "special" and worth this removal being put on my record- go back to the free republic, you fucking troll.

[russspeakeasy]

134. The last sentence in your post

gives an indication of how you earn your money...

[uppityperson]

135. Your "clients" are sleazebag idiots who only want handouts? Huh

I could make a guess as to where you work, if what you post is true, or say what I think of you if what you post isn't true, but don't want my post deleted.

[sfnative]

140. Out of touch with reality

It's obvious you haven't had to job search in this economic climate. Let me tell you what it's like. In January 2009, I graduated with a Bachelor degree, and went on a job search. My field didn't have any job openings, so I applied for a receptionist position. During the interview, the manager told me this particular job received 50 applicants in the summer of 2008. By February 2009, the number of applicants jumped to 250. The unemployment rate in January 2009 was lower than it is now, so I can't imagine how many job-seekers there are now.

I've applied for numerous part-time positions, and have been told that since I'm a recent graduate, I'd be better off looking for a full-time job. I don't have enough money to go to grad school, so I decided to earn a certificate at a community college that will allow me to work in the medical field. Almost 200 applicants applied for this program, we were all interviewed and tested, and only 30 students were picked. Half of the class had Bachelor degrees and even a one person had a Master degree with extensive experience in science research.

After doing an internship at a hospital and graduating in the top 10%, I was lucky enough to be offered a per diem position, which received 50 applicants for this particular position. Only one person in the entire class was offered a full-time job. A recruiter visited our class and admitted that even recent nursing grads are having a difficult time finding work.

I'm sick of all the people that think the unemployed aren't picking themselves up by the bootstraps. This nation's priority is war and wall street, not helping the poor and unemployed.

[freebrew]

32. Are you unemployed at 50+???

Take from me, unemployed at 57, I was told the problems I'd have finding good paying jobs.
I have never had trouble getting work before. After a year and a half, I decided to take a minimum wage job to pay the mortgage.

No calls for jobs that I am perfectly qualified to do. I rebuild Harley motors on the side for a few spare $$. But even that is getting slow. I sit at a counter and wait for customers, sweep the floor, order stock and unload it for $8/hr.

I am also one out of about 14 people in the world that knows how to design and maintain certain sales programs related to manufacturing. There is no work out there.

Just today, I received a rejection email from an interview last week. I didn't get the job although I was the only applicant.

"After much deliberation, we decided not to pursue candidates for the position at this time. We'll keep your information on file."

Let's see, does that mean I'm too ugly, too fat or maybe too old? This is the 3rd time this has happened to me from 3 different companies.

I'm really not that hard to get along with. But I am pretty ugly for an old fart.

[haele]

58. A lot of job openings are not really openings, they're resume fishing -

Companies that are working on proposals or are in the bidding process often advertise for jobs that might be 6 months or a year down the road if they get the contract or make the expansion.
Heck, I've done it myself when I was a project manager. Advertise for more workers as one task is winding down for another that will be ramping up in two/three months.
You do that because you know your current crew will be unavailable because they'll be working the six-month job that is actually starting next week as someone else's project, and you will need qualified people to start the new work order - if you win the bid compete.

It always feels bad when you tell someone "sorry, can't hire you now, but we'll give you a call in 6 weeks if we get the contract..."

Probably a quarter of the job "openings" I've seen advertised amongst the non-minimum wage jobs are prospective jobs. So even though "they're not pursuing candidates right now", they've got your resume on file, along with a bunch of other farts, both young and old, and if they decide they need to hire someone, they'll go through the most current version of that file and first see if someone recognizes a name and had a good opinion of it.

And it's very rare for a company to cold-pick anyone over 45 without someone having done some networking beforehand. They'll pick the younger, more ignorant workers that will be willing to put up with more shit and work themselves out of a job without complaint than they would pick someone who might be savvy enough know how the system really works.

Haele
(Turned 50 and still growing up...)

[uppityperson]

137. Some are merely going through the motions of req applications, know who they will hire

already but due to legal thingies, have to put it out for the public to see.

I have applied for jobs that are actively advertising to be told they already know whom they will hire, but they have to advertise also to be legal.

I have been turned down for not having experience in the last yr, for being overqualified, the best was "thank you for your application. We are looking for the person who best fits our needs. signature". Maybe I should submit a proposal to them to hire me to write "you are not hired now go away" letters.

[txlibdem]

141. Cronyism and Nepotism are rampant in TX

In the span of two months one of my coworkers went from newbie customer service rep to assistant manager at a big box retailer - because someone from his high school lined it up for him.

It's no longer what you know or what you can do. It's all who you know nowadays. You can forget moving up the ranks by your talents.

They probably fired the old asst. mgr to save on giving him another pay raise.

[Lost4words]

77. you told my story as well. 56 here!

[Sciguy]

86. Yep, yep, yep. Me, too. Over 50 = worthless. :-( n/t

[phleshdef]

33. It really depends on where you are and what your skill set is.

I was laid off last may and had recruiters beating down my door before I picked the job I wanted by the end of June, have been gainfully employed ever since. But I'm in Columbus Ohio and am a .NET software developer. I'm just lucky. For some, especially those in the more blue collar areas, the situation is completely reversed.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

56. Are you under 50? Are you in a prosperous region of the country? What is your background in?

Did your parents ask a friend to give you a job?

There are many reasons why some people have an easier time than others.

[Love Bug]

62. Gee, thank you for your support and understanding.

:sarcasm:

[truedelphi]

67. if you are over fifty, your chances of getting employment are not very good.

You have to realize that for every opening there are five to fifteen applicants.

And why would an employer hire an older person, and along with that person pay the exorbitant health insurance premiums now demanded by the Health Care Reform Bill for that person? Most employers don't want that extra 'tax" on their business' profits.

So the older worker has to invent a job for themselves, as no one will hire them (usually.)

[Lost4words]

72. it sure is, what is your age, that may be a factor for you.

multiple years out of work for me, its not my expections I have applied for multiple guard, custoden, food service, nadda!

[True_Blue]

78. Not everyone receives 99 wks

99 wks is only for states with a high unemployment rate. If I remember correctly, the state has to have 9.5% unemployment rate. Most of the long term unemployed are in their 50s and have worked their entire lives.

[Lorien]

79. I know plenty of people here in Florida who have been job hunting for more than 2 years

some of them are over 50 and their hunt has been National. No one wants a worker over 40, let alone one who is over 50.

[SusanaMontana41]

82. You're kidding, right?

I recently applied for a job that received more than 100 applications. That's more than 100 applications for ONE JOB. "Give me a break"? Give me a JOB.

And try to grow some empathy while you're at it.

[Mother Of Four]

83. -Just got done reading the whole thread.

My oldest son went into the Navy, and was injured in Basic. Before he ever got the chance to be what he wanted it was cut short by his knees. He didn't get any benefits for unemployment, or medical because he was injured a week before his graduation.

He returned home the end of January. He's been looking since Feb for a job, anything anywhere to get some money to help with bills since he came home. He's a proud young man as well, but he didn't hesitate to put in applications for anything he could find. He's gone as far as to go around and offer to mow yards, help pick veggies, anything.

He just got a call Monday, and thank goodness he got a job. It's not much, pizza delivery, but it'll help him loads. What's important, is that it's a JOB. It's been so nerve wracking I don't think I'll believe it till he goes in for his first day.

We're fronting him his first month car insurance, etc. Even though things are tight for us. I can't imagine where he would be if he was one of those kids that parents said "Hey, you're over 18...get your own place."

I'm saddened and a little disgusted by your attitude, here is my son...my boy busting his hump for 6 months looking for a job, ANY job, and he's in the "employable" age group, because business owners and supers know they can walk all over them due to lack of experience. You're sitting there behind your keyboard blowing smoke about how something is "wrong" with people who can't find a job.

If it took a young man, in the "employable" age group six freaking months to find a job...even WITH contacts from my DH and myself, what about the people who are over 50 and cut adrift? Your ignorance is mindboggling.

I honestly don't care if you respond or not, I just wanted you to open your shuttered eyes and see what's really going on around you.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

121. I volunteer in my church's meal program for homeless and low-income youth

One evening I sat with four nice young men who shared a house. Of the four, only one had a full-time job, and that was at slightly above minimum wage. The second one had a part-time job, the third had been laid off and was unable to find another job, and the fourth had not found a job at all since coming to Minneapolis.

[Mother Of Four]

143. It's really disheartening-

I'm breathing a little bit easier, I just got a call about a half hour ago. They did give him the job and he's in training as we speak. I'm not ashamed to say I almost let some tears out. It's devastating to watch someone you love beat their head against the wall over and over again with no results but a killer headache.

I hope those young men find work soon, it's not just the money. It's their feeling of worth as well, nothing kills self esteem like the idea that no one thinks your worthwhile to hire.

[Donnachaidh]

88. yeah 99 weeks - and longer

Turn off Fox Noise and educate yourself on the plight of these people. It *IS* happening.

[Ohio Joe]

106. You have no clue

I was on my own at 17. I put myself through school, no loans, I just worked my ass off. I became a programmer and am very good at it. I am experienced in all phases of IT from development, to testing, to QA, to management, to DBA, to disaster recovery, to continuity management and on and on, I can do any part of it. You know what though? There are no fucking jobs, not even for drastic pay cuts. You know what else? I'm getting old so I'm not even considered as employable for a job at fucking Burger King. I've been putting out 50+ resumes a week for two fucking years now and have only been able to get three interviews. Two of them resulted in job offers that were canceled the following day because the company decided to do without the position. The third was recent and I'm still waiting to hear. Aside from my chosen profession, I have also been applying at every store and business that will take an application from me, you know what I hear? You are too old, you have been out of work for too long, you have too much debt (I had none before I was unemployed), you are just not what we are looking for, we decided to go with someone else... and on and on.

I'm willing to do anything, I'm out pounding the pavement every fucking day. I get up each day and wrestle with not putting a fucking gun in my mouth and being done with it because on top of all the above shit I have to put up with douchebags that think I'm just not trying hard enough.

You have no fucking clue.

[valerief]

122. It's not easy to find a job when you're laid off and almost sixty. Who would hire you? nt

[Rex]

127. So what will you say at 99 weeks? If you cannot find a job, you didn't try hard enough?

One wonders.

[Mark D.]

133. $585

It means he made a good deal more than that while employed. They check up on you, you must file claims weekly, list where you sought work (they can and will check on it) and meet regularly with parole officers - oops - I mean career counselors. The man may have had a skilled labor job that went away (to China, etc.). Middle aged men used to making $20 an hour to pay the mortgage, bills, and support children aren't able to get by on WalMart or McDonald's pay-scale. It'd likely be half what they made on unemployment.

There are people brought back part time or as 'contractors' (ie. no benefits, lower pay, no vacation or sick time). Some brought back full time at lower pay (gotta tighten those belts, but notice the CEO's pay and dividend payments to investors haven't gone down at the same time). So don't bring your deluded blaming of the victim here. I know a few in the same boat (sinking ship) that fellow is in. Given a choice between unemployment and a job that would bring them enough money to pay the bills with, they'd pick the latter.

[slay]

7. woops

replied in wrong spot my bad

[marmar]

8. selfdelete

[DesertFlower]

60. my friend in new york has been unemployed

for almost a year and a half. his unemployment benefits will end after the summer.

[DFW]

132. My daughter in NYC was, too. She got lucky. Too many did not.

Her sister just graduated magna cum laude from a NY law school, and found a good-paying job--in Germany.
It was either waiting on tables in NY or move to Frankfurt am Main making a great starting salary with
German health care and a mandatory six weeks paid vacation (to avoid burnout). It didn't take her long
to make the decision.

[Sciguy]

87. Want cuts elsewhere? Fine. Get out of Afghanistan!

Oh, yeah - get out of Iraq, too. Maybe - if you really want to be daring - close down a few military bases in other countries (but only if you'd be ticked off if those countries had military bases here in the US).

If you really want to go out on a limb, you could even stop supplying the military with stuff they don't want! Y'know, like some fancy new planes they said they don't want.

Oops. I forgot. To Republicans, spending trillions of dollars on unnecessary "defense" is sacred, kinda like the bible. My bad.

[NJCher]

91. requirements for employment

And even this doesn't work much of the time. You must be:

young

dumb

cheap


Cher

[Historic NY]

102. Brother can you spare a dime.....

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
(E.Y. Harburg and J. Gorney)

They used to tell me I was building a dream
And so I followed the mob
When there was earth to plough or guns to bear
I was always there, right on the job

They used to tell me I was building a dream
With peace and glory ahead
Why should I be standing in line
Just waiting for bread?


Once I built a railroad, I made it run
I made it race against time
Once I built a railroad, now it's done
Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once I built a tower, up to the sun
Bricks & mortar & lime
Once I built a tower, now it's done
Brother...

(bridge) Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell
Full of that Yankee-Doodly-dum
Half a million boots went slogging through Hell
And I was the kid with the drum

Say, don't you remember, you called me "Al"
It was "Al" all the time
Say don't you remember, I was your pal
Brother...can you spare a dime.

[TBF]

104. Recommended. nt

[femrap]

108. That picture says it all....

my grandfather wouldn't even discuss The Depression with me. I had so many questions because I always thought I would have to endure one. He just wouldn't discuss it. And he was one of the lucky ones....he had a farm so at least no one went hungry versus the 'townsfolk' who had to buy food.

WASF.

[bongbong]

120. Finally the consequences

Starting with the people buying Japanese cars in the 1980s, finally the consequences of out sourcing all the jobs has come home to roost.

I'm not blaming it all on consumer choice - probably 90% of the blame is to tax policies that encourage companies to off-shore their jobs, and the lack of "equalizing" tariffs to reflect the REAL cost of losing jobs. Note the lack of tariffs is insisted on by the people who run the country, the billionaires.

What has happened is the game of musical chairs has finally ended, and the richest 1% have all found chairs, and the 99%/99-weekers are all still walking around the circle.

Most of the 99-ers don't realize there are no more chairs left, but some of them are starting to figure it out.

[AllyCat]

124. No, Mr Frazee. The President and Congress did not NEED To get Wall St going

and while they did need to stabilize the banks, they didn't do it. So you should have been taken care of, but we have become a corporatocracy that only takes care of BIG Bidness, not anyone else. Because, you know, they have a right to make money.

I'm so sorry. I cannot imagine this kind of stress. Many blessings to you and your family.

[txlibdem]

142. This isn't something new, we've been under attack for over 20 years

Companies routinely get rid of experienced (read higher salary) people in favor of blank slate recent grads who don't know that their head will be on the chopping block in the next decade. It keeps the upper management firmly in control of every aspect of the business, removes the people who know the history of their lies, and constantly cycling personnel keeps profits (and their yearly bonus) as high as possible.

[defendandprotect]

147. Started immediately after coup on JFK . . . immediately after . . .

and Ralph Nader has been talking about corporations buying government for at least 40 years!

We've known about Global Warming since at least 1957 . . .

Took the elites about 40-60 years to overturn New Deal -- and they're still working on it!!

Meanwhile, they have to keep a tight hold over truth and reality by controlling the press --

thus corporate news.

Truth is like a pebble hitting a mirror -- shatters right wing myths!



:)

[defendandprotect]

146. Late K&R . . . glad to see Michael Moore out commenting . . . .