Should America still be a land of second and third chances? (employment, Congress)
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In many countries all over the world (Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan) if you fail once or twice in life you are finished. It will be nearly impossible to pick your self off brush your self off and start all over again.
On the other hand America has historically been a place where failure is allowed and in some cases even encouraged. Some people open five or more businesses that fail but the sixth time is a charm. Others get fired from multiple jobs but get rehired and finally land in something right for them.
Historically one of the reasons American were able to fail multiple times and still start all over again was people could move and start fresh or records were not kept regarding their failures.
Now with the Internet and a new competitiveness in our society, it appears it is alot harder to fail and come back. There are an incredible amount of records on each of us. If we have financial problems any employer can find out about it through our credit report.
Our employment history is ending up on line through huge clearing houses of information. A terrible job market that will likely be with us for a very long time makes people who have been fired from a job almost unemployable, and our criminal, driving, educational, licenses, certifications, homeowner, age, sex and veteran status and kinds of other information on us is available online to nearly anyone. If we have failed they can find out.
Can America still be a country of second chances? Should it be?
Last edited by Weekend Traveler; 06-16-2009 at 08:07 AM..
If there are multiple qualified candidates it is nearly impossible to get a job today if you have skeletons in your closest. Because the skeletons are available for all to see.
Quote:
Originally Posted by anifani821
Second chances? Third chances? What are you talking about. The only thing that really holds people back from employment is:
1. no available jobs
2. not qualified for jobs that are available
3. health issues
4. felony on the record
People can start over as many times as they want, but how successful they will be depends on the factors above.
Second chances? Third chances? What are you talking about. The only thing that really holds people back from employment is:
1. no available jobs
2. not qualified for jobs that are available
3. health issues
4. felony on the record
People can start over as many times as they want, but how successful they will be depends on the factors above.
What's your point?
Agreed.
Many jobs are awarded because they have an "in" or the people hiring feel they would be a good fit. I know because I did a large study on this for the Oregon Employment Dept a few years ago. Over 70% of the people hired for jobs failed to meet the posted qualifications. It's the same where I currently work. Knowing someone on the inside is invaluable.
America can hopefully remain the land of second and third choices when it comes to taking business risks. The chance to start over is the only factor that allows most people to take economic risks to begin with. If we simply threw people into debtors prison for indebtedness, you would certainly see much less in the way of entrepreneurship in this country.
America can hopefully remain the land of second and third choices when it comes to taking business risks. The chance to start over is the only factor that allows most people to take economic risks to begin with. If we simply threw people into debtors prison for indebtedness, you would certainly see much less in the way of entrepreneurship in this country.
OK, here's a test for you. Buy an old car and paint "taxi" on the side, and go the airport and pull up in front of the terminal. See the entrepreneurial spirit of America in all its vivid glory. Or, set a chair down on a street corner, with a sign that says "Haircuts---$5"
By the way, the internet hasn't changed anything. In the 50's, when I applied for a job, I was asked where I worked before. The employer would then pick up the phone and call my previous boss. How has the internet made it easier for someone to find out my work history?
Many jobs are awarded because they have an "in" or the people hiring feel they would be a good fit. I know because I did a large study on this for the Oregon Employment Dept a few years ago. Over 70% of the people hired for jobs failed to meet the posted qualifications. It's the same where I currently work. Knowing someone on the inside is invaluable.
I agree, knowing someone on the inside can get you far. Where I work, I know quite a few people who had 'connections'.
I've interviewed people for various positions and most of the candidates were not even remotely qualified. I had to recommend the candidate who was closest to the job description. In my opinion, I would have hired none of the interviewees. I told my boss to get more candidates but his answer was '...we better get this position filled before senior management axes it. Then we'll end up with no one.' So there you go.
How has the internet made it easier for someone to find out my work history?
Computer data bases: There are services (affiliated with the major credit reporting agencies) that have your employment information available.
If you came in and applied for a job with me, part of the application you sign for employment gives me permission to get a credit and employment history report.
Only takes a few seconds.
OBTW - I don't know about where you live but here in Arizona (and Nevada), it not legal to simply get the old car and paint "TAXI" on the side. If nothing else, the car has to be approved by the agency that licenses taxi's (liveries) - and they must meet minimum standards (safety and comfort).
Not 100% sure what the original post's intention was, but, I will say I'm grateful I live here, for the simple fact we have a Risk/Reward system, within our capitalistic economy. Unfortunately, the current regime does not appear to respect this, but I digress...
Bill Gates went bankrupt, at one point, and so did so many other many thousands of Americans and immigrants to this country, who founded and built corporations which are the envy of the entire world, and which could never have been so successful anywhere else. Problem is, with ever more government control, their meddling in markets, and our taxes, that system can be messed up, either way, but most likely that entrepreneur with a great idea, is more likely to be cast aside, these days. This is why so many successful people want our bankruptcy laws kept simple and pro-business. Many of them understand what without such laws and protections, they and this country would not be in the position we're in, today, in that we are still the world's largest economy.
I would rather someone have started a business and failed, only to try again and succeed, than for someone to think it wasn't worth it to try, to begin with. The socialist countries in this world restrict economic growth, and they tend to pick/favor winners and losers, which is what Obama&Co. are doing at this very moment, with some very big companies.
When it comes to PERSONAL issues re what I would describe as outright failure, as we've seen lately, well, we have many in Congress to blame, as it appears the government decided to meddle in markets where it did not belong, to include forcing financial institutions over a barrel, in order to put high risk people in $400K+ McMansions, on $50K/yr., income. That's the kind of risk we CANNOT have, for our economy to be successful.
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No failures allowed in today's Internet age
