[khfar]

I guess anything is possible but it's pretty unlikely given the type of work and company. And if the "bubble" bursts, well I guess it's a good thing that we've been saving since we were both in college....We'd be able to regroup nicely.

Exactly. This is us, too. Given the company and type of work my husband does, a lay off is highly unlikely. They've been around for over 100 years, and only promote from within. That's why we moved here. They have never done lay offs. And yes, anything is possible. We have both been saving since we were in college as well. My husband grew up with nothing, and never wanted to be in that situation again, so we lived like paupers for years so that we could save.

[dagnabit9]

Ah, don't you just love the doom and gloom. Well, I have some news for you. The reason gas prices are so high is because we don't have near the refining capacity we had in the 70's - probably less than 50%. So, you can have all the oil you want and you still wouldn't be able to refine the gasoline fast enough.

The U.S. imports 40% of the gasoline they use every day. Yes, that's right - 40%! We haven't built a refinery here for decades. With all the obstacles that the tree-hugging left-wing has put in place, we won't any time soon either.

It's time we drilled for our own oil on our own land and just off our shores by relaxing some of the hoo-ha these environmentalists have imposed on us and get this economy back on it's feet again.

At any length, I would come back to Michigan in a heartbeat - I'm tired of living in the desert. And I think I will soon because I don't have a profession that's dependant upon the auto industry. That's another way to get the country moving - diversify!

[malamute]

Originally Posted by zakian

How about some reality? Don't you read the papers or watch the news or check the stats??? I'm happy you're doing well. For every family still doing well I can show you 10 at least that have suffered/are scared to death b/c of the present economy or the future of the state. I wait with baited breath for your bubble to burst when you're out of work or are told you must take a 50% pay cut. We'll see what you say then.

The people who are not doing well really need to leave because you're not going to have a lick of compassion from those rolling in the dough, and face it -- many in Michigan have very high paying jobs and life is fine, they're doing better than ever. I did see that attitude when I lived up there, the people with money really don't care if others are doing badly, they've got theirs and they believe everyone can simply take out a second or third mortgage on their house and go off to college -- don't worry who will support their families for 4 years.

You're best bet is to get a job where ever you must go to get one. The pay won't be as high as in Michigan, but the important thing is to be working and in a job where you can eventually get ahead. Getting a degree would help but you can do that elsewhere and be working too.

[Michigan Refugee]

Okay,...I don't like all the gloom and doom for Michigan either Khfar...but let's face it...your in Oakland County, Bloomfield Hills...which is much different than Flint, Saginaw, or Bay City!! I'm a fifth generation native of Michigan...that was forced to leave all of my friends and family behind to move to North Carolina for a teaching job. You can't buy a teaching job in Michigan that has any kind of security. No job in Michigan is really that secure. Granted, there will always be those people that are unemployed....but the majority are not unemployed by choice and are very willing to work. I find your attitude to be very Marie Antoinette...."just let them eat cake!"

[khfar]

Originally Posted by Michigan Refugee

Okay,...I don't like all the gloom and doom for Michigan either Khfar...but let's face it...your in Oakland County, Bloomfield Hills...which is much different than Flint, Saginaw, or Bay City!! I'm a fifth generation native of Michigan...that was forced to leave all of my friends and family behind to move to North Carolina for a teaching job. You can't buy a teaching job in Michigan that has any kind of security. No job in Michigan is really that secure. Granted, there will always be those people that are unemployed....but the majority are not unemployed by choice and are very willing to work. I find your attitude to be very Marie Antoinette...."just let them eat cake!"

Okay, you know what? What do you want me to do? Use the money we save for our children's college and give it away to the unemployed? HELL no. Sorry.

I do a ton of charity work here. I love it. I donate my time. Don't you DARE sit there and tell me that I have a crappy attitude. We struggled for YEARS to get to where we are now, and we are by no means rich. We also don't live in Bloomfield Hills, thankyouverymuch.

I do think it sucks that so many people are unhappy and/or unemployed. But you know what? I'm a fighter, not a complainer. So if we ever found ourselves in that boat, you can bet that I'd be working 3 jobs for minimum wage each, if I had to. I don't care where it was I had to work. How DARE you judge me, just because you are pissed off about your own situation.

[nycjefftrain]

Khfar- you go girl!!(I know...I'm soooo 90's)

I love doom and gloomers. They make me laugh and I also feel better about myself.

[detshen]

Originally Posted by malamute

The people who are not doing well really need to leave because you're not going to have a lick of compassion from those rolling in the dough, and face it -- many in Michigan have very high paying jobs and life is fine, they're doing better than ever. I did see that attitude when I lived up there, the people with money really don't care if others are doing badly, they've got theirs and they believe everyone can simply take out a second or third mortgage on their house and go off to college -- don't worry who will support their families for 4 years.

You're best bet is to get a job where ever you must go to get one. The pay won't be as high as in Michigan, but the important thing is to be working and in a job where you can eventually get ahead. Getting a degree would help but you can do that elsewhere and be working too.

I can't speak for everyone who is doing well, but I do feel for the people who are struggling. I grew up working class and was fortunate that my father did well and was promoted so I could go to college. I recently changed my business in a way that allows me to help people who struggle with money. I generally recommend some kind of specialized training, it doesn't have to be a 4 year degree, and student loans are available to help. I wish there were jobs for everyone, but there aren't so training will have to happen. The whole country is in trouble, just moving won't solve all anyone's problems.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by detshen

I can't speak for everyone who is doing well, but I do feel for the people who are struggling. I grew up working class and was fortunate that my father did well and was promoted so I could go to college. I recently changed my business in a way that allows me to help people who struggle with money. I generally recommend some kind of specialized training, it doesn't have to be a 4 year degree, and student loans are available to help. I wish there were jobs for everyone, but there aren't so training will have to happen. The whole country is in trouble, just moving won't solve all anyone's problems.

That's understandable. Many people are doing okay and of course they won't need to move to look for jobs. I think what bothers people is that very haughty attitude that some people have, those people who feel they are so superior, nothing bad can ever happen to them. Maybe they really are very very secure and above everyone else, and I suspect they rely more on inherited wealth than are having to work for a living and really have no clue on what it means to need a job.

My feeling is that it's better not to wait for things to turn around, but you have to go where the jobs are if you need to have a job. Those who feel secure in their jobs aren't in that boat, and those on welfare aren't in that boat. Those who need a job and don't have one just have to do what it takes to get one.

[Cato the Elder]

Originally Posted by khfar

Okay, you know what? What do you want me to do? Use the money we save for our children's college and give it away to the unemployed? HELL no. Sorry.

I do a ton of charity work here. I love it. I donate my time. Don't you DARE sit there and tell me that I have a crappy attitude. We struggled for YEARS to get to where we are now, and we are by no means rich. We also don't live in Bloomfield Hills, thankyouverymuch.

I do think it sucks that so many people are unhappy and/or unemployed. But you know what? I'm a fighter, not a complainer. So if we ever found ourselves in that boat, you can bet that I'd be working 3 jobs for minimum wage each, if I had to. I don't care where it was I had to work. How DARE you judge me, just because you are pissed off about your own situation.

What I don't get is why this person is attacking you, khfar, when you moved to MI from TX for a job opportunity.

I grew up in Chicago but moved to the East and West coasts before coming here. People do it all the time to better themselves and get ahead.

I feel for struggling people, but what I can't stand in MI is the preponderance of entitlement that's here, especially among the working class. You mean to tell me that you DIDN'T see the writing on the wall concerning manufacturing in the US back in the 70s and 80s? If you're 60 and you lost your job, that's terrible. If you're 25 and crying because that $80k job turning screws wasn't waiting for you after high school, go take a hike. There are plenty of jobs elsewhere in AZ digging ditches. As someone said, one can get some training and get a different job if digging ditches isn't palatable. Either way, you have to have a skill and do whatever it takes, including moving cross country, instead of relying on connections through Uncle Jimmy at GM.

[khfar]

Originally Posted by Cato the Elder

What I don't get is why this person is attacking you, khfar, when you moved to MI from TX for a job opportunity.

I grew up in Chicago but moved to the East and West coasts before coming here. People do it all the time to better themselves and get ahead.

I feel for struggling people, but what I can't stand in MI is the preponderance of entitlement that's here, especially among the working class. You mean to tell me that you DIDN'T see the writing on the wall concerning manufacturing in the US back in the 70s and 80s? If you're 60 and you lost your job, that's terrible. If you're 25 and crying because that $80k job turning screws wasn't waiting for you after high school, go take a hike. There are plenty of jobs elsewhere in AZ digging ditches. As someone said, one can get some training and get a different job if digging ditches isn't palatable. Either way, you have to have a skill and do whatever it takes, including moving cross country, instead of relying on connections through Uncle Jimmy at GM.

I think I'm being singled out here, because I'm not struggling and complaining. And apparently, I must be spoiled and have inherited wealth (laughing about that).

The sense of entitlement here is the most unbelievable thing I've ever witnessed. If you count babysitting, I started working at age 13. My husband started working illegaly at age 12, to help support their struggling family (where's that inherited wealth, huh?). No, I don't work now. I am fortunate enough to stay at home with my kids. But we have both worked our tails off to get to where we are. And again, we are by NO means wealthy. If my husband lost his job tomorrow, we would both be out working. I don't get how I'm considered to be haughty. But again, I guess it's because I'm not sitting around pointing fingers and blaming everyone else for my problems.