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For those who are inclined to bash the unemployed, even people at the conservative think-tank American Enterprise Institute realize there is a crisis and that we need to rethink our way of doing things. You know it's bad when conservatives point to the German way of doing things as a potential answer. (OMG! Germany! With it's OMG "socialist" tendencies! )
So, you might want to just lay off the people who have been struggling for a year, maybe close to two now. I'm seeing what people in my family are going through and those of you who bash the unemployed have NO CLUE about how awful and out of touch you really sound.
I commend you for making this post -this is a message that needs be repeated often.
I have been there as well, gone for months and years without employment, been through depression and loss of self-worth. Oh yeah, been there, done that, don't care to go back there again...lol.
I strongly feel that the extremely high UE rate in this country is eating away at this nation like acid, and if it's not brought down in a timely fashion, the current "hard times" we're currently experiencing will look like boom times compared to what will face us in the not-so-distant future. You take millions and millions of formerly productive people, keep them out of the workforce for years, you'll never, ever be able to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. All that talent, education and experience, the intangible properties that made the country so great, will be lost forever, never to be regained.
Here's some suggestions that the self-centered fools in Washington would never consider in a million years, but I wish they would anyhow, for the sake of my country:
Launch the biggest government public works program in the history of this country rebuilding our badly decaying infrastructure, to be funded by diverting the vast majority of money currently going to fight useless wars of foreign oppression. The scale of this program needs to be so big that it quickly draws down the majority of the unemployed in this country, and these jobs need to be comparable to the jobs that have been lost in this "Great Recession," with good pay and generous benefits. This in turn, will generate the spending power that will lift the rest of the economy out of the tar pits its been mired in for so many months. The housing market would finally recover, bringing back all those construction jobs that have decimated large swaths of the country. White-collar jobs would come back as well, serving the needs of growing companies.
In addition to the massive gov works program, I think some policies need to be implemented to get the long-term "gapped" workers back into the swing of things when the economy does require more workers. Tax incentives should be given to any company that hires a person that has exhausted their UE benefits, and this incentive needs to be big enough to make it almost impossible to resist for anyone seeking to hire new employees. There also needs to be a skills-matching program, where employers and employees can come together to seek the best fit for each other. Prospective employees should get assistance to move where the jobs are, and employers should get rebates for drawing employees from this sort of national "jobs bank."
Also, we need to have a strong leader up in the White House that's willing to use the bully pulpit to badger corporations to hire Americans rather than outsourcing, sometime that's willing to "tell it like it is" on national television...lol. Oh yeah, we need to scrap all these so-called "free trade" agreements that have done nothing but suck jobs right out of the country, just so we can get cheap socks that rip and tear on the 3rd wearing (and please do tell me, HOW is that a better way of doing things??). We also need to lower the boom on companies that seek to save a few pennies by outsourcing, frustrating almost all of us with those infernal call centers in India.
Sadly, though, none of these ideas will ever be put into place, as it'd make far too much sense to the zombies ruling the nest in DC-land. It just makes me downright sad to see this country spiraling into long-term depression, one we won't recover from in a very, very long time, if ever. Sucks to beat the band, doesn't it?
Last edited by NorthStarDelight; 12-06-2010 at 12:28 PM..
For those who are inclined to bash the unemployed, even people at the conservative think-tank American Enterprise Institute realize there is a crisis and that we need to rethink our way of doing things. You know it's bad when conservatives point to the German way of doing things as a potential answer. (OMG! Germany! With it's OMG "socialist" tendencies! )
So, you might want to just lay off the people who have been struggling for a year, maybe close to two now. I'm seeing what people in my family are going through and those of you who bash the unemployed have NO CLUE about how awful and out of touch you really sound.
My grandpa had a rough life when he was younger. He grew up in an orphanage because his mom didn't want him (but his sister got to stay at home). His dad died when he was 10. Even though he's extremely smart, he could never get a Bachelor's degree because he didn't have the resources or support. He got an Associate's degree. You didn't need a Bachelor's degree to be successful in those days, so he was able to get a good job. But money didn't go far because he had to raise 6 kids. Things are easier now. He "retired" in 1999, but continues to work. Not because he needs the money, but just for the mental stimulation.
Even though he had a rough life in the past, that doesn't mean he wants his grandkids to live like that. He doesn't walk around telling us how spoiled we are.
It certainly seems that the people who work hard in life also happen to have more kindness, wisdom, and understanding in them. Personally, in my family, the people who have worked very hard in their lives are also the most understanding and helpful to the younger generations that are struggling. While there are others that are known for mooching and swindling, but yet they seem to have a very condescending opinion of their kids, nieces, and nephews.
Your grandpa sounds like a true member of The Greatest generation. I commend your grandpa for continuing to work! Mental stimulation and exercise is the key to a long and healthy life.
I sure do not think the unemployed are lazy even though I am no longer unemployed. I know how hard it is to find a job and consider myself lucky that I found one.
I read an article today about why this myth about the unemployed is still around and they came up with three very good reasons.
1. Denial - People want to think the world is fundamentally fair, that if you work hard, you'll be rewarded and if you don't, then you have no one but yourself to blame for where you end up. This is also the real reason why so many middle and lower class folks think it's wrong to tax the rich. They think that someday they too will be rich and, just in case, they don't want to pay higher taxes when they get there.
2. Arrogance - If you're still employed, you can pat yourself on the back and tell yourself that it's because you're smarter and/or harder-working. People sometimes can't feel good about themselves unless they tear someone else down. So if unemployment goes up, instead of just being grateful that you still have a job, you can actually use it to feel like you're better than the people who lost their jobs.
3. Fear - It's scary to hear about people losing their jobs. You wonder if you'll be next. So telling yourself that everyone else is out of work because they're lazy is a nice way to cope and still feel like you're in control. You can tell yourself that it won't happen to you since you're a hard worker.
Yeah, that list pretty much sums it up! I'd also add "limited personal experience" to that, since many people know ONE unemployed lazy person, and assume everyone else is the same. We often hear stories like "my brother-in-law hasn't worked in 2 years, sits on his butt playing video games, and only started looking for work when his UI ran out" - and then they go on to compare ALL unemployed folks to their BIL, when he obviously doesn't represent everyone.
I really cannot stand people in their 70s who have NO IDEA what this recession is like for those of us out of work and without 'aid' of any kind. My aunt and uncle who are both in their early 70s tell me I am just lazy and need to put on my suit and start knocking on doors like THEY DID in 1960 and I will get a job.
They raise a family on one income. Times are tough and I am trying like **** to find a job. Meanwhile they tut-tut and say to me get myself down to McDonalds or do ANYTHING to earn money.
Can anyone else relate?
To answer question one... because they are still as heartless and ignorant as they ever have been. Some folks just don't care about anyone but themselves. Believing only their OWN idea of the truth. As anyone with ANY sense knows TRUTH is NOT and IDEA.
Question two... 15 million people (and I'm one) definitely relate.
I'd also add "limited personal experience" to that, since many people know ONE unemployed lazy person, and assume everyone else is the same.
Whenever someone employs the "I know a guy" claim to support their argument, I tend to think less of them. It tells them they're quick to make generalizations and probably too lazy to do any further research. In my experience, such people don't like things being complicated. They want to be able to put people in neat little categories and keep things simple.
Whenever someone employs the "I know a guy" claim to support their argument, I tend to think less of them
I agree, usually the "I know a guy" arguments can easily be refuted by someone on the other side knowing a different guy.
On topic - I can't imagine anyone actually judging a person by their employment status. Jobs come and jobs go, sometimes employers have to reduce staff etc.
I could see judging someone if you knew specifics concerning their employment status like they quit in a huff over something stupid etc.
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