Jobless benefits could end for (Over 1 Million) in January

[poak]

As a product of an imploding construction industry, and a guy on the job trail, the biggest problem I'm running into is the fact that the unemployed masses have created a buyer's market for the companies that ARE doing work and looking for employees. Everyone wants the guy w/ 5-10yrs experience, but they want to pay them a salary of the intern that just went full-time.

In short: it sucks.

[Mark@Sea]

Right now, I imagine Joe the Plumber (remember him? The guy that was crucified by the liberals for asking BO why he should expand his company just to "share the wealth"?) would be laughing his ass off, if this situation wasn't the disaster it obviously is.

Somehow, "told ya so" doesn't cover it.

[TGO David]

You know, I honestly believe that what we are seeing here is a long overdue correction of an unnatural economic boom in the 1990s. We have been losing production oriented jobs to overseas competitors for the past 40 years and the economy would have otherwise been on a downward slope before this had it not been for the Tech Boom.

Now, the Tech Boom is over, the stock market is shaky and those jobs that shouldn't have really existed in the first place are all drying up and blowing away. Production jobs are all overseas now because the American Government has taxed domestic companies to death and given perk after perk, and concession after concession to foreign manufacturers.

The reality of things is this: It's going to suck ball sweat for the next few years at the very least. It may come down to survival of the fittest in some areas of our economy. Those who cannot survive by adapting and overcoming will fall prey to natural selection. Nature is not kind, and it won't be pretty.

BUT if we elect intelligent, capitalist leaders to as many offices as we can in the next two years, we have a chance at turning it back around and reversing the tide from money going out of the country to bringing money back into the country.

If we continue to allow socialist douchebags to occupy elected offices, we're going to see the American Way Of Life completely crumble. And that's just what they want.

[Guest jackdm3]

I like to look at what jobs are being listed and I saw one out of many that floored me: Metal press operator with 10 years experience to earn $9/hour!

[Guest jackdm3]

"Hi. I'm calling about your ad for: Metal press operator with 10 years experience to earn $9/hour! Let me tell you about myself. I got my college experience at the School of F U!"

[Guest SUNTZU]

Here's the game, but keep in mind, once you decide to play, you're already screwed.

[Guest GimpyLeg]

I like to look at what jobs are being listed and I saw one out of many that floored me: Metal press operator with 10 years experience to earn $9/hour!

So are you saying that it would be better to draw unemployment or work a 40 hour week? Not sure just what you mean by this and your follow-up post.

[Guest jackdm3]

I was riffing on David's(?) statement of how much the employers gladly devalue the quality workers.

[Guest GT_Rat]

Or maybe it's that the job those "quality workers" were doing no longer has the value it used to in the market place. It amuses me that people don't realize that the skills they have are just as much a commodity as the products companies produce. When demand for those skills goes down and supply of those skills stays the same or grows, guess what happens? The going rate for experienced metal press operators is now $9/hr because there is not much demand for metal press operators and there is an abundant supply. They wouldn't be advertising $9/hr if they didn't think anyone would take it.

[strickj]

You guys that are complaining about a once well paying job now only getting 9 bucks an hr need to remember that some migrant in Bumshumuctastain will do it for .50 an hr with no benefits.

And you wonder why companies go over seas? Its not just the Gov forcing those jobs away,but also the workers,and consumers...

[USMCJG]

Its not just the Gov forcing those jobs away,but also the workers,and consumers...

Don't forget the unions that need to make a dollar for every dollar a member is paid. I have some first hand experience with unions collecting dues and making money hand over fist and then screwing the dues paying member, or his family, in the end.

[TNRobocop]

Maybe I should have clarified about the picture I was referring to about the guy and selling his bike.

It is on the front page of The Tennesseean, dated Wednesday, 16 Nov 09. The guy is named Fred Phifer and has been unemployed since 2006 and had his last extended unemployment benefit check mailed last Friday. He is waiting to hear on his eligibility for the newset round of extension.

Apparently this guy was laid off from GE when they closed the plant three years ago.

Come on. Three years of sucking on the .gov teat? Even if you take into account that he was maybe union and those benefits and stuff, maybe he should do some Dave Ramsey stuff and knuckle down.

Putting a guy sitting on his Harley on the front page complaining about getting an extension on his unemployment checks sounds FUBAR.

But that just me I guess...

[Guest GimpyLeg]

I just wonder if the .gov stopped extending their teat, would unemployment rates decrease?

[Guest jackdm3]

Maybe I should have clarified about the picture I was referring to about the guy and selling his bike.

It is on the front page of The Tennesseean, dated Wednesday, 16 Nov 09. The guy is named Fred Phifer and has been unemployed since 2006 and had his last extended unemployment benefit check mailed last Friday. He is waiting to hear on his eligibility for the newset round of extension.

Apparently this guy was laid off from GE when they closed the plant three years ago.

Come on. Three years of sucking on the .gov teat? Even if you take into account that he was maybe union and those benefits and stuff, maybe he should do some Dave Ramsey stuff and knuckle down.

Putting a guy sitting on his Harley on the front page complaining about getting an extension on his unemployment checks sounds FUBAR.

But that just me I guess...

I'm not arguing with you, but you don't get three solid years of benefits. And yes, he hopefully was making money in between the periods he got funds. But it obviously wasn't enough. It goes something like this:

6 mo. on payments

6 mo. off

3 mo. on

3 or 6 mo. off

$250 a week for his first several draws and $300 lately.

BUT! I have no respect if you have a sellable asset, an unnecessary asset that you don't liquidate as needed. That's adding insult to injury for those in true need.