Unemployment

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Comments

  • ledveddermanledvedderman Posts: 7,761
    That's what I think too.

    I think there's going to be a real problem getting a second stimulus passed. I think it is needed, but it could be VERY difficult to pass both houses heading into a mid-term election year.
  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    That's what I think too.

    I think there's going to be a real problem getting a second stimulus passed. I think it is needed, but it could be VERY difficult to pass both houses heading into a mid-term election year.

    Yeah, there is no way that a second huge stimulus will pass (and I'd be happy if it didn't). With political battles for cap and trade, and the upcoming one on health care, I'm not sure that another stimulus bill is one that can be pushed through.
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • ledveddermanledvedderman Posts: 7,761
    That's what I think too.

    I think there's going to be a real problem getting a second stimulus passed. I think it is needed, but it could be VERY difficult to pass both houses heading into a mid-term election year.

    Yeah, there is no way that a second huge stimulus will pass (and I'd be happy if it didn't). With political battles for cap and trade, and the upcoming one on health care, I'm not sure that another stimulus bill is one that can be pushed through.

    I'll take Kennedy's proposed Health Care bill over a second stimulus anyday.
  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    That's what I think too.

    I think there's going to be a real problem getting a second stimulus passed. I think it is needed, but it could be VERY difficult to pass both houses heading into a mid-term election year.

    Yeah, there is no way that a second huge stimulus will pass (and I'd be happy if it didn't). With political battles for cap and trade, and the upcoming one on health care, I'm not sure that another stimulus bill is one that can be pushed through.

    I'll take Kennedy's proposed Health Care bill over a second stimulus anyday.

    My fear with the health care legislation, is that what ultimately passes will probably end up being some watered down bill that has all sorts of cut outs and loopholes in it to buy votes and supports from all different interests, and in the end will cost much more that it will ever help.
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • weenieweenie Posts: 1,623
    Here are some of the problems with unemployment that those of you who are gainfully employed may or may not be aware of ...

    First, many of the jobs that will be/are being created quickly are those that pay hourly wages and are low enough so that they will not sustain the white-collar, middle-class worker - whether he/she lives alone or has a family. Trying to live on $16-$20 an hour is like pissing in the wind in most cities.

    Second, many employers are using the economic downtown as an excuse to re-fill jobs that already existed, and are open due to turnover, at much lower pay rates. Not only are they paying lower wages, but they are requiring additional skills that were never considered part of that particular job description before. It's my opinion that the majority of these companies are not feeling any pinch from the economy and are just being greedy.

    Third, companies are not only hiring in at lower wages, but are replacing turnover positions with two part-time workers as opposed to one full-time worker in order to save on benefits.

    The result of all these actions forces individuals and families to renig on mortgage payments, car payments, credit card payments and the like compounding all the other problems we have. It's a vicious cycle and the middle-class, white collar worker has no where to turn. Unemployment pays very little - some states are better than others - and lasts around 6 - 8 months. The average search time for a job used to be 4 - 6 months. Now, it's closer to a year. If your credit cards cut you off and your unemployment ends, you're really screwed. It's ugly and it's scary and it takes a lot of creative thinking just to get by.

    What I'm trying to say here is that not only are there fewer jobs, but many of those that are out there don't automatically create a "better" situation for some categories of the unemployed. It's a frightening situation to be in, especially when all your life you've had good paying jobs, good credit and some stability.

    Yes, it is going to take a long time for the results to be seen from the first round, but at least THIS money is coming to Americans at home and not going to citizens in some foreign country.
    ~I want to realize brotherhood or identity not merely with the beings called human, but I want to realize identity with all life, even with such things as crawl upon earth.~
    Mohandas K. Gandhi

    ~I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulette I could have worn.~
    Henry David Thoreau
  • WaveCameCrashinWaveCameCrashin Posts: 2,929
    The company I work for decided to try paying us some commission + our wages in a a few test markets (other stores) Some of us well probably all of us were not really excited about this b/c one reason is they were going to take 20% away from our hourly pay.But for any item we sold we would get 3%. Most of these items are around $45-$130.00.
    So get this after a few weeks of this we were actually making anywhere from $150-$200 extra on our checks. This really motivated a lot of associates to work harder. Well so much for that. We got a notice from our corp. office that they were suspending the commission program until further notice. I mean how fucked up is that shit ? :x

    And the thing is the store I work at is like 9% above last year :? Also they changed 35 -40 hrs being full time now 32 is considered full time. Don't get me wrong Im very thank full that I have a job right now considering other peoples circumstances but I just hate getting screwed.
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    prfctlefts wrote:
    The company I work for decided to try paying us some commission + our wages in a a few test markets (other stores) Some of us well probably all of us were not really excited about this b/c one reason is they were going to take 20% away from our hourly pay.But for any item we sold we would get 3%. Most of these items are around $45-$130.00.
    So get this after a few weeks of this we were actually making anywhere from $150-$200 extra on our checks. This really motivated a lot of associates to work harder. Well so much for that. We got a notice from our corp. office that they were suspending the commission program until further notice. I mean how fucked up is that shit ? :x

    And the thing is the store I work at is like 9% above last year :? Also they changed 35 -40 hrs being full time now 32 is considered full time. Don't get me wrong Im very thank full that I have a job right now considering other peoples circumstances but I just hate getting screwed.

    What? It's THEIR company. They can do whatever they want to you... that's capitalism. It's THEIR money and you should beg for the crumbs they are willing to throw you. If you all made more, it must have cut into their profits... and we all know what is the number one value above all else in a pure free market economy: profitability.
  • weenieweenie Posts: 1,623
    prfctlefts wrote:
    The company I work for decided to try paying us some commission + our wages in a a few test markets (other stores) Some of us well probably all of us were not really excited about this b/c one reason is they were going to take 20% away from our hourly pay.But for any item we sold we would get 3%. Most of these items are around $45-$130.00.
    So get this after a few weeks of this we were actually making anywhere from $150-$200 extra on our checks. This really motivated a lot of associates to work harder. Well so much for that. We got a notice from our corp. office that they were suspending the commission program until further notice. I mean how fucked up is that shit ? :x

    And the thing is the store I work at is like 9% above last year :? Also they changed 35 -40 hrs being full time now 32 is considered full time. Don't get me wrong Im very thank full that I have a job right now considering other peoples circumstances but I just hate getting screwed.

    What? It's THEIR company. They can do whatever they want to you... that's capitalism. It's THEIR money and you should beg for the crumbs they are willing to throw you. If you all made more, it must have cut into their profits... and we all know what is the number one value above all else in a pure free market economy: profitability.

    While we all know that greed rules, it just seems a little harsh to take away their commission AND reduce their hours IF the sales are actually up 9% over last year. In these difficult times, where one or the other member of a couple is either cut back or layed off leaving the "family" struggling, and the single person is totally fucked unless they have someone to go live with, a little compassion goes a long way.
    ~I want to realize brotherhood or identity not merely with the beings called human, but I want to realize identity with all life, even with such things as crawl upon earth.~
    Mohandas K. Gandhi

    ~I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulette I could have worn.~
    Henry David Thoreau
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    weenie wrote:
    While we all know that greed rules, it just seems a little harsh to take away their commission AND reduce their hours IF the sales are actually up 9% over last year. In these difficult times, where one or the other member of a couple is either cut back or layed off leaving the "family" struggling, and the single person is totally fucked unless they have someone to go live with, a little compassion goes a long way.

    Apparently you missed the sarcasm, given that I was responding to the guy that keeps ranting about how Obama's a socialist but now seems to think it's unfair that his boss is screwing him... I'm curious what he thinks a free market is if not the right for the boss to do whatever he damn well pleases while everyone else has to suck it up.
  • weenieweenie Posts: 1,623
    weenie wrote:
    While we all know that greed rules, it just seems a little harsh to take away their commission AND reduce their hours IF the sales are actually up 9% over last year. In these difficult times, where one or the other member of a couple is either cut back or layed off leaving the "family" struggling, and the single person is totally fucked unless they have someone to go live with, a little compassion goes a long way.

    Apparently you missed the sarcasm, given that I was responding to the guy that keeps ranting about how Obama's a socialist but now seems to think it's unfair that his boss is screwing him... I'm curious what he thinks a free market is if not the right for the boss to do whatever he damn well pleases while everyone else has to suck it up.

    You're correct.
    I have a bad habit of coming home, jumping on the old pc and picking right up from where I last posted rendering me oblivious to the nuances.... which are sometimes the best parts!! :D
    ~I want to realize brotherhood or identity not merely with the beings called human, but I want to realize identity with all life, even with such things as crawl upon earth.~
    Mohandas K. Gandhi

    ~I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulette I could have worn.~
    Henry David Thoreau
  • JeanwahJeanwah Posts: 6,363
    weenie wrote:
    While we all know that greed rules, it just seems a little harsh to take away their commission AND reduce their hours IF the sales are actually up 9% over last year. In these difficult times, where one or the other member of a couple is either cut back or layed off leaving the "family" struggling, and the single person is totally fucked unless they have someone to go live with, a little compassion goes a long way.
    PLEASE let me know when you hear of a CEO who has compassion for his employees and their personal lives. I'll be first in line to apply there. The two appear to be mutually exclusive.
  • oldermanolderman Posts: 1,765
    weenie wrote:
    Here are some of the problems with unemployment that those of you who are gainfully employed may or may not be aware of ...

    Second, many employers are using the economic downtown as an excuse to re-fill jobs that already existed, and are open due to turnover, at much lower pay rates. Not only are they paying lower wages, but they are requiring additional skills that were never considered part of that particular job description before. It's my opinion that the majority of these companies are not feeling any pinch from the economy and are just being greedy.

    AT&T is a prime example. Although AT&T reported a net profit of $12.9 BILLION (2008) :!: they reference the sagging economy for an excuse to attempt to lower wages and benefits. AT&T also fires reps with seniority by instituting new 'Sales Quotas' because AT&T does not give a damn about customer service. Truth.
    Down the street you can hear her scream youre a disgrace
    As she slams the door in his drunken face
    And now he stands outside
    And all the neighbours start to gossip and drool
    He cries oh, girl you must be mad,
    What happened to the sweet love you and me had?
    Against the door he leans and starts a scene,
    And his tears fall and burn the garden green
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    That's what I think too.

    I think there's going to be a real problem getting a second stimulus passed. I think it is needed, but it could be VERY difficult to pass both houses heading into a mid-term election year.

    Wouldn't it be a third?
  • SmellymanSmellyman Asia Posts: 4,524
    Republicans know it is going to take time and this is not Obama's doing, (at least the ones that aren't retarded) but its fun to blame while they can.


    Besides Reagan and Cheney told me debt doesn't matter.

    It always takes a Dem to cleanup republicans cut tax and spend policies.
  • weenieweenie Posts: 1,623
    olderman wrote:
    weenie wrote:
    Here are some of the problems with unemployment that those of you who are gainfully employed may or may not be aware of ...

    Second, many employers are using the economic downtown as an excuse to re-fill jobs that already existed, and are open due to turnover, at much lower pay rates. Not only are they paying lower wages, but they are requiring additional skills that were never considered part of that particular job description before. It's my opinion that the majority of these companies are not feeling any pinch from the economy and are just being greedy.

    AT&T is a prime example. Although AT&T reported a net profit of $12.9 BILLION (2008) :!: they reference the sagging economy for an excuse to attempt to lower wages and benefits. AT&T also fires reps with seniority by instituting new 'Sales Quotas' because AT&T does not give a damn about customer service. Truth.


    I can "testify" to this truth. Just try and talk to the correct person sometime if you have a problem with your ATT U-verse account. U-verse is awesome. Customer service is non-existent. When you call in with an issue, you are on the phone at least 30 minutes getting transferred all around the country to people who can't service your account. Fantastic product with absolutely no support.
    ~I want to realize brotherhood or identity not merely with the beings called human, but I want to realize identity with all life, even with such things as crawl upon earth.~
    Mohandas K. Gandhi

    ~I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulette I could have worn.~
    Henry David Thoreau
  • WaveCameCrashinWaveCameCrashin Posts: 2,929
    weenie wrote:
    While we all know that greed rules, it just seems a little harsh to take away their commission AND reduce their hours IF the sales are actually up 9% over last year. In these difficult times, where one or the other member of a couple is either cut back or layed off leaving the "family" struggling, and the single person is totally fucked unless they have someone to go live with, a little compassion goes a long way.

    Apparently you missed the sarcasm, given that I was responding to the guy that keeps ranting about how Obama's a socialist but now seems to think it's unfair that his boss is screwing him... I'm curious what he thinks a free market is if not the right for the boss to do whatever he damn well pleases while everyone else has to suck it up.

    Look soulsinging I know what a free market is ok. Im all for free enterprise.They can do what ever they want. I realize that. It doesn't mean it's right though. Haven't you ever heard of compassionate capitalism ? And another thing I'll go get another job before I fucking beg for anything or take any kind of hand out from the Gov...I was simply sharing my current situation at work. Some of your comments make you sound like a jerk.
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    prfctlefts wrote:
    weenie wrote:
    While we all know that greed rules, it just seems a little harsh to take away their commission AND reduce their hours IF the sales are actually up 9% over last year. In these difficult times, where one or the other member of a couple is either cut back or layed off leaving the "family" struggling, and the single person is totally fucked unless they have someone to go live with, a little compassion goes a long way.

    Apparently you missed the sarcasm, given that I was responding to the guy that keeps ranting about how Obama's a socialist but now seems to think it's unfair that his boss is screwing him... I'm curious what he thinks a free market is if not the right for the boss to do whatever he damn well pleases while everyone else has to suck it up.

    Look soulsinging I know what a free market is ok. Im all for free enterprise.They can do what ever they want. I realize that. It doesn't mean it's right though. Haven't you ever heard of compassionate capitalism ? And another thing I'll go get another job before I fucking beg for anything or take any kind of hand out from the Gov...I was simply sharing my current situation at work. Some of your comments make you sound like a jerk.

    No, I've never heard of compassionate capitalism because I've never seen it because it doesn't exist. We outlaw prostitutes. Why? Because lust run rampant is bad for society. We regulate and tax various products and goods. Why? Because gluttony run rampant is bad for society. But you advocate any sort of regulation upon private industry and people throw a fit, as if greed run rampant is not bad for society. And the fact is that humans are base animals that cannot be trusted to regulate their own behavior or behave compassionately on the whole. They will always be looking out for number one in pursuit of their own selfish desires. That is the inevitable outcome of capitalism. That is why I support intelligent government regulation of private industry, because those people cannot be trusted to regulate themselves and we need to protect those who would otherwise be exploited by them, just as we do with prostitution, drug laws, doctors, and child protection laws.
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    prfctlefts wrote:

    Wow, you found one company that claims on its webpage that it is humanitarian (every corporation has whole chunks of its website devoted to what a great "citizen" it is). The fact is, we currently grant rights to corporations that would never exist for a private citizen, and that is wrong. I'm not talking about tax loopholes, I'm talking about the inherent problem of granting an abstract, fictionally created legal entity powers that the citizens of this country could never dream of exercising. The corporate form is a privilege, not a right. It is a new invention, not a historic cornerstone of the free market. We badly need to overhaul our approach to all limited liability corporations and companies. I believe that it is not impossible to both make it easier and more profitable for such companies to operate at the same time that we rein in its tendency to abuse and excess and protect its workers and consumers. You don't have to choose between them. You just need to be willing to discuss it without the knee jerk reaction of "any restrictions on corporations is socialism and evil" or "all corporations are evil and should be destroyed."
  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    This is an over generalization, but It seems like the right end of the political spectrum views the world so black & white when talking about things in a broad sense and when they don't apply to them.

    The idea of compassionate capitalism runs along those lines... we all want our 401k's to be a profitable as possible, and for those companies that we hold stocks in to give us our best return on investment, and the right is always pushing for deregulation, but when we work for them, we want them to be more compassionate to their workers and are not as concerned with their profit margin.

    One of the early attacking points agaist the Sotomayer nomination was the idea that her bringing empathy to the court would ruin the rule of law... but you can bet your ass that if a friend or family member was charged with a crime, they would want the judge to show empathy in his/her ruling...

    Rush Limbaugh's comments about drug users and that they should be jailed, but changed his tune when his addiction came out...

    Same thing with gay rights... You never really hear people on the right with gay children speaking out against gay rights or gay marriage.
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • WaveCameCrashinWaveCameCrashin Posts: 2,929
    prfctlefts wrote:

    Wow, you found one company that claims on its webpage that it is humanitarian (every corporation has whole chunks of its website devoted to what a great "citizen" it is). The fact is, we currently grant rights to corporations that would never exist for a private citizen, and that is wrong. I'm not talking about tax loopholes, I'm talking about the inherent problem of granting an abstract, fictionally created legal entity powers that the citizens of this country could never dream of exercising. The corporate form is a privilege, not a right. It is a new invention, not a historic cornerstone of the free market. We badly need to overhaul our approach to all limited liability corporations and companies. I believe that it is not impossible to both make it easier and more profitable for such companies to operate at the same time that we rein in its tendency to abuse and excess and protect its workers and consumers. You don't have to choose between them. You just need to be willing to discuss it without the knee jerk reaction of "any restrictions on corporations is socialism and evil" or "all corporations are evil and should be destroyed."


    Yeah I know it's only one but the truth of the matter there's dozens more companies like that. Did you do any research on Timberland's web site or did you just look to see what I posted and drew your own conclusion. The North Face, Keen, Merrell, marmott are just a few also. Starbucks was the first company to ever offer part time employees full time benefits if Im not mistaken. My point is that not all capitalisim is the way you portray it to be. Yes I agree there does need to be some over sight to some extent though.
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    This is an over generalization, but It seems like the right end of the political spectrum views the world so black & white when talking about things in a broad sense and when they don't apply to them.

    The idea of compassionate capitalism runs along those lines... we all want our 401k's to be a profitable as possible, and for those companies that we hold stocks in to give us our best return on investment, and the right is always pushing for deregulation, but when we work for them, we want them to be more compassionate to their workers and are not as concerned with their profit margin.

    One of the early attacking points agaist the Sotomayer nomination was the idea that her bringing empathy to the court would ruin the rule of law... but you can bet your ass that if a friend or family member was charged with a crime, they would want the judge to show empathy in his/her ruling...

    Rush Limbaugh's comments about drug users and that they should be jailed, but changed his tune when his addiction came out...

    Same thing with gay rights... You never really hear people on the right with gay children speaking out against gay rights or gay marriage.

    Dick Cheney and his daughter.

    The abandonment of the moral platform on stem cell research by Nancy Reagan when it's HER husband that has Alzheimer's.

    There are many political stances of convenience that are easy to adopt but proven absurd when faced with reality. Honestly, a huge chunk of animal rights and environmental positions fall into this category as well.
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    prfctlefts wrote:
    prfctlefts wrote:

    Wow, you found one company that claims on its webpage that it is humanitarian (every corporation has whole chunks of its website devoted to what a great "citizen" it is). The fact is, we currently grant rights to corporations that would never exist for a private citizen, and that is wrong. I'm not talking about tax loopholes, I'm talking about the inherent problem of granting an abstract, fictionally created legal entity powers that the citizens of this country could never dream of exercising. The corporate form is a privilege, not a right. It is a new invention, not a historic cornerstone of the free market. We badly need to overhaul our approach to all limited liability corporations and companies. I believe that it is not impossible to both make it easier and more profitable for such companies to operate at the same time that we rein in its tendency to abuse and excess and protect its workers and consumers. You don't have to choose between them. You just need to be willing to discuss it without the knee jerk reaction of "any restrictions on corporations is socialism and evil" or "all corporations are evil and should be destroyed."

    Yeah I know it's only one but the truth of the matter there's dozens more companies like that. Did you do any research on Timberland's web site or did you just look to see what I posted and drew your own conclusion. The North Face, Keen, Merrell, marmott are just a few also. Starbucks was the first company to ever offer part time employees full time benefits if Im not mistaken. My point is that not all capitalisim is the way you portray it to be. Yes I agree there does need to be some over sight to some extent though.

    Then these companies should not be worried about government, because whatever oversight is imposed will not encompass them since they're already doing it. I wish every company were held to the standards adopted by Starbucks and the like. But the minute you mention that, people freak out about how we'll destroy all businesses and capitalism... when there is solid proof that if your PRODUCT is good, you will be just fine. The only places it's going to hurt are the mega-giants that sacrifice quality for quick and cheap goods that they can sell by eliminating all competition (I'm looking at you WalMart).
  • F5F5 Posts: 791
    prfctlefts wrote:
    Jan 08 7.6%
    Feb 8.1%
    Mar 8.5%
    April 8.9%
    May 9.4%
    June 9.5%

    In the past 4 months we have lost 2.5 million jobs. Obama promised to keep it below 8% if the Stimulus passed
    but it continues to grow. And what's worse is that his economist made a prediction that if it didnt pass it would get this high. :?
    http://databls.gov/PDQ/servlet/Survey/OutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=lns14000000
    Anyone who understands even basic economics knows that massive amounts of debt make things weaker not stronger. (perfect example California) Throwing massive amounts of money at a bad situation in no way fixes or solves the problem. In my opinion the 787 billion dollar stimulus package is a mistake. As americans our real focus should be to pay down our debts rather than increase them. By doing so it will strengthen our currency and make the United States once again an attractive investment for the rest of the world.
    Bridge - 10/25/03
    Mansfield I - 6/28/08
    Eddie NYC - 8/4/08
    Seattle - 9/21/09, 9/22/09
    Salt Lake City 9/28/09
    LA 9/30/09, 10/07/09
    San Diego 10/9/09
    Alpine Valley 9/03/11, 9/04/11
    Ashbury Park 9/18/21
    LA 5/06/21, 5/07/21
    Phoenix 05/09/22
    NYC 9/11/22
    Denver 9/22/22
  • WaveCameCrashinWaveCameCrashin Posts: 2,929
    Yeah california has big big problems. Correct me if Im wrong but they cant even afford to pay some of their state employees right now.
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