Posted on 03/02/2013 10:02:29 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
We think of the iconic images of the Great Depression as representative of a uniquely miserable period, long vanished from American history. The bread lines and soup kitchens of those abnormal times have gone. So, too, has the sight of thousands of men (there were very few women among them then) waiting all day outside a factory in a forlorn quest for work.
But they're there still, in the many millions across the country—little changed in their total since the 1930s: 12.3 million today are fully unemployed, compared to 12.8 million in 1933 at the depth of the depression. The difference is that now they're invisible, because we've organized relief differently. In our "recovery," the millions are being assisted, out of sight, by the government, through unemployment checks, Social Security disability checks, and food stamps. More than 47 million Americans are in the food stamp program, some 15 percent of the total population, compared with the 7.9 percent participation in food stamps from 1970 to 2000. Then there are the more than 11 million Americans who are collecting checks from Social Security to compensate for disability, a record. Half of them have signed on since President Obama came to office. Twenty years ago, one person was on disability for every 35 workers; today, the ratio is one for every 16. Such an increase is simply impossible to explain by disability experienced during employment, for it is inconceivable that work in America has become so much more dangerous. For many, this program is another unemployment program, only this time it is without end...
(Excerpt) Read more at usnews.com ...
For your website to market your work, use "wordpress", it's free and easy to learn.
Also, if you can draw nice vector art on a computer, you can set up to do a line of tee-shirts for free.
Install:
Inkscape (Free)
The Gimp (Free)
Then design some tee shrits on 1800x2100 pixel transparent backgrounds and put them up for sale on:
My friend has started selling shirts there and thus far is happy... here is one of his designs for St. Patrick's Day (NOT MINE!!!)
You sound like one of the few reasonable people on FR these days. Thanks for your response.
Recover by having the government “invest” in projects. Mr. Zuckerman fits right in at USNR. He has not a clue how the market actually works and thinks nothing works without the government making it work. I bet he thinks he is not a statist,
Re post 21, I just wish that all of America was composed of people such as you, people of ambition and a wilingness to work. You obviously also have no attitude of “poor me,” would someone please help me?
P.S. I also congratulate you on your skill in writing correct English. I don’t see that too much.
Speaking of correct English, it should be “poor me, would someone please help me?”
Misplaced quotation marks.
Yup, went from around $2.00 to near $4.00 /gallon in less than 6 months.
Leaving for Panama in seven days. Can’t wait to get the hell out. This country is becoming a horror show.
Yes you are correct. The housing was in a huge bubble. The bubble was created by Barney Frank and company who wanted every person wanting home ownership be given a mortgage loan regardless of their ability to pay. If banks refused the loans, they were threatened with serious investigations.
But the immediate cause was the collapse of the MBS & derivatives by Wall Street banks. If Glass-Steagall was still in effect, derivative gambles using depositor’s money would not be legal, and it is entirely possible the housing bubble may have just deflated slowly instead of bursting.
US News & World Report Magazine used to be and excellent magazine till Mortimer Zuckerman bought it in 1984 and made it into another liberal propagana rag like Time and Newsweek.
Consider moving to Houston, it’s getting wild and reminding me of 1975 to 1981.
Dust yourself off and come to Houston. All I am saying it’s really good down here. It’s the best it’s ever been.
I’ve lived in Texas and cannot tolerate the climate. Here, we measure rain by the foot and summers rarely get above 80 degrees, which suits me just fine. On the other hand, we have relatives who live in Texas and I’ve urged my nephew to relocate there, as he likes the climate.
There are jobs here in the Pacific Northwest. Employers just do not want to hire a 61-year old woman who hasn’t worked in a decade and has physical limitations. Moving to another region will not change that scenario.
(For more than ten years I was caregiver to my dying elderly parents and a young nephew. Family obligations ended last fall.)
My posting was about having disabilities but still being able to work plus employers reluctant to hire someone over the age of 50 years. If you have a couple of physical problems and are over age 50, your chances of being hired are remote. I don’t care what the law states: age discrimination exists.
The heat is a concern in Houston so I can understand. Not much you can do about the age and physical limitations. I wish you luck in your endeavors. No matter how bad the situation there is always opportunities available. I know nothing about you but I can tell you write very well and know how to operate computers. Companies need this kind of skill.
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