WHY I WILL NOT VOTE THIS YEAR

Myself -- | 4/6/2004 | migjagger

[Migjagger]

The following e-mail was sent to a friend who's an expert on certain political issues and editorializes (as I have) for many renowned newspapers--including The Wall Street Journal.

Dear friends:

Had a talk with a Chilean best friend this morning regarding Bush, etc. She believes that he won't get reelected because the economy (which the administration refuses to discuss) is in dire straights. They say that 350,000 jobs were added to the economy but over three million have been lost. This is insane! People I know are literally going crazy with worry.

I have to tell you that I've just about had it trying to survive from month to month. My saving grace is that I have a big house (although it's mortgaged) and rent the guest house out back and have a roommate. Not the most desirable situation, but there you have it. I need to work and find myself constantly looking for a job without ever finding anything that pays barely above minimum wage--like retail. Had to quit my retail job because being on my feet all day on upscale pumps and slides to comply with their dress code was killing me and my knee swelled up so much I couldn't put my foot down. I have reapplied to UCLA Law School in hopes that I can get some kind of job after I graduate--assuming I get accepted there because apparently everyone else has the same idea and UCLA has a huge and excellent pool of applicants. In the meantime I am trying like heck to get decent work. Looking for work and is depressing because since it's mostly done electronically, it's impersonal. Therefore, I never hear back from anything or anyone. It seems, you need contacts to get a job at McDonalds these days.

To illustrate my point, here's a note I got from someone from whom I was seeking some assistance in her large company's Human Resources Department.

"As I explained when we met I don’t have a local contact for hiring. I had suggested to you that you go on the internet and see what jobs are open. I did forward your resume to External Affairs, if they have and opening and exhaust internal applicants they will call you. Mine is a large organization and there is no local H.R. person that I can refer you to. But I thought I could send your resume off and you may get lucky. Try the website and see what they have open and good luck."

I tried the website and never heard back. You need a contact from within the company--any company--and this woman who wrote me back is not someone I know well at all--so that's the way it all goes.

Frankie lost his job at Disney a year ago and has been struggling by with free-lance and living off credit cards ever since. First time since age 14 that he's been out of work. This is the pits. With our academic and professional background (and related credentials) we should be able to at least get employment. Why is this happening?

Love --

Mig

[Migjagger]

Thanks for your reply. Most companies only list their email addresses. When you call personally they're cagey. It's very frustrating. The retail job I had has now instituted a "contract" that you have to sign. It tells you that if you don't sell a certain amount per week, you're out. This is abusive! Get a heart, people. I'm not the only one in this situation. Bush will NOT get reelected. Believe me. I will not vote for Kerry either, so I will refrain from voting for the first time in my life.

[cinFLA]

Are you not going to vote because you got an email???

[TheBigB]

Crapola and garbage. Lots of it depends on what you actually do! I was laid off in May of '02. Walked right into a better job two weeks later. I recruit for the biotech and pharmaceutical industry and let me tell you, I have companies knocking at my door looking for good people. We've recruited for nearly 200 jobs just since the beginning of the year.

[Richard Kimball]

That convinces me. None of the smart people are voting this year.

Sorry, but gimme a break. I've had work. I've been out of work. Even during the Jimmy Carter years, when unemployment was significantly higher than it is now, I've been able to find something to do. It may not be what I want to do, but it puts food on the table and pays the bills.

[bonfire]

"If you're relying on a South American woman for your information about the American economy and Dubya's electoral fortunes then I'd say that it is probably for the best that you don't vote."

DING DING DING!

[Wolfstar]

This is a personal statement.

1. Whatever happened to the FR rule against vanity posts?

2. Ask me if I care if you vote or not. [HINT: NO!]

[cyberaxe]

.....uhm.....

.....i didn't get "lucky" last night.....

.....so i'm not gonna eat today.....

.....(oh, and it aint personal!).....

[tractorman]

In what field are you looking for employment, technical, clerical, profession, labor, farming, what?

I don’t know if I buy this jobless scenario or not. Is it media driven?

Every Sunday, the local Milwaukee newspaper’s employment section has thousands of jobs available covering all of the categories that I listed above.

[American_Centurion]

Well obviously there's no changing you mind unless I get President Bush to personally call you and offer you a job.

Wait right there, I'm on the phone with him now.

Pleasssse! People whining about being unemployed is hockey! Whining because you have to freelance for a while! Geez! If life was really that tough, you would sell your house and move, instead you come here for a pity party.

Oh, this isn't an attack, its a personal statement.

[NCPAC]

You will not vote this year because you don't have a job? Hmmm,...perhaps if only those people who had jobs did vote, we'd have a much freer country. Maybe your idea of non-voting due to unemployment is one whose time has come.

Seriously, a non-vote is a pro-terrorist vote. Being unemployed in a basically free country still beats being unemployed while wearing a birka (with or without high heeled pumps).

[freeangel]

Geez, that was my first thought for this person also. We have friends who work for companies that are based in cali and their companies are getting ready to flee that state because of the hostile climate there. However, those who are willing to relocate will be keeping their jobs.

[anniegetyourgun]

Voting would undoubtedly take too much time away from your job search anyway.

[Skooz]

Bush will NOT get reelected. Believe me.

I'll bet you 1 million dollars that he will.

[Clifdo]

Just another personal statement - you are an idiot!!!

[bonfire]

Let me explain:

Her life sucks and it's all Bush's fault.

The end. :)

[small voice in the wilderness]

It doesn't matter what the Chilean woman says. What does Tova of Biloxi see in your cards? Puh-leaze. Get a grip and a clue.

[snooker]

Turn off that TV. Step away. You will be fine.

I will bet you feel better already.

[thoughtomator]

I'm not in an ideal situation, myself, but I'm not going to take out my frustration on the rest of the world by giving the Democrats the opportunity to win. Remember we're in a war for the survival of our civilization here. You're not going to get any job at all if you're dead at the hands of Islamists.

From an email address alone you should be able to figure out the physical location of the company, if not also the name of one or more people at the company. Do a domain lookup and find out the info you need. Perhaps doing so will demonstrate to prospective employers that you have a level of resourcefulness that can be useful to them.

You only need one "yes", so don't be discouraged by even a hundred or more "no"s.

[bonfire]

Do you take credit cards?