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]

Thank you. I see that you are in the minority in that people just want to hurl insults. They're angry at heavens knows what. Too bad. Personal exchanges are more important than grandstanding. Too bad people don't read things carefully before the attack.

[BigSkyFreeper]

If a person loses their job, it's their responsibility to find a job, not the President's responsibility, or mine.

[APFel]

Go to nursing school. There is still a shortage of nurses, and the job pays well. Sometimes you have to reinvent yourself in order to be marketable. This is no different than any other time in American history where the employment market shifts. Find a way to go where the jobs are, don't wait for them to come crashing through your ceiling. It won't happen.

Secondly, this is probably not the appropriate forum to discuss this. A lot of people here believe in the bootstrap philosophy-- Don't stay unemployed because certain jobs are Benito you. Go out and deliver pizzas until something better comes along. Your friend who is living off of his credit cards is shooting himself in the foot with a howitzer. Tell him to go flip a burger or two until the job market changes.

Trust me, I have been where you are. You may have become accustomed to a certain level of comfort in your lifestyle, but you will have to make adjustments in order to survive (or at least go without 20,000$ in credit card debt).

Good luck.

APf

[Lucas McCain]

This is one of the stupidest posts I have ever read.

You want us all to know that you aren't voting for the president, but you didn't explain why. Or why anyone should care.

[denfurb]

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
I would assume that you were making a pretty high income in order to have a home with no mortgage and a guest house. I'm not knocking that at all. It is more difficult to replace a high income with a comparable income that it is to replace, say, a 40K income. You just may have to find work in another field. Also, if you can't make it now, how will you pay for additional education and food/clothing/essentials? How will not voting improve your prospects?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I hate to be the harbringer of bad news but if there are NO jobs why are so many Mexicans flooding the borders looking and finding work?

Are you registered to vote or are you just using the current economic situation for an excuse to KEEP OFF JURY DUTY which is the REAL reason as jurys are made up of registered VOTERS!

My worthless brother-in-law has not worked in 24 years and claims he can't find work. He accidentally admitted one day that he quit work in 1980 so as not to pay taxes to Ronald Reagan who thrashed little Jimmy Carter. He has never looked for work since.

[canalabamian]

?...scratching head...blink...yawn...the sound of my mouse clicking to next thread

[Shryke]

It's unfortunate that you cannot find that job you are entitled to. After all, aren't we all entitled to success? Isn't the government and the President there to make sure we all get our entitlements? What kind of President, like GWB, would ask his desperate voting public to....take responsibility for their own situation? What kind of country is this?!?!?!</libmindset off>

I went without a job for a year. Re-educated, now gainfully employed and enjoying myself tremendously. This is America - best place to be. Choose to work or don't, but don't lay blame at other's feet.

[Servant of the 9]

I would say the reason you have no job is that you are plainly delusional.

The economy is strong.
Unemployment is under 6%, call me when it gets to 10% and I'll start to worry.

The Democrats have spent a year trying to sell the idea of economic disaster, and you have bought it, because you are one of the few in trouble.

So9

[dirtboy]

How long have you been registered? People have always voted their pocketbooks.

And pundits are always overstating the impact the president has on the economy.

Just because a bunch of people do something, it doesn't mean it's correct or smart. That's why 34 percent of the population are registered Democrats.

[Texas Federalist]

The president has minimal power to affect natural economic fluctuations with policy. Just because the economy is slow, doesn't mean that Bush didn't make things better than they otherwise would have been.

If you go to the emergency room with a broken arm, you don't fault the doctors because your arm's still broken when you leave.

[Southack]

OK...so you don't like your job (or can't get one) and you don't vote.

What precisely are *you* doing to improve your personal situation...because I don't see how any of the above helps you in the future?!

[Blue Screen of Death]

Perhaps employers are looking for rational, clear thinking employees that derive their conclusions from reasonable sources.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Actually, not voting is brilliant. If you withhold a vote for Bush and effectively help elect John Kerry, your troubles are over. With the 10 million jobs he'll create, you are bound to get one of them.

Why hasn't every unemployed person figured this out?

[agincourt1415]

Agree applying Online is going to get you NO WHERE and you need to make contact personal contact, and if you don't have a job get any job that is offered at any wage and keep looking.

[JLS]

The latest BLS unemployment rate data for Los Angles is for February. According to the BLS the unemployment rate in LA is 6.1% which is a bit above the national average.

This means that 93.9% of all people in the labor force in LA have jobs. This person seems oddly focused on someone else giving them a job even if for example they go to law school. Maybe that is natural as the admit great wealth and rental income as a property baron and as such might not want to risk that wealth creating their own job by starting a busines.

Having non-wage income is well known to make someone more selective about what type of job they take. Their wealth and rental income is likely what is keeping them in the 6.1%. They even admit to being able to get jobs, they think they are too good for. That is another sign they view themselves as a member of the landed gentry. They really think they are too good to work, but do not have quite enough wealth to stop looking for work it seems.

BTW,according to the BLS in November 1996 when Clinton won reelection the LA unemployment rate was 7.4%.

[onyx]

You have pitifully convinced yourself you're helpless.
You're a "victim."
Heal thy self.
Grow up.

[dirtboy]

They're angry at heavens knows what. Too bad.

Angry? No, we just have a low tolerance for inanity here.

[BigSkyFreeper]

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.

Same here, although I do kind of like working from home, being my own boss, there are days when I am not making any money. At least for me, being single, without kids, it's easier at this point, until something better comes along.

[chuckcam]

ditto