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

[BigSkyFreeper]

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

Oh, he/she explained. It's just a lame excuse.

[deport]

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.

---

Gosh another one that wants to be fed at the teat....

I've never had a job that if I didn't produce I'd be kept on..... What do you expect the company to do? Pay you, provide benefits, etc. whether you contribute to the bottom line or not..... Would you pay someone that wasn't making you some profit?

[Migjagger]

I served on jury duty about three months ago. Gosh are there bitter people here. I'm taking a leave.

[anniegetyourgun]

Well, since you put it that way.....

; ]

[aruanan]

People made stupid economic decisions all the time. For instance, I know of someone who was a purchaser for Motorola in Phoenix. He and his wife had a nice lifestyle. He got wined and dined a lot by folks wanting to do business with Motorola. Very shortly after he got laid off by Motorola, he was offered a job by Honda as a purchaser for a higher salary as well as a company car. He didn't want to leave Phoenix for Ohio. I don't think he even told his wife about the Honda offer. After being unemployed (because he didn't want to work for less money than he used to get at Motorola) for a couple of years, he took a job for about 2/3 what he had gotten from Motorola. Now he's laid off from that place. All that trouble that could have been avoided if he had taken the Honda offer. Did he suffer because the economy did something bad to him? No, he suffered because he was unwilling to move. Everything that happened thereafter found its primary cause in his choice not to move.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I have to tell you that I've just about had it trying to survive from month to month.

Ohhhh YAAAAAH! People never had to live from month to month until Bush got into office.

Why, I remember during the Clinton years...there were bags of money just sitting on my front steps when I went out for my morning paper. All I had to do was pick them up and take them to the bank.

Gimme a break.

[hellinahandcart]

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!

You're not working for them anymore, so how is it abusive? You do plan to actually sell things and not just collect a paycheck and take up space, right? Find an establishment that offers merchandise you can sell without trouble. They don't all require high heels. I had twenty years of experience in retail, and I know this for a fact.

Of all the reasons I can imagine not to vote, the employment policies of private companies don't even make the list.

[InvisibleChurch]

1. smaller house

3. see a doctor about the swelling

4.get rid of the internet + plus its cost and all other non-essential items/goods from around trhe house

5. hoof it from business to business...make it personal

[Rhetorical pi2]

No personal attacks from me Mig. If you cannot find employment, you have my sympathy.

However, a bit of critique may be in order:
You write in a rather disjointed way. If you express yourself in your resume' in the same manner, it may be off-putting to the person reading it.

You say you have checked Monster.com for jobs and nothing is there. However, the last time I looked there were a number of listings!

It's apparent you have a degree, but you don't say in what field. If you have applied for acceptance into law school, apparently your major was in pre-law. If you only applied to UCLA, then perhaps you should expand your horizons and apply to other schools. (Hell, apply to EVERY school!!)

You own a house large enough for a tenant in addition to yourself, and you also have a guest house. This would indicate that you have had a good income in the past - but from what endeavors.

Have you considered jobs not requiring your education for the time being. You can earn enough to "get by" driving a truck, and there are hundreds of ads for those positions. How about automobile sales. It's not you dream job, but if you have the persuasive skills to be a successful attorney, you could certainly sell cars!

(I realize that moving from used car salesman down the social/career ladder to attorney would be a difficult transition, but you may discover the right car to buy to chase ambulances.) :o)

Give those of us who are interested more background. And don't worry about voting - the last thing we need is somebody voting without a political philosophy - only voting for self interests. Bummer!

Good luck in your career search.

[dirtboy]

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.

Heck, you might even be able to get enough of them to make a living wage...

[InvisibleChurch]

are there even 10,000,000 unemployed people out there?

[Migjagger]

Re-read the e-mail.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I served on jury duty about three months ago. Gosh are there bitter people here. I'm taking a leave.

Bitter? Hardly. Some of it may come off as bitterness, but you're not taking it as it is, constructive criticism of your decision not to vote for Bush.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Does Bush know about this Chilean woman? He really should give up on the fundraising apparently. You should e-mail him.

You editorialize for many renowned newspapers?

[Not A Snowbird]

I understand your situation, but why are you choosing not to vote?

[humblegunner]

So by not voting for President Bush, you subtract one opponent of Kerry.

Bleedin' brilliant.

[Rhetorical pi2]

No personal attacks from me Mig. If you cannot find employment, you have my sympathy.

However, a bit of critique may be in order:
You write in a rather disjointed way. If you express yourself in your resume' in the same manner, it may be off-putting to the person reading it.

You say you have checked Monster.com for jobs and nothing is there. However, the last time I looked there were a number of listings!

It's apparent you have a degree, but you don't say in what field. If you have applied for acceptance into law school, apparently your major was in pre-law. If you only applied to UCLA, then perhaps you should expand your horizons and apply to other schools. (Hell, apply to EVERY school!!)

You own a house large enough for a tenant in addition to yourself, and you also have a guest house. This would indicate that you have had a good income in the past - but from what endeavors.

Have you considered jobs not requiring your education for the time being. You can earn enough to "get by" driving a truck, and there are hundreds of ads for those positions. How about automobile sales. It's not you dream job, but if you have the persuasive skills to be a successful attorney, you could certainly sell cars!

(I realize that moving from used car salesman down the social/career ladder to attorney would be a difficult transition, but you may discover the right car to buy to chase ambulances.) :o)

Give those of us who are interested more background. And don't worry about voting - the last thing we need is somebody voting without a political philosophy - only voting for self interests. Bummer!

Good luck in your career search.

[BigSkyFreeper]

are there even 10,000,000 unemployed people out there?

There isn't even 3 million unemployed as the Democrats have been saying. The number is far less than that. Bush inherited nearly half of the number of unemployed the day he took office.

[WVNan]

Mig, get some sensable shoes and go get a job waiting tables in a restaurant. You can do better on tips than you can as a retail clerk. All that walking and lifting will also make you healtier and you will feel better. You are sitting around feeling sorry for yourself. Get out and DO something. BTW, a church is a good place to make contacts with caring people.

[Diddle E. Squat]

IIUC, you are saying that you will not vote for President Bush because you are having a tough time finding a job in your field of choice, and are of the impression that others are too. Is that correct?

If so, then what exactly would you have (or have had) President Bush do to change that situation? What do you think a 'President Kerry' would do differently that would change that situation? How exactly will not voting for any candidate in this Presidential election change the situation?

You have 3 choices (vote B, vote K, don't vote), which one will improve your odds of finding a job, and specifically how and why? If you can't answer that question with realistic and logical specifics, then it sounds like this is just a counterproductive venting/pouting exercise, but with potentially extremely serious long-term ramifications that could hurt not only you, but your family, offspring, neighbors, and countrymen. Is it valient to threaten to shoot a hole in the lifeboat because you are unhappy?