Posted on 04/23/2006 7:49:45 AM PDT by SmithL
One of my readers is an underemployed 59-year-old man from among us here in the South Suburbs. Call him Harry. He works in information technology. Slowly and wearily, he says: "Once you get past 50, I swear, it gets tough, it gets really tough."
For instance, Harry applied for a job with a city of Chicago department that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He got an offer for some contract work. There were no benefits, but it was a paying job.
A woman from the city called him one Monday morning and wanted to know if he could start at midnight. Harry said he'd like to give his current employer a week's notice. That wasn't good enough. The job was gone. The caller told him: "This is a brave new world. Learn to live with it."
(Excerpt) Read more at starnewspapers.com ...
"Most people who are laid off were productive members of their companies. The companies either no longer had work for them to do, or pretended not to, and then sent the work to India or China, or hired a new grad to do the same work (although probably not as well)."
Well said!
Most people don't realize how prevalent this is.
Motorola laid off 59,000 tech workers in 2002, and moved their plants to China.
They promised a resonable severance package IF you signed an agreement not to sue for age discrimination.
Beancounters do not have a good stick with which to measure the value of experience and competence in the tech world.
Therefore, what looks the cheapest MUST BE the cheapest!
But, alas, you do get what you pay for.
I go to a doctor who does just exactly that.
$50.00 flat office fee. Will not accept insurance.
Interstingly, office visits usually last 30 minutes and he LISTENS to what you have to say!
When I retire I'm doing the same thing. I'm moving out to the middle of nowhere. Someplace like rural Alabama, New Mexico, Nevada or Montana.
I don't look at it that way. More power too them. Some are better planners than others. Some had more opportunities. Life isn't fair. I read their posts though because there may be some good advise there to help me in the future if I don't get all huffy and blinded..
People who can't or won't accept responsibility for "their" actions or inactions are the ones that should make you "sick" if being "sick" is where you want to be.
Well stated! Of course your statement is one of the leading justifications for Communism (people who earn and save make others jealous/sick). Congrats!
(Tip: DU is at http://www.democraticunderground.com/ but you probably already know that, being a major donor.)
The dumbing down of America has been a huge success.
We, at least in attitude, have become the "Nanny State".
My SS is abysmally low. I live in Ocala, FL, horse capital of the world!!! My expenses including Medicare, Medigap insurance, utilities, etc., etc., etc., run about $1,200 a month - so unfortunately, I do have to work. The company I was invested in filed for bankruptcy after the Federal Government decided to look into them. Millions more than me including some of the best educated people (in the financial world) in the country lost their shirts - not that that makes me feel any better.
Now all you poor people out there stand by for a lesson on what you should have done.
And what is wrong with having a lesson on what you should have done? I am happy that I was able to learn from those who did well instead of just hating and envying them. As a result, I learned how to do the right things and I am now doing well for myself!
Only "growth" industries being govt., eldercare &drugs
the number of personal & corp. bankruptcies
stock market returns vs. interest rates
housing cost as a% of moly income
the ridiculous cost of a 4 year degree
job/career prospects for a recent coll. grad
the absense of personal accountability
the lack of business ethics/accountability
etc
Bowers'column is bound to resonate with older workers all over the country and it should serve as a warning to younger workers, as well. Those older downsized workers have, in many cases, contributed more to their companies than their employers, who are shortsightedly more focused on temporarily bettering the bottom line than they are on improving the overall outlook for their companies, are willing to acknowledge. Sadly, the combination of the lessening of the brain trust and the destruction of the morale for those workers who survived the cuts will likely result in the ultimate failures of the companies.
Ironically, the vision of 50-year-olds as dinosaurs does not conform to the reality of today's working force, many of whom plan to work well into their 70s. To discount and discard those experienced, proven, and loyal workers demonstrates an ignorance of current trends and an almost certain failure for the future.
Yep. It's not like life is over. It's never too late to start saving,and get out of debt. There are many good suggestions on this thread.
"Easily affordable". snort, eh?
There's a lot of that here. Some guy's getting old and on the one hand these folks tell him to "get a job" and on the other to "start a business."
We have some real ham handed conservatives here. The guy isn't a parasite, but they treat him like he is.
Yes, you're right on that one. And the govt. schools are really pushing the limits, teaching kids to be afraid of drawings of guns, etc.
I think (hopefully) that most of the people arguing on the other side are just wound up in it emotionally. I never argue against charity giving a helping hand - what better way than to have people who actually care help out. I'm not saying that the guy in the article is an idiot. He is probably like the majority of America (meaning the U.S.), like you and I said, who didn't plan very well.
Keep up with the latest technology or else you become like Harry.
How is it talking down to him to tell him to use it as an opportunity to do something better vs being a victim? Who needs a job like that? Find a job with a company that has a good work ethic, be your own boss. The options are limitless. Would it have been more conservative to say "Oh you poor thing. Let's take your SS and place you in a nursing home or on in government housing. You are to old to be working".
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