Posted on 08/17/2010 7:43:02 PM PDT by Nachum
Glenn Beck has a message for the chronically unemployed: You're a bunch of un-American losers. The Fox News host thinks some 99ers — those who have used up their 99 weeks of unemployment benefits—should be embarrassed to call themselves Americans (Snip) "Go out and get a job," said Beck. "You may not want the job. Work at McDonald's. Work two jobs. There has been plenty of times in my life I've done jobs I hated, but I had no choice. Two years is plenty of time to have lived off your neighbor's wallet."
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
>>You’re robbing Americans of work by outsourcing to Mumbai, then bitching and carping at us because we don’t have work here? You are beneath contempt. God forgive you for your vanity and pride.<<
It is a global world (OK, that is a bit redundant). I can get developers in India for $20/hr vs. $150/hr here (not my call btw — my company is in the drivers’ seat).
Software development has become a commodity like adding upholstery to a car or chair. I am sorry, but the reality is that the value local resources (people) bring is not in the construction of the product but in designing what is to be produced and coordinating/facilitating the process.
In today’s world “programmers” are a dime a dozen. Understanding the business problem and instantiating it in an understandable way — that is where the value proposition comes in.
No offense to developers here, but a “programmer” in the ERP world is like the guy who used to put feathers on the end of quill pens.
It is a fact of life.
I am not sure of the formula, When I was unemployed 11/08 I qualified for $493. However I had a six figure income when I was (involuntarily Separated) from that position.
In Ohio at that time Max benefits where 79 Weeks, Not sure what it is now. My personal situation has limited me to two or three days a week working as independent Insurance Agent. Luckily I have had over two decades in personal sales and with proper motivation can make very good money in a few hours a week.
What most people do not understand is that not everyone has the proclivity to do several different forms of work over a career., regardless of desire.
The loss of reasonably paying low skilled jobs has lead to a great deal of unreported unemployment. The U-6 rate is at 17.5% or higher and the true unemployment rate when forced early retirement, underemployment and loss of people in the job market are calculated, the true UE rate is around 22%. This is a depression.
The fact is that NOBODY is immune. I spent several years honing my craft, had career path that put me at the top of every sales position I had ever had. Won every conceivable sales award, trip and spiff, and never went a month without a head hunter or an offer from a legitimate company didn't come to me. Since ‘08 I have had 1 phone interview for a job that didn't exist. The person was hoping that he could bring me on if things picked up. He has since lost his job and the company has attrophied to an extent that it barely exists anymore. You may think you are immune, you may not have to find out, but unless you have a job in the government, or have a multimillion dollar portfolio, you are just a short trip to humility. There is always someone better, smarter, younger, or just good enough and willing to work for much less than you are.
NO MATTER HOW SMART OR GOOD YOU THINK YOU ARE!
... and unfortunately taking that Taco Bell position ruins your chances of re-establishing those career opportunities you seek. The system is completely screwed... as are those who are underemployed.
So if I understand you correctly, anyone who is currently unemployed is lazy? Please correct me if I'm misunderstanding.
Yep...I have to agree and it’s going to get worse...heck even the Gulf oil people went overseas! The buzz word is the USA is fast sinking and if a company get out as fast as possible...and they certainly are doing that....too many regulations and taxes for companies to survive here when they can go overseas and just work their company without the headaches. Can’t say I blame them....they have to survive as much as the man on the street.
I share your distaste for freedumb’s prideful words but the outsourcing he does has become almost a requirement in many fields. If you don’t do it, competitors will get a leg up and then you will be the one out of work. US tax and monetary policies along with those of China and India act to subsidize offshoring. These international trade protocols create an irresistible draw of American jobs overseas. That is the giant sucking sound Perot was talking about.
Chinese and Indian governments intentionally foster domestic employment while our government intentionally destroys it. freedumb is just one foolish cog in a giant machine. Put the blame on traitorous elites who set up the system.
>>NO MATTER HOW SMART OR GOOD YOU THINK YOU ARE! <<
That is sort of the point of the networking thing I was mentioning earlier. I keep those headhunters in the loop and keep with people with whom I had mutual and successful relationships. About once a month I hear “If you are tired of where you are, we always can make a spot for you here.”
Of course, it may come to pass that no such statement is forthcoming. That is why I work so hard on my skill set — to let these people know that I have knowledge that is difficult (or, quite frankly, near impossible) to cultivate within their organizations. I share this freely and make myself available to answer calls to unstick sticky wickets for them.
Yes, it cuts into my personal time (hey, I could be FREEPING! lol) but I consider it an investment, not just in my career but because I think it is the right thing to do (Karma?). I have been told by these people I have saved them tens and sometimes hundreds of hours (I sometimes do Show and Tell on unpublished techniques).
I hope this post was a more measured description of what I mean by “keeping my tools sharpened” and “networking.”
It is why I feel confident that I am OK where I am but also have a lot of other options. I offer it as a model that may work for some.
And as you say, you never know — them contacts could dry out in a day. Take nothing for granted.
My daughter’s situation as well. She had a good job and had been with the company for 10 yrs.
Just after she went to work for them a Canadian company bought them. They had small layoffs every year which she was lucky enough to dodge. Then in March 2009 they had their last layoff (a big one)and she got the hammer.
The week after that her divorce became final. She can’t leave the state because she shares custody of her 4 yr old son.
She was unable to find a job by the time August rolled around so she went back to school to become a Respiratory Therapist. Has one year under her belt.
>>So if I understand you correctly, anyone who is currently unemployed is lazy? Please correct me if I’m misunderstanding. <<
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. From what I hear on radio and TV — anecdotal so I have no source: take what you will from it — people who lose their unemployment benefits get jobs much more rapidly than those who continue to receive those benefits.
I guess it is up to the reader to draw whatever conclusions flow from that (or to discard it in its entirety).
The bottom line is, you’re taking jobs out of this country to bolster profits. You’re removing jobs from the American economy and then, you hypocrite, you complain about people who are out of work. Do you not even see how loathsome this is? The outsourcing is bad enough, but to chastise others for being unemployed, to call them lazy and insult them in other ways, when their problems are directly or indirectly caused by people who do what you do—this makes you worthy of everyone’s disgust. I see what liberals do all the time, but your behavior has earned you the contempt of everyone who is reading this thread.
Your health problems are no excuse. Many of us have serious health problems but we do not behave as you do. The most charitable interpretation anyone can put on your behavior is that you’re whistling past the graveyard, knowing that if unemployment and destitution could happen to other people who are as good as you are, it could happen to you, too.
Here's one for you: One of my best friends is a PhD. chemistry professor. He interviewed for a position at a college in the Mountain State area about 5 years ago. His main competition was a husband/wife couple from Eastern Europe who were willing to split the one salary slot between them.
Guess who got the position?
Two for the price of one.
My daughter-in-law is an ace Er trauma nurse. She has stated the overseas employees coming in are not educated enough from their countries to do the job when hired...so everyone else has to constantly do their work...the culture shock and often broken English creates communication problems in an environment that needs focus etc...peoples life's are at stake.
I am certain other companies have seen this as well...construction...etc....though they can get the people here from other countries...and for less money...the costs to the companies is far more as the good help leaves because they are doing the work of two...the foreigner drags their feet for reasons mentioned.
I understand that some managers may not have a choice about whether corporate HQ decides to outsource. But to be part of outsourcing and then to criticize Americans for being out of work is reprehensible. The hypocrisy is breathtaking. If I had to be part of outsourcing I’d shut up modestly instead of crowing to others about my triumph and prosperity and insulting them because they hadn’t done as well.
I was a bit strong (and an sorry for that) but the essence of my words are meant to be prophetic:
* Do not rest on your laurels -- expand, extend and keep current your knowledge base ON YOUR OWN TIME!
* Keep your network alive -- offer substantive help to people in that network!!
You improve your chances in an uncertain future if you follow these 2 simple rules. Of course, make sure you consistently deliver value to your existing employer to keep your current spot and progress in your career path. Sitting in one place gets you run over.
India and China undervalue their currencies compared to the dollar. The IRS will tax the profits or incomes of American programmers while letting off-shored Indians go tax-free.
If the tax burden was shifted from domestic to offshore employment, that would result in more US jobs.
This was a heartless thing for Beck to say. If he saw his family hurting, he would be first in line to get his check.
I don’t have to draw conclusions, I read you loud and clear. And I can tell you that the $235 a week I get in unemployment hardly buys groceries for a family of 5. I can assure you I’d MUCH rather be working and drawing a paycheck than watching my life and my childrens lives, go down in flames just so I can sit on my ass and draw all that unemployment. Your a class act.
I am not sure you are getting what happens with outsourcing. These are vocations that can be accomplished anywhere by pretty much anyone. I am advising (clearly I framed it badly) that people here in the USA be the person who coordinates that effort. Outsourcing isn't magic -- it takes a lot of care and feeding.
And yes, I am proud of the fact I have successfully led outsourcing projects in the past and am doing so now.
Programming is a dead-end "career." Directing programmers is the one of the few remaining viable IT careers in the ERP (Financials, Payroll, etc.) arena.
>>I don’t have to draw conclusions, I read you loud and clear. And I can tell you that the $235 a week I get in unemployment hardly buys groceries for a family of 5. I can assure you I’d MUCH rather be working and drawing a paycheck than watching my life and my childrens lives, go down in flames just so I can sit on my ass and draw all that unemployment. Your a class act.<<
I am interested in your proposed solution. Are you proposing the government continue to provide subsistence endlessly?
I am not mocking you — it is a thorny issue. What is your proposal?
I lived through the L.A. riots and perhaps some of what you are saying is true. But remember after three days of riots, they called out the National Guard and started shooting rioters. We forget what happened to thieves and murderers in the 30's, they got punished harshly. People will sit on the curb, because a man with an army rifle will kill them if they don't.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.