800,000 Jobless Americans to Lose Aid

USA Today / AP ^ | 12/28/2002 | AP Staff

[ex-Texan]

WASHINGTON (AP)

[clamper1797]

I'm single. AND a spouse may not be as well educated or experienced. What would YOU do if your husband could not work.

AND ANSWER MY QUESTION !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Republic of Texas]

You can go to school anywhere, but there are not always jobs everywhere. You go to where the jobs are. As the great philosopher Sam Kinison once said, "We have deserts, we just don't live in them!".

I used to live in Austin. It's great there. Nicer than Dallas. I would like to still live there. But the economy in Dallas/Ft. Worth is ten times the size of Austin's. So, I moved back. Haven't been unemployed since.

[clamper1797]

there are a LOT of us you have or have been out for a long time.

Boy ... that came out wrong ...

There are a LOT of us who are ... or were out of work for a long time. We know how you feel

[clamper1797]

BS ... well said

[Republic of Texas]

Hey, don't knock Burger King, I worked there as a kid.

See, you think it's beneath you to work at a restaurant, so you are unemployed. (hence the sarcasm about Burger King) I don't, so I was NEVER unemployed. (BTW, it's the Cheesecake Factory, I only work 2 days a week now, but let me know when you're in town, I'll buy you some lunch))

[clamper1797]

Is reading a real challenge for you ???

I'll say it one more time

On a good note ... after 9 months of hell, 88 recruiters and dozens of resume submittals ... I got a job in an electronics company doing something distantly related to my disipline. I was into my first extension, without which I would have gone hungry.

[Republic of Texas]

If you persevered, and triumphed, why are you so upset?

[Keith in Iowa]

I've been reading these various threads on this subject - and finally got so p*ssed off I'm nearly dehydrated. I can't believe the attitudes some people have - just because I'm on unemployment means I'm lazy, don't want to work, or am too good for a lower wage job...it's a load of bovine processed feedgrains. I'd take anything that paid a wage I could make ends meet. I have applied for positions from Minneapolis to Des Moines and many points in between. Of all the resumes I've sent out since the end of August, I've had a total of two interviews. It's damn frustrating - and then to get dumped on by people who have no freaking clue is even more frustrating. I may have to just ignore these threads from now on...

[Republic of Texas]

If you had gotten a temporary job, say at Burger King, fine burgers BTW, you would not have gone hungry, or come close to it. The only thing bruised would have been your ego.

[Republic of Texas]

If you've done EVERYTHING you could, to find ANY JOB available, then you have no reason to be angry with anyone. YOU know in heart if that's true. If it is, why are you angry?

[clamper1797]

As far as lunch ... ok. But I will buy. BTW I worked a Gulf service station midnight shift while I was in the military in Kingsville Tx... I worked as a midnight grocery shelf stocker to support me and my wife and did my college homework at lunch (4:00 AM) thru two of my degrees. So don't talk to about me about hard times or work being beneath me ... sonny.

[Republic of Texas]

"YOU know in heart if that's true"

I had Tarzan type that sentence for me.

[clamper1797]

and say I got a job at Burger King ... when exactly would I have time to interview at electronics companies ... especially in other areas like Boston or Orlando ????

[EGPWS]

If the economy is strong now, then I hate to see it if it got weak.

You apparently are too young to have seen the economy during J Carters tenure.

[Republic of Texas]

Thanks dad. If all that is true, you've got no reason to be mad at me. I just don't like socialism in any form. Extending unemployment is socialism. If it's such a great idea, then let's make unemployment permanent. It isn't, and we all know that. SOCIALISM ALWAYS FAILS.

[Keith in Iowa]

You must have missed it where I said, "I can't believe the attitudes some people have - just because I'm on unemployment means I'm lazy, don't want to work, or am too good for a lower wage job..." - I've tried my damndest to find work, and I have not had any luck so far - I'm taking classes to make myself more marketable - and see comments like 'why don't you move' etc... and it just torques me off.

[Republic of Texas]

Most of us have been there, and many made it without ANY unemployment. I did it, so did many others, so I know it's possible. Unless I am that much more special than you, and I doubt it, you can do it too.

[EGPWS]

SOCIALISM ALWAYS FAILS.

Very astute observation! So true.

[A. Pole]

Take care of the pennies, the dollars take care of themselves.

Penny-wise, dollar-foolish?

[clamper1797]

I know Keith ... these people are just young under-achievers who are actually enjoying the pain you are going though. You see ... seeing people like us suffer thru these hard times validates their decision to work at "cheesecake" factories or live off their husbands and not really have to work hard to achieve anything of real value. They have never and probably will never achieve anything that can't be readily and easily replaced. They have NO IDEA what it is to dedicate ones life to a career and spend a lifetime achieving it.

Arguing with them or trying to show them something past their simple and VERY limited abilities is like trying to discuss Quantum Mechanics to a 3 year old.