800,000 Jobless Americans to Lose Aid

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

[ex-Texan]

WASHINGTON (AP)

[Republic of Texas]

Again, glory nails it.

" What is it with high tech folks? I get the feeling many were just waiting it out on their EXTENDED benefits in hopes their fields would pick up again instead of actually getting training in another field just in case. Now they are crying when they didn't hedge their bets. "

[glory]

Great point. All this delayed a car purchase and we still haven't taken the plunge. Even with their problems, it's been so wonderful not to have a car payment. All that extra money has been working hard to pay off our debt. I can't wait to be debt free save for a mortgage!

[clamper1797]

Oh yeah that would be very intelligent ... have all our high tech people take positions in other fields. Sure ... and who's going to design our systems ... the Chinese, the Indians ? BTW I took a $25,000 pay cut Quite frankly ... IMO you don't know what your talking about

[clamper1797]

And neither do you !!!!

[glory]

I don't believe that--I'm sorry. Two of my sils are managment in a fast food chain. They count on EVERYONE being temporary so what do they give a rat's but if all the high tech employees end up leaving? My guess is that the high tech employees want 10 bucks an hour though when they are only paying 7 bucks.

[clamper1797]

I suggest you two read posts # 61 and 65 and then thank God he has been kind to both you arrogant asses

[Republic of Texas]

What happened in high tech has happened in EVERY emerging technology field since the industrial revolution. The weak companies and business plans get weeded out. Don't be such a baby. If you have to take a job outside your field for a while (God Forbid!), take it. We will always from now on need MORE technology, but that's not a guarantee that you will always be employed exactly where YOU want. You are definately not helping your cause by whining.

[clamper1797]

My guess is that the high tech employees want 10 bucks an hour though when they are only paying 7 bucks.

.... you guessed WRONG.

[clamper1797]

You didn't read my posts 361,#65 ... did you ??

[clamper1797]

That's #61

[glory]

Big deal, Bush looses credibility with each day and each pander he makes to appease democratic voters. I knew we should have been suspicious when he was able to work so effectively on both sides of the aisle in Texas(read he was able to talk out of both sides of his mouth in Texas).

[gieriscm]

I was laid off unexpectedly last year exactly one week before my wedding. I spent the next week bouncing between wedding plans and interviews.

Fortunately, I was offered another job, at a higher salary plus a signing bonus, the week after my husband and I returned from our honeymoon.

If I hadn't been offered another position in my field I would have worked wherever I could to make the mortgage payments.

[Keith in Iowa]

Finally - someone says it like it is. I only hope your final results happen for me sometime soon.

[glory]

I don't believe this. Are you sure you are not just talking about high tech jobs want ads? Seems both Phoenix AND Columbus(two places I've lived in the last 18 mos and 2000 miles apart) still had pretty hefty want ads, but yes the high tech has lost want ads, but other jobs still have as many needs as others. Moral of the story--retrain and move! Back to you...

[clamper1797]

Here's the bottomline again ...pay special attention to points 3 thru 5

The bottomline of this rant is ...

1. Unemployed high tech workers are NOT bums looking for a hand out. Their jobs have been stolen from them by H1B's who have NO business in our country taking our jobs just so some greedy company can make an easy buck.
2. H1B's can work for minimum wage because they DO NOT have to live in THIS society when they leave. It is NOT a level playing field for the American worker.
3. Lower wage paying companies are NOT going to hire highly (over) qualified people. AND if a high tech worker aws lucky enough to land a low paying job, he would NO LONGER be available to interview for high tech jobs if they became available cause he is now flipping burgers in Podunk (where the jobs are).
4. The next industry hit by this could EASILY be yours ... so get off your arrogant assinine high horse (not talking to you personally John)
5. Most of these high tech workers have spent a lifetime building their lives and are NOT likely to give them up before the situation becomes critical ... we HAVE been though downturns before, BUT in high tech this is NOT a repression ... as the media recently reported, it is a high tech DEPRESSION. No one could have anticipated the level that this has reached.

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]

I don't have to read your posts to thank God for what I have. So Krispy Kreme wouldn't hire you? I suppose that's it for the job market. Just give up. Why would they if you went in with your arrogant attitude. "I have 5 degrees and as soon as tech picks up I'm outta here!". What idiot would hire you? FYI, Krispy Kreme is one of the best companies in the country right now. Maybe if you'd shown commitment to them, they would've returned it. Or maybe you could keep looking.

I have, lets see...0 degrees, maybe I'm not as burdened with my own importance as you. I have no trouble finding a job when I really want one.

[glory]

That's standard for retail--big deal. They will be hiring, just not during inventory in the beginning of the year.

[clamper1797]

How old are you ???

[maxwell]

"biweekly check of $574"??! Hells bells, that's what I make in half a month...

[glory]

whoops, beat me too it. You are right, retail does this when the holidays are over. It's very standard stuff..