Unemployed at 62, his plight may be a sign of the times (Barf alert!)

bostonherald ^ | 3-11-03 | Margery Eagan

[F.J. Mitchell]

How Very, very liberalesque-So now a man who always saw his duty and did it, is a heartless man because he can find no common ground with a gutless man?

We raised great kids too-I would not change a thing about any of them. THey worked from a whole lot earlier age than fifteen, at whatever was available, just because they were independent minded-not of necessity. I always say they have turned out well in spite of me and my mistakes, not because of my guidance.

Our kids were too considerate to demand lavish weddings at the expense of our comfort in retirement. I pity the pathetic parents of such children.

[F.J. Mitchell]

30-40 years from now-not my problem- I will have moved on to greener pastures or eternal sleep.

[u-89]

I understand everything you said and do not argue with any of it but the effects of socialism - i.e. goverment action on our businesses can not be discounted or understated. High taxes, regluations of everything - labor, wages, safety, enviroment, medical coverage, family leave, etc, etc, and etc.

[u-89]

And my Grandparents were shot by Russian soldiers before they turned 40.

Interesting story. Just curious - where did they live at the time? Were they Russians, Poles, Germans, other? Was it war related or political? What happened to your parents after that?

[F.J. Mitchell]

And if these are not the kinds of Conservatives that look to run the Nation, we are going the way of the USSR, Red China, North Korea, Cuba and socialist France.

WE are truly our brothers/sisters keeper, but we are doing them no favor when we excuse the inexcusable and dignify their sloth.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Good point.

[Paulus Invictus]

At 62, I already had two new jobs after forced early retiremen at 58. I have had eight good jobs since and the only reason I left them was for a better one. I just did my final (?) retirement, but I suspect it won't last. I am still too happy by continuing to work for my needed living wages. If people are waiting for the SS checks to keep them happily in their present life style, they have a shock coming.

Those that don't prepare for retirement or surprise layoffs like this guy are fools. Reality time comes fast. Keep old Joseph's seven fat years followed by seven bad lean ones in mind at all times!

[CrazyIvan]

How old was Colonel Sanders? Somewhere close to retirement age. Probably didn't make Sargent til 40 or so.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

...in my business ethics class we learned that older employees are not as productive as the younger ones.

A class, no doubt, taught by a 26-year-old liberal who's still living at home and borrowing Dad's Bonneville.

[Nov3]

Not many DoD jobs here in Memphis but I will definitely look!

[clamper1797]

There are a lot (a real lot) of older people who are in the same boat. Most of the "posters" out here have NOT the life experience to know what it is like to be an older person who is thrown out of a job and a career that the older person has spent a lifetime building. Most have "throw away jobs that the older person can not get ... no matter what ... If it were not for my good friends .. I would NOT have made it either.

Though I don't wish evil on these smart arrogant ASSES ... I know that karma can be a bitch ...and they are VERY likely to find out.

[Nov3]

The arrogence of youth melts slowly with time..Most of these babies have not seen how quickly the tide can change.

Pride goeth before the fall! Some lessons are learned hard.

I have been graced in my life and I know it is not through my work. Others have worked much harder and smarter and have nothing to show.

[Dan from Michigan]

I could be crazy, but I think GATT and NAFTA and the visa game have all but killed us. This globalism crap looks like a disaster to me.

BINGO.

[Nov3]

I could be crazy, but I think GATT and NAFTA and the visa game have all but killed us.

Amen

[F.J. Mitchell]

I was referring to those DOD jobs offered through the recruiting offices of the USAF, USA, USN, USMC and USCG.

You may have passed the age of enlistment, I don't know, but a career in the Military is not all bad, and retirement bennies, while seldom coming even close to what the recruiter promises, are still pretty doggone good.

[clamper1797]

The age limit is 38 WITH prior service ... My good friend is a Rear Admiral and he could NOT get me in ... I'm to old

[Nov3]

You may have passed the age of enlistment

Long ago

[F.J. Mitchell]

Sounds about right. Even during the draft years of WWII, it seems the cut off age was younger than that.

Something is really puzzling about the employment stutuaton of today. Even though multitudes of reservists have been called to active duty and even though replacements in their positions would only be temporary, there seems to be no frantic search for replacements.

These are truly strange times we are living in.

[KC_for_Freedom]

They know what to do. That's important.

Quite true, many employees learn on the job and are very valuable, especially in industries like aerospace where hiring was gapped for many years. There will be mistakes because some of the young employees don't know how the tools they are using should be used. (Columbia is an example, although not due to the older employees being fired.)

[KC_for_Freedom]

There is a tech gap..but most of the people over 50 are still "trainable"..

It is important not to let a tech gap develop, but in many companies they actively sought to encourage early retirement until they realized the younger employees need mentors. That is how business used to be done. (From one who helped in the retraining probram.)