Tom Delay: People Are Unemployed Because They Want To Be

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by als463

Knight_Shadow, I agree. It can be tough. Keep in mind, though, that I just recently left my job in August 2009 (considering how recent you may consider that). Whether or not the country is in this economic slump, there are people who really don't try as hard as they claim they are trying.

Don't get me wrong, there are people out there doing what they can to find a job, but as a former caseworker and counselor I watched people play the system like some people play X-Box.

I'm glad you found a job. It sucks to be unemployed, but sometimes you have to take what comes your way, ya' know? I have also been working since age 14 (for a summer job, in PA it is legal).

There are other options out there. I remember how fresh out of college, I honestly applied at a Wendy's for a management position. The guy hiring me looked at me like I was crazy as he said, "You graduated from such-and-such school...with such-and-such degrees...and you want to work here? Why?" I explained that I was not above anyone else who was working there because I had bills to pay, just like everyone else. I showed up with a resume and a smile. I did my best at the interview and I was hired on the spot. This was in 2007 (when our economy totally sucked, as well). If you try, you can find SOME job-maybe not the BEST job, but it can be done.

I think we all know that there are people who are playing the system. They're more the exception than the rule.

I started working when I was 17 and was able to build up my resume very quickly. I had more experience than many people who had started before me. That doesn't matter, though, when 400 people are fighting for the same job. When I was looking, I looked at Target, Pizza Hut, and some other similar jobs (management and hourly). My previous experience spoke volumes to them, though. Even if I told them otherwise, they knew that I'd leave if something better presented itself. And this is in Texas, the state that's gotten hit the least.

Don't get me wrong -- I know that jobs are out there. There's just a bigger pool of candidates and now, people with degrees are fighting it out with people that don't have them.

I still don't see how people (not necessarily you, als) think that taking a mediocre job will allow job-seekers to support their families the way they used to with their mid-level jobs. Sure, it'll help, but a lot of folks think that being a cashier at McDonalds will make ends meet when you're used to making $50,000. It won't.

[als463]

Knight_Shadow, you have made some great valid points. I agree that putting a person with a family out in the part-time/ hourly world has to be tough. I do have to say, however, that if it came down to joining the military and feeding your family or saying you don't feel it is for you, then you need to really think about what is important.

I'm glad that this thread turned back into something with people speaking constructively about unemployment. I really didn't find it necessary to name-call Kevin because he disagreed with some of the other GCers. I agree with a lot of what he has said.

Knight_Shadow and KSUViolet, you both had some great points to add, too. MysticCat, I think you put some things into perspective well, also.

[knight_shadow]

I think the only reason this thread strayed was because he assumed that everyone's situation was the same.

And I hate to beat a dead horse, but again, the military is AN option, but it's not a reality for a lot of people. When I was considering the AF, many of the jobs didn't align with my learning style and interests (I have a business degree, but I've been a creative in many of my positions). That structure can be stifling for creatives (if they can find a job) or cause them to do a poor job in another position.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by als463

Solution: Why not consider checking out the military. As former military, I can tell you that, for the most part, the military is always looking to hire.

I love you hon, but oh hellz no. If there's a job I'm less suited for than health care, it's the military. I'd be dishonorably discharged approximately 3 minutes after arriving in camp.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I love you hon, but oh hellz no. If there's a job I'm less suited for than health care, it's the military. I'd be dishonorably discharged approximately 3 minutes after arriving in camp.

LOL

I wish you could talk to my dad so he could understand that I'm not the only one.

[33girl]

I don't do well with people yelling in my face, for any reason. I smack them.

Not only that, at this point, my butt is too old for the military. I'm sure there are people out there who would like to do it who don't meet the age or health requirements.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I don't do well with people yelling in my face, for any reason. I smack them.

Not only that, at this point, my butt is too old for the military. I'm sure there are people out there who would like to do it who don't meet the age or health requirements.

Both of my parents were military, so I had to deal with it my entire life. Since I've left home, my personality has shifted and won't allow me to sit back and "take it."

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

lol
o.k that was hilarious, but I do agree with a lot of what Kevin is saying.

We already know you have gnatitis brainitis.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

We already know you have gnatitis brainitis.

*Dead*

I can haz signature, please?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by als463

I don't really understand why everyone is taking what Kevin has said so personally.

For the same reason people respond to other discussions.

If I was to say that, unequivocally, rape victims precipitate their own victimization and are to blame for their circumstances, I'm positive many people wouldn't be thrilled regardless of whether or not they have ever been raped. That doesn't mean these people don't believe that some circumstances are preventable.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Just putting it out there moreso to say that if you are unemployed, hang on. You never know what is around the corner for you. Just keep at it.

That isn't really the topic, though.

Did als463 essentially post her resume`? LOL For the record, there are many things that younger people don't know that older people know through direct and indirect experience. Success at finding a job when you graduated from college in 2007 doesn't necessarily mean much. And what salary, experience, and resume` circulation mean for a relatively new college graduate is different than what it means for someone who has been out of college longer.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by als463

Knight_Shadow, you have made some great valid points. I agree that putting a person with a family out in the part-time/ hourly world has to be tough. I do have to say, however, that if it came down to joining the military and feeding your family or saying you don't feel it is for you, then you need to really think about what is important.

I'm glad that this thread turned back into something with people speaking constructively about unemployment. I really didn't find it necessary to name-call Kevin because he disagreed with some of the other GCers. I agree with a lot of what he has said.

Knight_Shadow and KSUViolet, you both had some great points to add, too. MysticCat, I think you put some things into perspective well, also.

This thread is circular and redundant. Nothing new has been introduced to the discussion in the last few pages.

It turned into a Kevin roast because he tolled the line between opinionated and asshole. It happens to the best of us. We'll spare our soapboxes if you'll spare yours.

[KAPital PHINUst]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Tom Delay made that assertion. I did not. I simply stated that welfare has to end at some point. These continued extensions of benefits are to the detriment of society... and yes, if an otherwise healthy individual runs out the clock on their benefits, I do think they ought to bear the burden of that and I do think they have to be somewhat complicit in their situation.

I think you're assuming facts not in evidence as well, counsel. I have stated over and over that at some point, the burden needs to shift away from society and back onto the individual. At some point, their plight is not my fault, nor should it be my problem. It seems we're in agreement there.

I don't think simplistic or real thinking is happening right now in Washington. At least nothing that is focused on cost/utility as it should be (unless the desired outcome is political capital).

In principal, I think that all transfers of wealth from public to private entities should be closely scrutinized. I think everyone outside Goldman-Sachs understands that in the long run, these sorts of relationships are arguably the precise reason for our current economic situation. (Fannie/Freddie anyone?)

What I'm sure of is that the status quo is not only not working out very well, it's rewarding complacency and inefficiency. That don't cut it in my book.

And those advocating for the status quo or for more governmental help when we're already way, way past being able to pay for that help are not advocating useful solutions even if those solutions are arguably workable in the short term. Selling out our future to make marginal improvements in the present is absolutely not a sound way of managing any crisis. Passing out more free money like this and not actually doing anything to reconfigure our systematic issues is only setting us up for a much more dramatic and much more serious failure than those in the past.

+1776

[als463]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

That isn't really the topic, though.

Did als463 essentially post her resume`? LOL For the record, there are many things that younger people don't know that older people know through direct and indirect experience. Success at finding a job when you graduated from college in 2007 doesn't necessarily mean much. And what salary, experience, and resume` circulation mean for a relatively new college graduate is different than what it means for someone who has been out of college longer.

Well, when Knight_Shadow asked what I had done with myself, I told him. I was showing that you can find a job if you really-really try. To sit there and say that "success at finding a job when you graduated from college in 2007 doesn't necessarily mean much," seems to go against this whole thread, doesn't it? You have people on here complaining that they attempted to find jobs as recent college graduates, but couldn't fnd a job. Then, there were people saying that they were "over-qualified" for jobs because of their college degrees, yet you think that finding a job right away is not a success?

Considering many people are talking about having trouble finding a job, I think it is very successful. To get technical, I graduated college in 2004 with my A.A., so I find it very successful to have worked up until I decided to go back to school. I put out tons of applications, so I realize the hard time people may have finding a job, but if you aren't willing to put out (at least 20 resumes a week) all over the place when you have been unemployed for more than a year, then you aren't trying that hard, in my eyes.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by als463

To sit there and say that "success at finding a job when you graduated from college in 2007 doesn't necessarily mean much," seems to go against this whole thread, doesn't it?....yet you think that finding a job right away is not a success?

I'm saying the same thing that knight_shadow said.