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Wendy’s Story - Cleveland Jobs Challenge
I wrote an article
recently that was critical of Congress’s action to pass a bill
extending unemployment benefits. My primary objection was that our
lawmakers chose to pass yet another deficit spending bill and used the
“emergency” loophole that eliminates the need for Pay Go.
I got lots of feedback from this. Everyone hated my position. Some said
that we needed a $500b deficit package (ala Krugman) and that my
objection to a lousy $34b was misguided. Others said that there should
be no extension of UI at all. A good number suggested that I was a
heartless S.O.B. that had no idea what it was like to be unemployed in
America today. The later group got to me. I have had an exchange of
emails from one person that is facing a wall. She is from Cleveland. Her
name is Wendy. Some comments from her:
I was
wondering.... Have you ever been scared, really scared?
You
speak about H.R. 5618 because it is adding to the debt of the country.
My thought is you are so self absorbed that you would stop reading
this email right now because "unemployed Americans are not worth it"
Have another martini in your condo in Miami and rest easy knowing
you will never be me. Make sure your children and grandchildren know
what you are and what you believe, maybe they already know dad is a
selfish cruel Bastard who believes money is the most important thing.
Thanks to people like you I will continue to go to bed scared of
tomorrow. Sleep wellWendy,Children: Jessy and Parker
I
live in Cleveland, Ohio and am the sole supporter of my children. We
can't pay the mortgage, utilities etc. today. The point for those like
me there is no future- we have to get through today- eat, clothing- I
can't buy detergent today.
I
am a Special education teacher with my Masters degree-- with out a job.
I did what the President said, "go back to school". I took out loans
and studied hard to fulfill the dream of being a Special Education
teacher. I don't want a hand out, just a hand up.
I have to admit that this exchange got to me. There have always been
people like Wendy who fall through the cracks. But we have not been
through times like the ones we are living through for 80 years. I feel
sorry for Wendy, I wish she and all the other Wendy’s did not have to
wake up feeling scared. I would like to help her get a job so she could
get through this period. I know no one in Cleveland and I doubt that the
great state of Ohio is hiring any teachers these days. So she is out of
luck.
Possibly someone can help her. I would like to provide some inducement.
Here is my proposal:
I will put up $6,000 in cash. $3,000 goes to the employer as an
incentive to hire Wendy. No strings attached to that. If a job is
offered and accepted they get the money. They can do with it what they
wish. The other $3,000 goes to Wendy. She gets the money when she takes
the job. This is no freebie.
There is a caveat to this. The job that is offered must provide
compensation to Wendy that is equal to or greater than the unemployment
benefits she is getting. I would like to see that there were health
benefits available at some point. She needs that. The goal here is to
get one person back to work and one less person unemployed. The goal is
to minimize the fear factor. That is no way to live.
So Cleveland, do you have a job for Wendy? If anyone wants to see the
color of my money I would prepay it to one of the Cleveland media to
hold pending a job offer. I have nothing to gain here. Just trying to
help someone out who clearly needs a little help.
I don't know Wendy. My guess, just from reading her words, is that she
would be a good hire for someone. If an employer with a job wants to
take advantage of this offer they should contact Wendy at kindnessmatters2010@gmail.com. Alternatively you could
contact me, BGK.WENDY@gmail.com.
There is a flip side to this proposal. What if no one makes her a job
offer even with a $3,000 incentive to do so? That much money makes her a
free hire for a while. If no jobs are forthcoming it implies that there
is no work for anyone looking. Should that be the case we would have to
conclude that we are in very serious trouble. It would imply that
Wendy, and a few million others, are going fall off a cliff pretty soon.
I’ll let you know the results of this experiment.
»
- advertisements -
Bruce, check out usajobs.gov, craigslist.org, monster.com, dice.com and all those employment agency people who have stopped calling. 13 Million fewer US full time workers than in peak July 2007 when it hit 123.2 Million.
I might be late to this party here and don't know if this will even be read but two things really bother me about people spouting off about unemployment.
1. They think unemployment is the same as welfare. (There is a difference) And their "tough love" comments. They just don't get it.
2. Do you really think the government would extend unemployment to a total 99 weeks if there were not an unemployment problem in this country? I mean maybe if you believe the Kool Aid that is being fed by the media concerning the unemployment numbers and the green sharts about the economy. It's laughable really.
I'm sick of reading job descriptions that say no moving expenses covered, local candidates only and I read an article on CNN basically saying that employers won't even look at you if you are unemployed. What???????????????
http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/16/news/economy/unemployed_need_not_apply/index.htm
HR people not returning calls, e-mails saying don't call us we'll call you. I often wonder if there are jobs available sometimes or if they are just posted with no intentions to hire to make it seem like there are jobs out there. A lot of you have no idea what it is like out there. Honestly, I would prefer even a "fuck off".
I was working to pay off all my debt and would have got there earlier this year if I had my job still. I was hoping to save for a home after that. I too understand Wendy's dilemma (though I am not married or have any children). What the hell did I pursue my undergrad and Master's degree for if not to better myself and get me into a better pay bracket? Just to go into debt?
A lot of people need to wake up. If any of you critics end up there, then be sure to take your own advice.
Globalization, work visas, outsourcing, insourcing, illegal immigration are all problems. A moratorium on any work visas and immigration would be worthwhile. We have to take care of problems in this country for the citizens of this country. For too long we have turned a blind eye to many problems here while we build, bomb, and rebuild nations sending tax dollars overseas and fattening the war machine with big no bid contracts.
It is time for a little nationalism. Why? So we can have a country to be proud of again. And yeah, I have thought about moving to some other country.
There are lots of Wendys in Ohio. Just give Wendy the $6,000 and buy her some time.
Obama's fault
Bruce has a good heart, but the premise of his concern is all screwed up. We should really be asking ourselves why Wendy got a masters degree to teach special education, and why we spend so much money on "investments" that, in our wildest dreams, couldn't possibly pay back their cost.
Here is the answer: Teacher's unions are a Democrat Party voting block.
Now apply that logic to just about every other politically touched aspect of this economy and it becomes painfully clear why our "free market" isn't working.
Sorry, Bruce, but I also must ask why Wendy has/had almost no savings to fall back on during hard times but has a couple of children. I've faced unemployment more than once. I found that the solution was to get another job (sometimes one that I didn't use my MBA for and some that I certainly wouldn't have chosen for myself).
Here's a clue, Wendy: If you have a masters that allows you to work for only one employer, you're not particularly well diversified.
That might be a good suggestion if there were any jobs out there. Work at Wendys you say?
Lessee, minimum wage at 40 per week is $ 875 per month after taxes.
Minus childcare for 2 children. $2 per hour each leaves $187.
Nevermind, a theorist like yourself can't comprehend the issues facing this woman any many many like her. Must be the MBA.
There might be hope for the world yet Bruce. Thank you. I would like to end this post with a quote from a fellow countryman, Dag Hammarskjold:
"It is more noble to give yourself completely to one individual than to labor diligently for the salvation of the masses."
Mark. Right on. All subsidies are misdirected and ultimately cost more than face value.
Bruce,
Before you hand over any money on this please do a bit of background checking on Wendy. She may be exactly who she says she is but this business of "I did what the President said..." and "I...studied hard to fulfill the dream..." sounds just a little too cute.
The wording seems awfully similar to a number of press releases and talking points by pundits and lobbying groups of the American left in the past 9 1/2 years.
Specifically- What was her bachelors degree? Does that previous education present any marketable opportunities? What exactly did she do prior to going back to school for her masters? Help her to do a thorough skills assessment. But- more power to you and to Wendy.
It's doesnt seem Wendy asked for a hand out from Bruce. Se post below.
Sounds to me like Wendy just needs to move to where there are jobs available. What the fuck is she still doing in Cleveland? There are so many jobs for special ed teachers it's fucking ridiculous. Auction off the house or foreclose if she's underwater and move anywhere in the Southeast or Texas, and she'll have a job in her field within a week, max.
And on a related point, I normally work as a financial analyst, but for most of 2009 I was not able to find work in that field. I did not stay on the couch feeling sorry for myself. I got a job as a telephone inbound customer service rep during the day, and stocked shelves at night. I got about 4 hours a sleep a night. I did what I had to do to take care of my family. I know a lot of men out there who are not doing what it takes to make sure their family is provided for. This is a pathetic situation. Get up off your ass and do what you need to do to get it done.
Lot of people forget one aspect of non-immigrants work life- they are willing to take up jobs in any part of US - without any baggage of family or roots to bother about. They bring the flexibility in hiring and firing which is not possible with other immigrants here. This is the best example of evolution at play and getting ready to adapt to change.
1. If you offer me a job in a different part of US - I will immediately put forward a demand of travel + expenses over and above the bill rate. Lot of H1B do not come with that baggage and are able to accept to such positions.
2. Consulting companies have very few W-2 to offer today for upcoming requirements and H1 market offers huge database of ready to work anywhere resources which makes it easier to source and high reliability of knowing in advance there are no demands of travel + expenses.
3. Most of IT jobs that are in market today are new technologies and latest versions (last 2-5 years) - which is kind of hard to keep up with.
4. More importantly, if there is a new contract requirement for an old school skill like mainframe technologies tell me how many americans are ready with that kind of skill? which schools or online training is going to get you ready for such jobs? With thousands of expected retirements in this skillset - does America have the base to support for such needs?
In a nut shell - the technology sector is too diverse, niche and too dynamic. You need no-string ready to work resources at reasonable cost to guarantee placements. I would say only 25% of white-americans are ready to take up such challenges. But, as one settles done- one becomes complacent and this is the biggest risk America faces today.
Junked you for the fact that you want to make things worse.
Get rid of the problem, not make it worse (with more H1's)!
We are going to lose badly if we dont get our act right. Its easy to blame it on someone else, easy to point fingers... and yiah - its always Illegals and Immigrants who are the problem.
Life has to be too easy ..I need to find work next door and skill of my choice. I cant believe what has happened to this country.
There's another question I'd like answered. Why is it that so many people who are angered by unemployment "handouts", see no irony in the 95% socialist mortgage system that supports their home values? If you really want to talk about "welfare", allowing the government to prop up your house value by a factor of 2 seems sleazier than unemployment insurance.
So why don't you cut your own umbilical cord first?
Wendy can get a job teaching in South Korea or China. Requirements are bachelor's degree, native English speaker. In South Korea, pay is $2,000 per month plus studio apartment. Need passport, easier to get hired if already in Korea/China. Even Cambodia pays $10/hour, which is a lot of money in Cambodia. I sub taught for a while, but $13 per hour, maximum 826 hours per year, isn't enough to support self and child. That plus food stamps is close.
If she can move to Columbus, she would probably be able to make $10-$12 per hour, 2000 hours per year, doing something other than teach - plus small benefits. Qualify for housing subsidy and food stamps, no doubt. Customer service etc.
But that won't pay the college loans, which she can't discharge in bankruptcy. So reralistically, South Korea or China is her best bet as a teacher. Or Alaska or North Dakota.
"Life's a bitch, then you die." American rapper Nas.
Why does Wendy think she is entitled to a job or unemployment?
An employer is not entitled to regular shake-downs of government for cash or to take reward from people who take on more risk by virtue of their employment(e.g. lower wages, more disposability).
See my reply here:
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/wendy%E2%80%99s-story-cleveland-jobs-ch...
Bruce, I just want to apologize for some of my fellow human beings that have commented; Good or bad, I highly respect the action that you propose for Wendy...and I sincerely enjoy reading your insights that you have freely chosen to share with all of us.
Updated DOW charts etc.
http://stockmarket618.wordpress.com
http://www.zerohedge.com/forum/latest-market-outlook-1
I applaud personal charity, but for Chris'sake...so many socialists on this thread, and so little money...!
"so many socialists on this thread" ???
in case you've forgotten, this ZH not HuffPo
Socialists, many of them!
Well, it just seemed that everyone was very busy asking for government money. GM. AIG. Fannie Freddie, TALF Too-big-to-fail banks, states, municipalities, the unemployed, home"owners", mortgage-holders...and they think that there somewhere, somehow must be an unlimited pot of actual WEALTH somewhere in the sky...
And that attitude that, "somebody screwed me and government was supposed to make sure that didin''t happen so government(taxpayers) owe me..."
Everyone has his hand out.
A very generous gesture on your behalf.
Research on ZH has indicated that the demographic profile of the site's visitors/participants is middle aged, above average income/wealth and well above median education and IQ.
While quietly reading every single post in this thread, I have become somewhat concerned and disturbed. Indeed, at great unease as to the general macro opinion and attitudes this may speak to if reasonably representative of the country, in general.
Do not take this wrongly, for it is not meant as any form of criticism, but merely an observation. It is what it is, dispassionately.
But onecannot read the entirety and turn ones back upon it, dismissive of the thoughts displayed, for it is most certainly not reflective of a spirited, intellectual or maybe even mature discussion. There exist underlying tones of anger, mistrust, fear and despondency.
Perhaps this reading serves to help one understand the true financial socio-economic mood of the nationat this moment better than any other media, whether press, radio, tv or Internet based available, for it is an unfiltered look at the very deepest emotions possible. An anonymous series of postings, generated initially in response to an economic story of one individual which have expanded into a rich sub-cultural reflection of the state of affairs, the mood of the nation at this moment.
The very Zeitgeist of America's Heart.
And it is not good.
Thus it is with such a gift, one can better evaluate the wide array of potential return and risk premia at offer. A sobering temperament.
I, too, have read the posts in this thread with utter astonishment. The cold, callus insensitivity of some of these posters makes me embarrassed to be a human.
For instance, there is a poster in this thread with the name NOAH VAIL. For those of you that don't know, NOAH VAIL is the despicable author of a series of stories about raping young children, which eventually caught the attention of the authorities. You can only imagine the humanity behind the pitiful fuck who would choose such a screen name. You think a guy like that has anything of value to say about a single mother trying to survive?
There is a very ugly underbelly in America. Sometimes I think the election of Obama has awoken them from their coma. These people are vile, wretched, self-righteous, bigoted pigs who sit on their Lazy-Boy chairs eating TV dinners, drinking beer and watching television for 80% of their life. As times moves forward and high-speed internet finally reaches their trailer park, they're now capable of spreading their infectious garbage across the internet for the world to read. Besides their wife and their neighbors, it's the first chance they've had to let someone else know how much of a narrow-minded, bitter, satanic prick they are.
Then there are others with the exact personality - equally miserable - yet they live privileged country-club lives, completely assimilated to American culture. They're white collar, loathsome, arrogant varmints, incapable of compassion or empathy. Just for the record, being an American pig is not defined by the color of your collar, the size of your wallet, or what zip code in which you live.
Since ZeroHedge has a somewhat apocalyptic tone to it, I would imagine that it might attract some old, grumpy fartbags, who are looking for some intellectual validation to the cold, dark world in which they live.
Wendy - if you're reading this... I wish you my best. Contrary to many of the posts in this thread, there are many of us who have gone to bed scared.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
Welcome to the millions of people who follow the crowd and end up fucked...
dupe
Kudos Bruce, generous offer. Good Luck.
The economy isn't zero-sum, and neither are jobs. Robbespierre thought that if they killed 33% of the population, they could have enough food for the rest. That isn't so different from some proposals here to deport all them foreigners, so we have enough jobs for real Americans. Problem is, if you damage companies in this process, you will destroy their ability to employ said real Americans.
The next problem is altruism. Everyone nods and pays lip service to the duty of self-sacrifice. It's easy to condemn everyone else for eating in restaurants, driving an SUV, etc. But everyone also breaks this moral code. Why? It's impracticable. One cannot be alive and a consistent altruist.
Even Wendy. As some people pointed out, there are jobs out there which would involve lots of hard work, sweat, possibly dirt and grime, and which would not pay as much as a teacher. She doesn't WANT that sort of job (at least based on the scant information I can see about here here). She wants a "hand up", which no matter how you parse it, means someone should sacrifice his own interests in order to give something to Wendy that she has not earned.
I am sure everyone will call me "selfish" (even after reading the above, their minds will blank it out), but on principle I refuse to give something to someone that is unearned. And I will loudly proclaim that I think everyone else should refuse also. I would hire Wendy, conditional upon a number of things:
- I am legally allowed to pay her the wage that is commensurate with the value she provides to me
- labor law doesn't make me into her keeper forever for taking this risk
- I am not taxed (including health care costs) to an undue level
- I have some visibility as to what our economy, and the value of our dollar, might be in a year or two
- I have no need to fear new and changing regulations that affect business
Hmm, you begin to see where the problem is... Busting up companies who currently employ H1-B visa holders will not help. Printing money will not help. Even if Wendy today feels so desperate that she is willing to sell our collective souls to the devil just to kick the can down the road for a day, that's what it is. Extending "unemployment insurance" by more deficit spending is just kicking the can down the road. Even if Wendy cannot understand (or refuses) that this will destroy the capital of anyone who would hire her tomorrow, that is the result in reality.
Please, let's all agree on one thing: further destruction of precious capital will only make the problem worse!
Why should she take on more risk while not being rewarded for that risk? That's what you're asking Wendy to do as a condition of employment.
You just want to dispose of her more easily, with more ability to treat her as chattel - as H1-b's and illegals are already. Bust up those H1-b and illegal-employing firms, and replace with citizens. Consider such actions as a stress test to determine who is stable, and who makes a faulty dependence on cheap labor in their business model. That's right, if you depend on labor that has very limited options of moving elsewhere, your business model is broken.
You'd have no problem on compensation if the unemployed citizens could see a clear way up and an employer that isn't thriving on high churn. However, you want to be able to push all the bad things away from you and onto the people that would work for you.
If you're refusing to act on spite, which is what it looks like it with you, you're a part of the problem. You just want to be able to shake down government for cash and people for disposable labor. You're not entitled to either as much as you think they may not be entitled to a job.
I'd hope that you had not taken TARP money.
I hope Wendy is willing to relocate. I just did a Google search for "find teaching jobs". Many teaching job sites exist. She has to move to where a job is. $3000 should get her a car and gas to get her to the job location and a security deposit on an apartment. Things may be rough for a while, but they should improve over time after securing a decent job. Good Luck Wendy. Be creative.
Bruce: This is very kind of you.
Well Bob, maybe u should offer her some assistance. Pro-bono. That means that even if Wendy is hot, you can't receive a sexual favor in return if you fix her life. If you can accomplish this, maybe I'll have hope for humanity.
Bruce:
The problem is that the schools in her area apparently just don't need another Special Ed teacher. Gimmicks like your money offer seem attractive unless you are a real business owner who realizes that saving a little bit on the front-end of a hire is really bad bisiness unless you actually need the additional person.
This is the fallacy of all the government employment "incentive" programs. Smart business people won't hire people unless they actually need them for productive work. The truth is that some businesses and many governments still have too many people on their payrolls.
Besides, that Special Ed teacher needs to learn how to spell "without".
First of all. I think your offer is noble one, Bruce.
Guess what all these occupations have in common:
Answer: There ALL welfare cases now. Nothing but drains on the ever-diminishing number of people who are actually gainfully employed in a truly capitalist sense. They'll soon be joined by everyone in healthcare and media.
Personally, I'm infinitely more offended by the Jeff Immelt - Lloyd Blankfein variety of charity case than someone like Wendy, who I wish nothing but the best for.
+100
Cleveland sucks. She should leave. LeBron James figured it out, and he didn't even go to college. If you want to help her, buy her and her family a bus ticket to the destination of her choice. Most poor people stay poor because they refuse to make fundamental changes like moving.
Why is this junk? I'm from OH and I sure the heck wouldn't raise my children in Cleveland.
People do need to move to where the jobs are........ Head to DC Wendy (or join the military) and market yourself as a private teacher. Make some fliers and business cards on your computer and start blanketing all the playgrounds and McDonald's parking lots. Write a lesson plan that caters to a specific group like patriots, and teach about our constitution and capitalism. Or I guess you can teach about green technology and probably get a grant but you'd be stealing. There is still money to be made, you just need to quit relying on the government for your job.
I'm also from Ohio and about as frustrated in looking for work(specifically non-temporary IT in the private sector). Doubly so given that my region relies on government contractors, shutting a lot of the unemployed out. Seeing the vitriol directed not at the employers refusing to hire but towards the unemployed is really why they got junked.
See my post up further about Dayton.
Don't let the IRS read this Bruce.
You will go to jail for not paying tax on that handout.
You are a good guy Bruce.
To all the guys saying that Wendy doesn't deserve a bail out perhaps they should read http://www.zerohedge.com/article/financial-con-decade-explained-so-simpl...
and ask themselves, "Does it it really matter if Wendy and her kids get to eat for a few more weeks or months on the taxpayer tit?"
We are all heading for a world of hurt whatever way you look at it so lets kick the unemployment can down the road a little further. At least Wendy will put that money right back into the economy and if she does land a job she will be contributing more to society and the economy than a bus load of bankers, politicians and internet tough guys ever would or want to.
It is going to matter to our children because they are going to have to pay for all the hand-outs. But I would rather give it to Wendy since she is a worker and has paid into the system than to give it to a woman that started having kids in high school and has received welfare ever since. So give Wendy the deadbeat mother's welfare, give the deadbeat mother the illegal alien's farm job and send the illegal alien back to his country he loves and whose flag he waves. Problem solved!
I admire what you're trying to do here Bruce. The answer that seemed to work in America and build wealth was small government until the 1913 takeover by the banks which is culminating now in all it's glory.
Reliance on the family, community, church and self was the most efficient means of distribution. No income tax!! No wonder everyone wanted to be American. In my opinion we are still drawing from that legacy, diluted from time though it may be.
The other part of the equation to your philanthropic experiment is to audit/abolish the Fed and income tax so everyone is free to give of their money to those people who they see fit to receive it.
Unfortunately, the obvious road back toward small government is the massive loss of government jobs.! It does need to happen.
There was a ZH poster here who recounts his first day at a government job where the coworkers tell him to "ride the gravy train till the biscuit wheels fall off". I loved that, really. I've had exactly 1 government job in my life and close to 20 private sector positions and i can say that reflects the government worker's attitude exactly and is diametrically opposed to those in the private sector.
So, bravo for you small government style efforts. I wonder if we could get several people together here to put her to work as a lobbyist toward End the Fed. I gave money to several constitution based campaigns this quarter as well as a legal defense fund for that Sheriff in Arizona fighting illegal immigration. I think each day about at least one action I can take to bring about small government and individual responsibility.
Congress didn't pass the bill, the house did, and then went on recess. Knowing, that it will never become law. What charlatans. I don't think the bill is the right thing or solves anything. Good luck to Wendy, I hope she is successful. Very nice of Bruce to do that. But things are about to get a whole lot worse for everyone. Batten down the hatches.
Looks like Wendy and an associate are going to screw you out of $6K
You see Wendy, here's where you got it wrong dear:
"I listened to the president"
The question is, why do people attack the bureaucrat (or other manifestations of the government) and end up missing every single time? That's what you're doing right now.
Bruce,
You have earned my respect. I wish there were more people like you...that find solutions. My hat off to you. Good luck to Wendy.