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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.
»
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Hulk, In the great depression people ended up working in the fields picking peas in order to survive. Many who had been successful white collar types ended up in the fields to survive. Today, I don't think people would do that. So, like you, I wonder what they will do. . . sit there and starve?
I don't know Wendy, so can not comment on her situation. What I do see is lots of people who have been unemployed for a long time. In many cases, they are very selective in what jobs they will consider. What, ME work in a laundry or doing yard work or house work for neighbors? NEVER!
How about ebay? It is possible for a clever person to make a living, or at least make enough to get by on ebay. Finding and buying miscategorized or poorly marketed items off of ebay, and then turning around and selling them on ebay. Countless people do it, and it can be done from anywhere, but it requires dedication and hard work.
I don't think there is much these folks can do Rebel. If you have them do physical labor, you have to introduce it in steps due to poor physical condition. Face it, a lot of these folks, if placed out in the fields today, would be dead on day one from a heart attack or stroke. I hate to see living things suffer, but as JD has stated, looks like there is a whole lot of it ahead and very few prepared for it.
Agreed. Which is why I wonder exactly how things will look when this starts to unfold. Some are in a lot of trouble already.
To your point on preparation, I am amazed that so many of those who have not yet been impacted are not making better use of the time remaining to prepare. There appears to be an incredible optimism among people that things will get back to normal. When you try to bring up issues of preparation, they get agitated and call names. I have family members who simply will not discuss the types of things we talk about here.
You're pretty much on target there, Reb. I don't know much about Wendy's part of the country but I do know eBay since I've been a seller there since the late 90s. It takes money to make money there, and some experience that is learned at the expense of some lost items (no-pays). The economy has affected eBay in lowered item views and bids. I have over 26,000 sales so I know -- and my 100% feedback rating comes at the expense of having to give away some items for free to appease the wackos. I once asked the wife how come everyone doesn't do this eBay thingie. Her reply took me by surprise. She said that some people don't have anything to sell. I assumed that everyone did. That is the common error made when analysing the life of another. We just don't know anything about others lives or means. That's why I don't criticize a lot. There is a lot of sanctimonious flaming that goes on at ZH and I think it's due to narrow views. We are NOT alike, but we don't appreciate that aspect of our fellow ZHers. We run them down and call them names. That won't help at all. (I do not include you in that category, so don't misconstrue my remark.) A bit o' tolerance would do us all some good -- and I could always use a little more myself.
+++
Rocky,
I appreciate your comments, and agree with your points. Some of us here are "old school". We were brought up to work hard, tell the truth, try to help those around us, save, live beneath our means, avoid debt, and so forth. The frustration comes out when those of us who have at least tried to do the right things start getting impacted by those who have made poor life choices. In my mind, it does not all go back solely to the bankers . . . there were people eager to sign up for those home loans they could not afford. But, to your point of tolerance, not everyone has the background or resources, and some were more easily sucked into the scam. I speak a lot to teenagers on financial issues. Many times I start by discussing car purchases. I offer groups a choice in buying a car . . . I will sell them a car for $200 a month, or $400 a month. Every time I have done this, the unanimous answer is that $200 a month would be a better deal. No one has ever asked what the interest rates is, what the term of the loan is, or what the total cost will be with interest. There is an incredible lack of financial wisdom in the country at large, and we are all going to pay the price.
It's all about education it seems. Students should be taught that debt is spending one's future earnings. I recall being in the 6th grade and the particular lesson was a trip to the supermarket. Buying all sorts of things at so much per dozen, etc. I did not pass because I forgot to calculate and add the sales tax. Funny how that sort of thing sticks with ya. My mother taught me the entire multiplication tables before I entered the first grade -- by rote, hour after hour. She read to me and I learned to read before the first grade. I'm 62 years old now. I still recall some of the early books. Education is not the same, and parental involvement is not the same. Financial education should be a part of every curriculum -- but then maybe not! I'd sure hate to have more Keynesians out there. Just saw Krugman on Bloomberg and he was whining for more "stimulus". Creep.
I've always loved raccoons. Thank you RR. People need to be more tolerant, loving and cooperative. As great as ZH is, it is a microcosm of the country at large. I sometimes agree with those that say this country is becoming ungovernable. Civil debate becomes difficult, admit I have that problem too. But, I try to be a better person. And I trust least those who claim to know everything and feel they are so right. I learn from everyone.
Thanks, but I'm not sure that you bring good news. If ZH is a microcosm then there is no hope that we shall come together as a nation. Perhaps the Powers and the Media have succeeded. It's not good. I came back to see my own post (of course!) after reading all the comments below. There are some mean and nasty people who come out of the woodwork at the mention of "compassion", "understanding", or any other thing that will be essential in making a go of a new system. Many want this one to bite the dust, and that is my wish as well. But the new regime will be just as nasty and cruel as the last. National isolationism can be subdivided to the individual level, and that's where I am. Taking care of me and mine. I'll join up with like minds as needed. You're invited.
Thanks, I think. As you can see above with piss , I lose it when I get angry too. Sigh, I agree. It's not good. This is one of the more intelligent blogs out there, but, I sometimes wonder why I bother with blogs anyway. Always seems to end up as seen here. That's why I hold out little hope. But thanks for the invite and I would be honored. : )
Deport the H1-B-visa foreigners that are taking millions of American jobs and leaving people with advanced degrees in Science and Engineering, as well as teaching and nursing, out of jobs.
Nearly no US tech graduates in the past decade have been hired into the technology/IT industry in the United States. Almost without exception, all new hires are Indian nationals on work visas, who are only paid half as much as the equivalent American.
Ten years of engineering graduates from CalTech, MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, and "nearly" none of them have jobs?
What utter shiite. With a cap of 95,000 H1B's per year, and a six year limitation, it's pretty difficult to support "millions" of H1B workers, either.
When you decide to revisit reality, give us a call, 'kay?
95,000 is the limit under one category only. H1-B's can be imported under other categories not subject to the cap. In a typical year, the total number of H1-B's issued is double that of the cap. And that's not even counting L-1 and B-1 workers.
And the numbers are cumulative, with H1-B's being eligible for indefinite extension if the holder is applying for a green card. So a million is quite a conservative number.
So when you decide to revisit reality, please come back. "'kay".
Fuck off, pitz
You obviously have no clue what you're talking about. By law, companies cannot pay H1-B workers less than they're American counterparts. It's called prevailing wage and for Computer Engineers its a minimum national average of $82 k. In California and New York it's higher. I know because I came here on an H1-B, became a permanent resident and now a citizen.
Also, immigrants are responsible for the creation of millions of jobs in America. Inventions ranging from the electric motor, electrical energy transmission, vaccines, nano-tech and java programming language would not exist without immigrants and companies such as Intel, Google, eBay, Yahoo, Pfizer, and Nvidia were founded or co-founded by H1-B immigrants.
What have you contributed to our society? I would guess stacked up against the contribution of immigrants you are irrelevant. Maybe it's you that should be deported.
"Intel, Google, eBay, Yahoo, Pfizer....." founded by immigrants on H1-B? You're full of shit. Google's founders were not on H1-B (they were raised as US citizens). Intel's founders were domestic citizens and the H1-B program didn't even exist. It is fairly safe to say that the rest of your claims are complete lies.
Go back to fucking India you piece of shit.
My experience in the software industry is that folks hired on H1-B visas are paid less. But the real advantage to employers is that they have little mobility. Not only must they stay with the same employer but they must also stay in the same job. Same holds for folks applying for a green card; if they change jobs they reset the process on obtaining a green card. The end result is that H1-Bs lower the wages for workers.
Now one can argue that this is simply the market setting the price for the particular type of work to be done; if others are willing to do the work for less, the mean price paid for that work is reduce. But with this argument you must also accept that the mean standard of living will also be reduced. And that means a much reduced standard of living in America.
Keep the H1-Bs coming and keep "globalizing" jobs to increase corporate profits short term; just be prepared for what that means in the long run.
Do we need to start with H1-Bs?
How about we put anyone hiring an illegal in jail? How come our kids
can't be allowed to flip burgers or run cash registers?
I recently read, and then followed up with knowledgeable anecdotal people on the ground, that for every advanced (masters or doctorate) degree awarded in the US to US citizens in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, math), 50 MBAs and 18 law degrees are conferred. Think about that. True for more than the past decade.
That is what is happening socially. Decisions among the American "elite". Most companies aren't hiring cheaper labor at those levels, they are hiring competent.
Go ahead and junk me, but do a little research first. We're in trouble folks.
A MBA or a Law degree should be compared with that of a Bachelors degree in Science or Engineering. And when you do that, its not hard to see that there's no shortage whatsoever of very competent and well trained US Citizen scientists and engineers.
H1-B is all about cheap labour, and not about talent. If H1-B was about talent, then salaries for H1-B's would exceed those paid to Americans. Average H1-B salary is $64k. How many Americans can get any sort of college degree, STEM or otherwise, and survive on merely $64k/year? Hardly any, especially since most of the STEM jobs are concentrated in high cost living areas (NYC, SFBay, etc.)
BTW, the "M" in STEM also means "Manufacturing".
Please stop posting. You don't know what you're talking about.
Fuck you filthy nigger.
Pitz, for some peculiar reason, it appears all the Punjabis who read this site junked you.
Of course, you mentioned something no typical Ameritard, or fuckwit like this Brucie Goosie kasting, could possibly comprehend.
Anyone, (you can still read, right, Kasting???) and I mean anyone who claims to have more than two neurons to rub together and does yet understand that beginning July 1999, the USA, as in Corporate Amerika, reached critical mass with regard to the offshoring of jobs is in dire need of some serious remedial education.
Some morons named Brucie missed that BLS report out last summer, featured on the NY Times Biz Blog, which explained this?
Try to catch some sense instead of catching the crabs, Brucie....
I'm not surprised. But is it any coincidence that in the past decade of runaway use of H1-B guest workers, the economy went from being absolutely great, to being in the crapper and probably beyond repair?
Right, because record deficit spending and 2 wars as well as wall street greed and an inflationary housing bubble collapse had less to do with the state of our economy than H1-B workers who pay taxes and consume goods and services.
Hummm.....the profit motive trumps all national pride, and we all know it......why wouldn't a business owner hire a qualified, yet half-priced professional? I would. Wouldn't you agree that if the American citizen professional can provide MORE proven bottom line profit to the hiring firm through some skill/motivation than the foreign national, then the job will be forthcoming to the American?
But Amerikans have to have more $$s to spend on SUV and shit!
Clearly a lot of people have no idea what it's like in the rest of the world...
But, everyone's still missing the big picture (like this should be a surprise). It's a pradigm shift, a HUGE shift. Thinking that you can stuff an "American" into a job would first require that there are people that can afford the service or product that's produced. Can't push on a string! The health care industry is the perfect example. Regardless of employment levels people just can't afford health care (many thanks to the over-employed insurance, pharmacuetical and BigAg sectors). At some point, after you've cleared out all the dark-skinned people, left with nothing other than a bunch of old, fat white people, you're going to wonder who is going to bring you your food, do the physical labor (esp. as energy costs go up, meaning more physical human labor will be required).
While I agree with your overall sentiment, you are wrong in one aspect - at least in fields I am familiar with (Chem and Engineering) no one hires H-1's because they are cheaper. They are hired because they are more likely to get the job done as opposed to Americans who will whine, slack off, and sue company for imaginary harrassment and discrimination.
The harassment and discrimination dished out in Corporate America is rarely 'imaginary'. And when given the proper tools, Americans are second to none in getting the job done. Its usually the H1-B's that are less productive (even though they work more hours), less innovative, etc.
I work with H-1 coworkers and generally find reality to be opposite from what you say. May be it is field-specific and your experience is not in engineering and chemistry. Alternatively, you could be just transmitting propaganda without any knowledge of your own. I do not see what tools Americans are not given (as opposed to H-1's who are apparently given them) in companies such as Sabic, Elf Atofina, or Exxon. Also, I would argue that all this "diversity" crap and all harrassments and lawsuits originating from that is an American speciality and is mostly imaginary. Immigrants are less likely to engage in that. By the way - do not allow these companies to hire H-1 and it will accelerate their move to China or Mexico. What will be produced or researched in US?
Your arguments are typical of the H1-B slave traders. But America was built by Americans. American engineers put men on the moon, invented the most advanced technologies, and became some of the best educators who trained new talent. And now some coolies from the 3rd world (ie: India) are smarter and better than Americans at doing many of those same things? Hardly.
By the way - do not allow these companies to hire H-1 and it will accelerate their move to China or Mexico.
A fear tactic not supported by facts or logic.
No kidding. Indian computer programmers are beyond worthless, but short-sighted America-haters love them to death. They'll spend ten times as much, put up with triple the delays, try to market a product with half the usability, etc, all so they can avoid hiring evil white American men who ::gasp:: just want to be able to afford to live in their own damned country.
German Engineers like Werner Von Brun put americans on the moon. We have benfitted immensely from immigrant scientists who enabled such well known projects as the Manhatten projects. I've run a research group in nanoscience for many years and can tell you there's a huge shortage of American PhDs in the physical and mathematical sciences which is why we have to hire foreign (mostly Chinese, Korean, and Indian) post-docs for research positions. Like all people, their abilities, talent and drive vary with the individual. They seem to have less of an entitlement mentality though. The research literature is starting to be dominated by Asian scientists though. The American culture with its stronger emphasis on the independent individual has been the strength of science innovation in this country and we seem to attract those who don't fit in the collectivist attitude of Asian cultures.
I think you'll find that many of these engineers were skilled Germans.
Mostly German engineers put man on the moon.
That is right!!! Germans did it. And talking about American educators one may want to look at websites of best American schools and see how many of profs there were not born in the US of A/did not get education in US. It is not only evil companies who hire H-1's. People can not understand that science and technology is international.
Also, (1) Wendy's type of job is not given to H-1's so this is not really related to the topic, and (2) biggest job losses are because companies relocate to cheaper countries. One can get a job with American Pharma companies in China or India easily, but in US it is difficult. So, I do not believe that even if H-1 would be prohibited anything would change (rather than even faster export of jobs to Chindia).
So true. Even when I graduated from Engineering school, 30 years ago, MOST OF THE STUDENTS were not AMERICANS. They were mostly Mid Eastern, Asian and other assorted nationalities. Same with the professors. We lost this battle long ago, before, I would guess, Pitz was even born.
drB, I would also agree we should limit immigration to those who add value to the country, or, for extreme humanitarian measures. The US Empire CAUSES the dislocation for many of the immigrants who come here, legal or not.
I graduated (PhD) about 10 years ago and about 20% of my class were not Americans. Interestingly, however, top students neither in my year nor year later were Americans (year before an American was best). The companies went first for these non-Americans (hired on H-1's) which is logical - they have to make money and it is done by hiring best people and not by engaging in citizenship-related charity hires. It is called capitalism and for some reason some people here do not understand that and think that they are entitled to something. Reality is that no one owes anything to anyone.
Interesting. The top students in my class were not Americans either, except the women, which half were black and the top student a black woman. Of the top half, the top person got hired right away. The rest of us top students had a harder time, we were in a bad recession, but the white boys all got hired right away, even though all of them, except for one, were in the bottom half of the class. Back then, racism/sexism was much worse than today. BTW, the one white dude who was in top half, was good on theory, but we all ran outta the labs when he showed up. Was a boy genius, much younger than the rest of us, I was younger too, started college when I was 17. He committed suicide a few years later.
Agree about the entitlement thing. Have worked my ass off all my life, since 15. Worked my way through school, got tuition reimbursement from my jobs, scholarships for brains. Since I went to an expensive, very good private college, I still had to get student loans to pay for some of it. Nobody GAVE me anything and glad they did not. It has made me a stronger, more independent person.
Then let's import German engineers (who most certainly do not work for half the price of Americans). Or even Canadians. Not random people from the 3rd world who do little other than suppress wages and deliver work of poor quality.
H1-B's are not random. That high priced education didn't do you any good now, did it? You are educated, but not intelligent or creative. I will take intelligent or creative over education any time. Loser. Living in mommy and daddy's basement, huh?
The US space program created with help from the Germans, can't compete anymore, the rockets blow up and destroy their payloads. That's why so many people use other countries' space vehicles now. Because NASA hired educated idiots like you.
Educated Germans have no problem getting jobs here. Most Germans I know don't want to live in the US. You need to get out more.
Educated Germans have plenty of problems getting jobs in the USA. Do you have a clue what you're even talking about?
The American space program was started by von Braun. Real American, born in US of A according to you, right? Please check your data before writing things you have no idea about.
Also, I would like to know why "move to China or Mexico is not supported by facts or logic". I work with the companies I listed above, and any more regulations they have will accelerate their move away. In fact, they ARE moving already.
Who committed genocide to take the resources. What exactly do YOU do for a living where you have such hatred? Can't compete, huh? Fucktard, you and your family were immigrants too, unless you are Native American. Douche.
'Native' Americans immigrated from Asia and perhaps Polynesia.
North and South America were free of our ape species until fairly recently, say 20,000 years or so ago.
Indians didn't make the US, they were living in the stone age. The U.S. is turning into a dysfunctional, third world state because it imports third world trash. Why don't you take a look at some federal reserve bank reports on future educational attainment levels? The U.S. will be an ungovernable, poor country. Anyone with any wealth will be long gone.
Or it is turning to trash because Americans, just like Romans 2000 years before them, have become decadent, complacent, and lazy?
But the point is that anyone except Indians here is an immigrant.
No, I was born here. The U.S. was founded by Europeans. I am native to the U.S. Post-1965 stock individuals are generally poor third worlders who did not make the U.S. and thus not native. At some point territory becomes yours and is not simply anyones and everyones who shows up because they did not develop it. I can not go to China and claim to be Chinese.
By the way, the indians crossed the bering strait, they are of mongoloid stock.
Lol, thats why you identify yourself as Suisse. You are a moron too.
You resort to ad hominem attacks; it is you who is the fool. Huffingtonpost is that way --->
I have noticed you are named Kali and have a picture of her as well, are you an H1B visa holder from the sub-continent of India who is intent on legitimizing his place in my country?