| What is causing all this upheaval in the economy? | | | | current high profile issues could include weight |
| Most authorities think it is related to the | | | | control, social behavior, and political correctness in |
| withdrawal of all credit due to wholesale granting | | | | speech or actions. Do you really believe anyone |
| of mortgages to people who could never be | | | | should be able to tell an employee how to act in a |
| expected to repay them. All this has happened | | | | legal way off the job? Disgusting! |
| since about 1995 when the government decided | | | | September 11, 2001, has given extreme emphasis |
| to provide housing to everyone who wanted a | | | | on public illness fearing a terrorist act of some |
| home. When the defaults began, lenders stopped | | | | kind that can make millions sick. This Homeland |
| lending, foreclosures were everywhere, no one | | | | Security issue is certainly well-taken. But when |
| could buy a house anymore, and home prices | | | | these concerns are added to the availability of flu |
| began a steep drop which is continuing right now. | | | | vaccine many people have begun to place great |
| What will make the economy begin to revive? | | | | emphasis on workplace germ issues. All the news |
| Nobody has any idea how to reverse the course | | | | media have addressed public concerns about |
| of our economy. We are all going to have to live | | | | communicating disease among those around you. |
| through this somehow. But what can we do? | | | | On NBCs Today Show, February 16, 2005, Al |
| There's no money! | | | | Roker said employees coming to work sick has |
| The news continues to be frightening. Just today | | | | been estimated to cost employers $159 billion a |
| the Labor Department announced the loss of | | | | year! I totally agree people should stay home if |
| over 500,000 jobs in November alone. Since the | | | | they are sick. BUT what about hourly workers? |
| recession started last December (2007) more | | | | The NBC show says, for example, flu usually lasts |
| than two million positions have gone away. This is | | | | five or six days but workers usually come back in |
| a catastrophe for many households because one | | | | less than two days. No work no pay, they starve |
| income is not enough to support the lifestyle of | | | | to death. So what if employers start firing |
| most families in the US today. Labor experts say | | | | employees who come in sick despite warnings? |
| more losses are likely in the next few months | | | | These guys have to eat. So the employer gives |
| and their forecast is for slow hiring recovery even | | | | paid sick leave even to hourly people; an |
| when the economy begins to turn up. This article | | | | employee uses it more often than the employer |
| is about doing something to remain positive and | | | | thinks is necessary and is fired. Who can work in |
| upbeat through the current time of trouble. | | | | constant fear of getting a bad cold and being |
| On this blog we promote a positive attitude. | | | | forced into a pay cut or loss of a job? |
| Negative thinking obscures the best ways to | | | | Another serious issue for workers is offshoring of |
| solve a problem. It's like a dark curtain spread | | | | jobs to cheaper developing countries. This has the |
| over the world where you can't see any way to | | | | ability to affect any job that can be entirely done |
| do anything. Here are some positive steps you | | | | by telephone, like customer service, or on a |
| can take to help get through the recession. If you | | | | computer like most programming and Information |
| try some of these ideas you may create a new | | | | Technology (IT) jobs. Public Citizen reports there |
| and more rewarding career for yourself. Action is | | | | are no hard facts about the total number of US |
| a major cure for negativism, so do something. If | | | | jobs lost or to be lost, but they do give these |
| you fail at first, just keep on trying. If you don't | | | | data: |
| try you will never do anything. | | | | Gartner Group says 10 percent of technology |
| The following ideas require some form of working | | | | jobs will be offshore by 2005. |
| for yourself, probably from your home in the | | | | Gartner also says 25 percent of traditional IT jobs |
| beginning. But, you say, "A home based business | | | | will go by 2010. |
| will not work!" That's true, so everyone says | | | | AT Kearney believes 500,000 (8%) jobs in |
| except successful entrepreneurs. What do your | | | | banking, brokerage, and insurance will be |
| parents, your friends, your church, your school, | | | | offshored by May, 2008. |
| and everyone else you know tell you about | | | | Can you afford not to hedge yourself against this |
| working in any way for yourself? Nobody can do | | | | happening to your Job? I don't think so. |
| it! That's what they say. You have to work hard, | | | | Now here come the robots and |
| get into a well-paying profession, stay with it for | | | | computer-operated machines. A few years ago I |
| 40 years and retire with a large pension. It is no | | | | observed at first hand the effects of automation |
| longer possible to work anywhere for 40 years; | | | | on the textile industry in the US. Hosiery knitting |
| average time in one job is three to five years. | | | | machines used to be operated by one operator |
| Now, to have any kind of retirement, one must | | | | for eight or ten machines and a mechanic who |
| begin a systematic saving and investment | | | | looked after maybe 20 machines. Then came high |
| program very early in life and stick with it until | | | | speed electronic machines where several hundred |
| retirement. | | | | could be controlled by one person at a panel, and |
| What's wrong with that picture? When people first | | | | one mechanic could often repair problems from a |
| begin to work retirement isn't anywhere in the | | | | remote computer console. Changing patterns, |
| thinking universe. Many owe tremendous amounts | | | | formerly an extremely labor-intensive process, |
| for college loans plus credit card debt; in an article | | | | could now be done in just a few minutes with a |
| on the website Lucy Lazarony says the average | | | | software program. The textile industry is nearly |
| college student owes $2,200 on credit cards and | | | | extinct in the US at this time. |
| graduate students owe even more, $5,800. | | | | The hosiery experience has formed an image in |
| Paying the minimum it would take over 12 years | | | | my mind of very large buildings with thousands of |
| to pay off $1,000; go figure how long it will take | | | | machines operated, at some point in the future, |
| to pay off larger balances. Add student loans and | | | | by maybe two or three people. So two or three |
| the average student owes a total of $20,402 so | | | | people will replace thousands of workers who will |
| says Credit Card Research Program, quite a lot of | | | | have no jobs as we know them. In this factory |
| money for a beginning employee to repay. The | | | | computers connected to robots will receive |
| point is, new graduates aren't thinking of saving. | | | | orders and transmit them to the proper |
| They want things like cars, boats, clothes, to get | | | | equipment for production; robots will then ship the |
| married, or to buy a home. And they still have | | | | products to wherever they are required, no |
| those student loans and an ever-increasing credit | | | | human hands involved. Farfetched? Look at some |
| card debt to repay. There's no money to invest; | | | | of the unbelievable things already in the works. |
| not for many years, maybe not ever. | | | | Doctors are being assisted by surgical robots in |
| Now what happens with the few young beginners | | | | many medical environments, Japanese are |
| who have the self-control to begin a serious | | | | developing robots to care for elderly people, and |
| investment program? All investments carry risk; | | | | the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of |
| that's why they pay you for making them. Many | | | | American History has used a robotic tour guide. |
| investment vehicles are available from real estate, | | | | Development has begun on a desktop robot |
| mutual funds, stock market, all kinds of hedge | | | | system capable of producing just about anything |
| funds, commodities, you name it. Most people | | | | we use in our daily lives and others are developing |
| have decided on 401k plans or mutual funds as | | | | a robot system that can build entire buildings. The |
| being the safest way to go; but even these fairly | | | | list is limited only by the imagination of technicians. |
| safe plans have been hit with scandals like Enron | | | | Whatever happens, jobs are being eliminated |
| and all the other accounting scams of the past | | | | worldwide, possibly including yours. The doctors |
| few years. All these things have caused the value | | | | and medical technicians are already at risk as are |
| of retirement funds to plunge and sometimes to | | | | accountants and tax preparers; tax return and |
| disappear entirely. You just can't depend on any | | | | accounting software eliminates accounting jobs |
| one source for continuing wealth if you aren't | | | | and medical robots will reduce demand for |
| working. Just look at what has happened to all | | | | careers in medicine. Stock brokers, legal research, |
| investment plans since September of this | | | | and programming jobs are all either going to |
| year-they have lost 50% or more of their value. | | | | developing countries or they will be replaced by |
| That's a hit that can't be recovered for many | | | | web services or software that does their work; |
| people, particularly those near retirement. They | | | | less demand for any of these people. |
| just won't be able to retire at all. | | | | What these developing issues mean is work as |
| "Well", you say, "if I become a doctor or lawyer | | | | we know it is likely to cease, or at least drastically |
| I'll be self-employed and make a lot of money. I | | | | change. In a few years (we don't know how |
| don't have to worry about being an employee and | | | | many or how few) there may be no office or |
| be told what to do by others. I can keep the | | | | manufacturing jobs for people to use for income. |
| money I make and I'll never have worries about | | | | We have seen that even service and professional |
| money." One of the top financial institutions in the | | | | occupations are endangered; there is already a |
| US instructs all its agents and salesmen to not call | | | | robot vacuum cleaner available for home use. So |
| on doctors, lawyers, or other professional people. | | | | what are people to do? How will they pay for |
| Why? They all have nice homes, new cars, boats, | | | | their needs? |
| and they are active in community life. They should | | | | There are some who say the US workforce will |
| be excellent prospects for investments. But they | | | | not be able to meet demand for workers in a |
| aren't! | | | | few years; others say there are plenty of |
| These professionals owe a lot of money for | | | | workers. The facts are the workforce probably |
| school and for those fine houses and cars and | | | | isn't declining, it is just growing at a very slow |
| boats. Dartmouth Medical School says 35% of | | | | rate. Some say greater productivity will cover the |
| new doctors owe at least $150,000. They are | | | | shortfall of employees. If the worker replacement |
| expected to maintain a certain lifestyle and they | | | | ideas we've discussed actually take place most |
| will have children who need to go to college. Do | | | | jobs will be eliminated and there won't be a need |
| the math and you will see most doctors will be | | | | for ANY workers. If automation doesn't do this |
| approaching 60 when they begin to emerge from | | | | and there is a greater demand for employees |
| their mountain of debt. This is why the salesmen | | | | many say increased productivity will compensate |
| are advised not to call on professionals; they have | | | | for any shortfall. Either way employees will lose. If |
| absolutely no money! | | | | there are no jobs workers will have no income. If |
| This also means for most of their lives doctors | | | | productivity is used to overcome a worker |
| and other professionals are not self-employed. | | | | shortage, employees will become overworked and |
| They work for the host of lenders who have | | | | underpaid; they will burn out and be useless. Not a |
| furnished money, they work for the community | | | | good scenario; there really is no upside. |
| that expects a certain lifestyle, they work for the | | | | Reality is- none of these extremes is likely to |
| automobile and boat dealers who sold them their | | | | happen, at least not in the short run, but there |
| toys, and they work for the colleges educating | | | | probably will be increasing job loss pressure in the |
| their children. They are bound by their financial | | | | workplace. The government will figure some way |
| restraints so they aren't self-employed at all. They | | | | to keep displaced workers from starving, perhaps |
| work for all these other people. This is why | | | | by offering a subsistence payment of some kind. |
| people should be starting a home based business | | | | Would you like to just exist for most of your life |
| as early in life as they can, which is right now. | | | | without contributing anything to society? Probably |
| Even though people still have the same old mental | | | | not. |
| obstacles to self-employment, there are new | | | | Here's how to prepare for the worst case of |
| urgent reasons why everyone should be getting | | | | being unemployed permanently: |
| their home business started whether online or off. | | | | Start a home based business either using the |
| These operations need time to begin bringing in | | | | Internet or some other opportunity not likely to |
| money; you can't just kick-start them and expect | | | | be impacted by automation or offshoring. You |
| an automatic fountain of money. You can do this | | | | may have to try two or three things before |
| on a part time basis which is a very good idea if | | | | finding the right one so it's best to get into |
| you are unsure about your own business. Find out | | | | something requiring a small investment. When you |
| which ideas will work without risking very much. | | | | begin to succeed you can put money into a more |
| What are these new and urgent problems facing | | | | costly operation if your research indicates a |
| us all? You really need to pay attention to this. | | | | winner. |
| There are ongoing issues in every business with | | | | Constantly educate yourself and obtain as many |
| respect to work and these problems will remain | | | | new skills as you can so you can participate in |
| during any recovery and long after it goes away. | | | | opportunities as they arise. Actively look for |
| First is the frightening move toward employers | | | | things to do in emerging fields. If you like one and |
| dictating everything an employee does at home | | | | think you are qualified, seize the chance |
| or anywhere else. The latest development of this | | | | immediately before it vanishes. |
| issue is the smoking ban initiated by the Michigan | | | | Remember, the first and best defense for you is |
| company Weyco. As a result of its firing of | | | | the first option-become a home based |
| several workers a Michigan legislator has | | | | entrepreneur with your own business. Even if you |
| introduced "lifestyle legislation" banning an | | | | are successful at staying employed, your business |
| employer from firing people for legal activities | | | | new will provide extra income and a sense of |
| away from the workplace. Only a few states | | | | financial security. |
| have such laws and the federal law covers only | | | | By taking these actions you will keep the dark |
| race, religion, or gender. The lawmaker rightfully | | | | curtain of negative thinking from covering up |
| has addressed the possibility of extension of this | | | | ways for you to successfully come through this |
| concept to many other areas like drinking beer or | | | | recession. Good luck to you; keep your head high. |
| clothing unacceptable to an employer. Other | | | | |