I just read a report over at the Montana Watchdog that says Montana’s unemployment rate increased to 7.8% in August although the U.S. employment rate is at 9.1%. Montana Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly was quoted as saying “Montana’s economic recovery continues, but job growth is slow and unsteady.”
If we are still close to 8% unemployed in Montana why then can't we find any help? Everyone I have talked to in the last few weeks is having labor “issues.” Either they can’t find help or the ones they are hiring don’t want to put any effort into being a decent employee. We have difficulty finding people that can even make change let alone help a customer. Could it be that all these extensions of the unemployment benefits have caused the unemployed to not even bother to look for work? Personally I think this is the case. In the past two weeks I have talked to several people that are just enjoying their time off from work and are in no hurry to get back to the grind because they are eligible to receive unemployment check for many weeks to come.
What is wrong with this picture?
if the idiots in govt. don't cut out the unemployment benefits why would anyone go back to work, paid to do nothing
ReplyDeleteI'm going to go out on a limb here, Cherokee Boogie, and say that you're probably around 30-years old. Am I right?
ReplyDeleteThere is a generational gap that seems to be affecting the country as a whole. I stand on the edge of that gap and I've seen it in my younger brother. My generation was told to go out there and get things done, get involved, start business...be good little capitalists. The generation that followed mine is the complete opposite. I'm not saying they don't have a good work ethic, because you'd have to describe that to both generations. My work ethic = work hard/make money. Their work ethic = be a good steward of the earth/do what's right for the greater population. The generation before me was a war-torn, grumpy and strict group mixed with those that, well, epitomized the '60s. Those people from the '60s...let's call them "progressives" or "socialists"...they taught and educated and trained my generation and the next. This leads to what we are seeing today...let's call it the '60s Realized. It is, in all respects, a culture clash and not just a generational gap. They aren't concerned about outsourcing jobs or the increased welfare state. To them, this is the way things are and they don't see it as a bad thing. As a non-traditional student at Northern, I see this all the time. They're proud to live in a nation that has a minimum wage, medicaid, food-stamps and other welfare programs and they don't care that manufacturing is leaving the country. I don't see future generations fighting for the same things that my generation does. I see them actually fighting against increased manufacturing jobs and fighting for more welfare, because I'm just a capitalist seeking more and higher-paying jobs and seeking fewer government hand-outs.
I feel that my generation is rapidly becoming a minority group as more succeeding generations are entering the work force and political realms in this country and crowding us out. I see this culture/generational clash at a tipping point and what we see in the country will become the new norm. We hear that term at every step: "Heightened security measures are the NEW NORM" "The instability of the economy is the NEW NORM" "High jobless rates are the NEW NORM". For the generations to come, yes, these are the new norms, but for my generation and the few generations before me that are still in the work force, no, these cannot be accepted as the new norms because we still remember well the old norms.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe minority is now supporting the majority. When we continue to pay people to do nothing for extended periods of time, then we create a welfare state and nation. If we do not change the direction we are going, there will be no incentive for anyone to work.
ReplyDeleteA society who doesn't care for their needy is doomed to fail. A society who can't seperate the needy from the lazy has allready failed.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the needy are the lazy which is why they are needy
ReplyDeleteEveryone should be expected to produce something no matter how little they are capable of before they are fed. Work or don't eat!
I totally agree freddy. I remember back in the 80's one time i was having trouble making rent, there was a program to help, but they didnt just give the money. I had to go to the Gt. Falls fair grounds and shovel out horse stalls. Most people today wouldnt dream of actually producing something to recive handouts, unless they are producing a baby. Thats the ticket.
ReplyDelete