What was most depressing, to me, about the NY Times article were the blame-the-victim comments. But I also wondered why the Times decided to profile someone whose story was so easy to dismiss; taking vacations to Thailand and Turkey seems like an atypical thing to do when you have no income, even 4 years ago- before the economy crashed - and at age 53.

Nancy: Not only would the Republican House and Senate leaders say "NO" -- they'd say a CCC type program was actually slave labor in concentration camps. We are at a sorry time.

Hi folks.
As mentioned in the past? I lost my main job and now have one at 60%, but 60% of a lot which is not half bad compared to my pears (in 60's). However, this was ONLY company that wanted to hire me; The owner is my friend (thank God for networking). All other interviews didn't even bother to call me back. When I lose this job or walk away, I will never ever get another real job again. It's a long story but in line with what Ronni says.

Remember "Got Hope"? It was Obama's mantra during the primaries. I've still got the bumper sticker on my truck. It's not scratched or peeling but I'm going to scrape it off because there isn't a lot "hope" left. Too many young people are struggling to get a toehold in the job market and many of the 55+ brigade know they'll never see another paycheck.
And the White House says "hang on" but our fingernails won't hold out much longer.
God bless/help America!

I did read the NBER's pronouncments. Makes me furious and a little ill. I keep telling myself one day at a time. Several of our experienced, educated adult children are out of work or hopping from temp job to temp job trying to catch a keeper. A friend's husband laid off at 52, after 20 years teaching prisoners to read and use computers, program gone. Our town's small business advisor laid off, at 54 after 15 years of good service, program gone. So two of investments in the future of our citizens are kaput. Our library's hours are being cut again, children's after school programs are cut and cut. No piddly raises in Social Security but a giant raise in our sewer/garbage bills, and electric bills. Half my IRA evaporated, thank God the house is paid for. None of us are spending any longer, do they really believe that has no impact on the economy? It sure does in this little town.

I, too, read the New York Times story and for the 1,oooth time thanked my lucky stars that, at almost 74, I still have a (part time) job! I can't imagine the anxiety and stark panic that many laid-off workers in their late 50s and 60s must be feeling. What happens to them will--and should--be a major social issue over the next 10-20+ years.

Nancy, I love the titles--John of Orange and Mighty Mitch--but fear I must agree that the only word they will ever utter while Barack Obama is President is NO. We'll be waiting until H--- freezes over for the Republicans to somehow get a conscience, but I think the Democrats may be beginning to grow a spine--at least I sure hope so--even though it may be too late to salvage the November elections.

I truly fear for this country if the tea party types take over. They're already pushing us further and further to the Far Right. It's a real puzzle to me why so many of the tea partyers are 65+. The tea party is NOT on the side of Americans over 50 (e.g., privatize Social Security and adopt a voucher system for healthcare) but has somehow convinced far too many that it is. Go figure.

On another note, as an aging senior, the pace that I must keep to hold my job is beyond belief. I am in good shape and work out regularly and have good stamina but I am at my limit and each year it's harder to hold my own. Just wait until they raise SS to age 70! We can't find jobs and if we do, they want us to be like a 21 year old or go away. I was offered the greeter job at walmart recently--that's my fallback job. Isn't all this simply terrible?

John, you've raised a very real concern related to raising the SS age to 70. Although many such jobs have simply evaporated, older workers performing the physically demanding jobs that remain will have a tough time making it to 70. Although I have no idea how implementation would work, I think there needs to be some kind of age-stepped formula for retirement. It's just not a realistic expectation that most miners, plumbers, construction workers or utility installers will be able to work at those jobs into their late 60s.

What I'd like to know was the rational that it took to transfer thousands of jobs overseas. This has resulted in over 17 million (not counting those off the unemployment roles - and those dependant family members) people displaced and out of work.

This country's 330+ million people used to thrive on incomes that enabled production of goods and services - resulting in good schools, roads, houses, and educational opportunities that excelled above all other countries in the world. Why, we even have 300 channels of TV - what other country can beat that?

It wasn't just the Legislative Branch, or the Executive Branch, or the Supreme Court. It was a harmonious concert of all three that conjured up the current situation.

I have been in business for 30+ years and am forced every quarter to create a short term and long term business plan. The best plans change - but the result of proper and thoughtful planning usually does not result in a disaster. And this is a disaster!

Seriously, what were those 530+ men and women who act like our 'board of directors' thinking about, say eight years ago, when they sold us all out of jobs, housing, and education? Do you know?

I know we need to bring about whatever change we can to get people employed and will do my small part to try to help make that happen. The suggestions made here certainly make sense. I am not so naive as to think my life can't be upended, just as that of others could be, who complacently believe their lives, jobs, security are all untouchable.

I empathize with everyone's pain. I can appreciate the age discrimination factor which unbelievably persists even forty years after my husband experienced it. For him only six months went by, a hundred or more letters went out, a few responses and occasional interviews materialized, but they were not easy times, plus we had no children yet. He had returned to University a year earlier, was voluntarily making professional job changes and shockingly, to both of us, encountered an invisible barrier when he began seeking employment. One corporate interviewer finally, told him the truth (likely not possible today because of increased lawsuit potential.) My husband was told:

"I want to hire you, but I know when I send the application and recommendation to corporate office they'll automatically deny your hiring -- because of your age. They want only young people whose thinking they believe they're more able to mold."

My husband was then in his mid-forties.

One of the many differences now is, that there were other opportunities for him then, including returning to the small business of which he had been a part owner, taking other type positions, but in work he chose not to do. We had just bought our first home. Thank heavens I was working, but got a new boss and was subjected to what now is known as sexual harassment (for which people didn't sue back then, either) so I needed to keep my job until I could make a good change. My husband's avocation as a professional musician helped with income, too, but he was simply jobbing around, after having dissolved his groups years earlier and not as many name entertainers were coming to town needing a few select pickup musicians to augment their basic traveling group.

I'm reluctant to fully retire, now at over age 70, due to the uncertainty of the economy and future for those of us who are older. I am grateful the nature of my work allows me to continue part time, and I could return to full time due to personnel shortages, but I don't want to for many reasons. Even now, there are requirements I must fulfill yearly to maintain my license. I would not enjoy having to work full time now, partly because of the necessary demands which would likely subject me to unwanted pressures that could include an expectation for a reduction in the quality of service I provide.

I do believe that ultimately this nation will survive, but the manner in which that is accomplished gives me much concern. Who will shoulder the burden to make this happen? Who and how much will be sacrificed? Will my generation, (the tail end of WWII folks,) the Boomers, and even the generation after them, have decent final years, while select groups do little more than give lip service to our population's needs, if they even do that?

How can so many of the American public be so poorly informed that they often vote into office the very individuals, political party members who are self-serving, cater to the few, and act against the best interest of the majority populace?

Posted by: joared |