The Personally Discovered Joys of Being Unemployed

[JimBowie1958]

None ofthem are positive, but only the kind of joys like the joy of discovering that your spare tire is as flat as your new flat on a cold rainy night on the interstate.

I have had the joy of learning how irrelevant I am. Apparently our society does not need 58 year old software engineers with 20+ years of experience if the corrporations can have 23 year old 'geniuses' right out of Hyderabad for half the pay.

I have had the joy of discovering that my cat is losing his little kitty cat mind.

I have had the joy of learning that my conservative friends think I am being lazy because I cannot magically force software companies to hire me.

I have had the joy of learning that 'cabin fever' is not just a movie plot device.

But there are some real good things so far.

My wife and I have learned what is really needed as we slashed our budget of every item and expense we can do without. This is how consumer economies are destroyed.

We have also learned that we could consolidate much of our debt and reduce our monthly bills.

I have learned how to tell myself 'no', to everything from stopping on the way home to grab a bite at a local restaurant after chasing down items on a Honey-Do list to getting that new computer that is so fast. Again, not good for the economy, but it can no longer be helped.

I have also seen a glimpse of our 'jobless economy' in the not too distant future, and it sucks. Royally sucks. I have not been so angry in all my life and let me tell you Republicans something you can take to the bank; the voter rage that is coming if your party continues to push Free Trade idiocy is going to be like a Tsunami.

Sanders is only the ocean receding, not the real wave, trust me on this.

 

[koshergrl]

Your post is funny and I was going to enthusiastically cheer you until you blamed free trade and Republicans for your jobless state. McDonald's is always hiring, get your lazy ass to work.

 

[Iceweasel]

Blaming Republicans is lame, one of the main factors is your age and mandated health coverage. No Republican voted for it. Older employees are at more of a health risk, so higher premiums. There aren't a lot of job opportunities for 58 year olds. What I did was start my own business. You can work out of you home if you can find someone to sub work out to you.

 

[jon_berzerk]

this is America the land of opportunity

create your own job

 

[OffensivelyOpenMinded]

Try to take some courses to update your skills, Jim. Don't blame anyone but yourself for slacking off on attaining new skills in your profession...especially since you have had plenty of heads up on younger people flooding into it.

Good luck.

 

[OffensivelyOpenMinded]

this is America the land of opportunity

create your own job

That's what I did once I got tired of being a wage slave.

 

[jon_berzerk]

this is America the land of opportunity

create your own job

That's what I did once I got tired of being a wage slave.

same here

the Mrs is currently doing it

 

[Auld Phart]

You've got 20+ years experience with computers, and you can't find a job?


Check with Best Buy, other stores that sell computers. Your knowledge in the field would put you on the floor with no problem.

Don't want that?

Start your own company, computer repair, analyst, etc..

Or get in with an established company doing that kind of work.

 

[OldLady]

I've got a good idea for a video game. Is that what software engineers do?

 

[MarathonMike]

None ofthem are positive, but only the kind of joys like the joy of discovering that your spare tire is as flat as your new flat on a cold rainy night on the interstate.

I have had the joy of learning how irrelevant I am. Apparently our society does not need 58 year old software engineers with 20+ years of experience if the corrporations can have 23 year old 'geniuses' right out of Hyderabad for half the pay.

I have had the joy of discovering that my cat is losing his little kitty cat mind.

I have had the joy of learning that my conservative friends think I am being lazy because I cannot magically force software companies to hire me.

I have had the joy of learning that 'cabin fever' is not just a movie plot device.

But there are some real good things so far.

My wife and I have learned what is really needed as we slashed our budget of every item and expense we can do without. This is how consumer economies are destroyed.

We have also learned that we could consolidate much of our debt and reduce our monthly bills.

I have learned how to tell myself 'no', to everything from stopping on the way home to grab a bite at a local restaurant after chasing down items on a Honey-Do list to getting that new computer that is so fast. Again, not good for the economy, but it can no longer be helped.

I have also seen a glimpse of our 'jobless economy' in the not too distant future, and it sucks. Royally sucks. I have not been so angry in all my life and let me tell you Republicans something you can take to the bank; the voter rage that is coming if your party continues to push Free Trade idiocy is going to be like a Tsunami.

Sanders is only the ocean receding, not the real wave, trust me on this.

Have you looked into contracting through a job shop like Volt or Manpower?

 

[OffensivelyOpenMinded]

I've got a good idea for a video game. Is that what software engineers do?

None ofthem are positive, but only the kind of joys like the joy of discovering that your spare tire is as flat as your new flat on a cold rainy night on the interstate.

I have had the joy of learning how irrelevant I am. Apparently our society does not need 58 year old software engineers with 20+ years of experience if the corrporations can have 23 year old 'geniuses' right out of Hyderabad for half the pay.

I have had the joy of discovering that my cat is losing his little kitty cat mind.

I have had the joy of learning that my conservative friends think I am being lazy because I cannot magically force software companies to hire me.

I have had the joy of learning that 'cabin fever' is not just a movie plot device.

But there are some real good things so far.

My wife and I have learned what is really needed as we slashed our budget of every item and expense we can do without. This is how consumer economies are destroyed.

We have also learned that we could consolidate much of our debt and reduce our monthly bills.

I have learned how to tell myself 'no', to everything from stopping on the way home to grab a bite at a local restaurant after chasing down items on a Honey-Do list to getting that new computer that is so fast. Again, not good for the economy, but it can no longer be helped.

I have also seen a glimpse of our 'jobless economy' in the not too distant future, and it sucks. Royally sucks. I have not been so angry in all my life and let me tell you Republicans something you can take to the bank; the voter rage that is coming if your party continues to push Free Trade idiocy is going to be like a Tsunami.

Sanders is only the ocean receding, not the real wave, trust me on this.

Have you looked into contracting through a job shop like Volt or Manpower?

Good advice. There are actually some temp job services that specialize in his area of expertise these days.

 

[dannyboys]

None ofthem are positive, but only the kind of joys like the joy of discovering that your spare tire is as flat as your new flat on a cold rainy night on the interstate.

I have had the joy of learning how irrelevant I am. Apparently our society does not need 58 year old software engineers with 20+ years of experience if the corrporations can have 23 year old 'geniuses' right out of Hyderabad for half the pay.

I have had the joy of discovering that my cat is losing his little kitty cat mind.

I have had the joy of learning that my conservative friends think I am being lazy because I cannot magically force software companies to hire me.

I have had the joy of learning that 'cabin fever' is not just a movie plot device.

But there are some real good things so far.

My wife and I have learned what is really needed as we slashed our budget of every item and expense we can do without. This is how consumer economies are destroyed.

We have also learned that we could consolidate much of our debt and reduce our monthly bills.

I have learned how to tell myself 'no', to everything from stopping on the way home to grab a bite at a local restaurant after chasing down items on a Honey-Do list to getting that new computer that is so fast. Again, not good for the economy, but it can no longer be helped.

I have also seen a glimpse of our 'jobless economy' in the not too distant future, and it sucks. Royally sucks. I have not been so angry in all my life and let me tell you Republicans something you can take to the bank; the voter rage that is coming if your party continues to push Free Trade idiocy is going to be like a Tsunami.

Sanders is only the ocean receding, not the real wave, trust me on this.

I was reading your mini-rant with interest until you mentioned Sander's name.
If you really believe Socialism is the cure for what ails you you deserve to be unemployed and broke.
Here's good read for you. A bit long but worth the read:
The Secret Shame of Middle-Class Americans Living Paycheck to Paycheck

 

[Slave2the$]

The more people get angry the more likely they will vote for socialism and there are less smiles everyday in this country. Socialism is the inevitable destination. Obi wan trump is the last hope, but the evil leftist empire has fired the race card blasters and he can't outrun them.

Good luck jim.

 

[Dale Smith]

People are in for a rude awakening for sure. It's not gonna get better. The decimation of the middle class was no accident and carefully constructed by the Club Of Rome, an offshoot of the U.N that was full of rich globalist socialists like Maurice Strong that saw a healthy and affluent middle class as a roadblock to their plans for global government thus the "Zero Growth" plan that was introduced in 1972. Using environmental laws, taxes, fines and fees, they slowly dismantled the steel factories, the ship building industry. Then they used unfair trade agreements to kill the textiles and car industries. They used price controls and debt to kill the family farms and then having their major corporations come in and buy them on the cheap....the list goes on and on. Poor people are easier to control and leave less of a carbon footprint. The rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer is not a result of greed insomuch as it was in the cards because they planned it that way.

I feel for you....I really do. It's easy to tell someone to pick themselves up by their bootstraps when they are not facing what you are....hang in there.

 

[OffensivelyOpenMinded]

People are in for a rude awakening for sure. It's not gonna get better. The decimation of the middle class was no accident and carefully constructed by the Club Of Rome, an offshoot of the U.N that was full of rich globalist socialists like Maurice Strong that saw a healthy and affluent middle class as a roadblock to their plans for global government thus the "Zero Growth" plan that was introduced in 1972. Using environmental laws, taxes, fines and fees, they slowly dismantled the steel factories, the ship building industry. Then they used unfair trade agreements to kill the textiles and car industries. They used price controls and debt to kill the family farms and then having their major corporations come in and buy them on the cheap....the list goes on and on. Poor people are easier to control and leave less of a carbon footprint. The rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer is not a result of greed insomuch as it was in the cards because they planned it that way.

I feel for you....I really do. It's easy to tell someone to pick themselves up by their bootstraps when they are not facing what you are....hang in there.

I'm just trying to help him.

 

[Dale Smith]

People are in for a rude awakening for sure. It's not gonna get better. The decimation of the middle class was no accident and carefully constructed by the Club Of Rome, an offshoot of the U.N that was full of rich globalist socialists like Maurice Strong that saw a healthy and affluent middle class as a roadblock to their plans for global government thus the "Zero Growth" plan that was introduced in 1972. Using environmental laws, taxes, fines and fees, they slowly dismantled the steel factories, the ship building industry. Then they used unfair trade agreements to kill the textiles and car industries. They used price controls and debt to kill the family farms and then having their major corporations come in and buy them on the cheap....the list goes on and on. Poor people are easier to control and leave less of a carbon footprint. The rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer is not a result of greed insomuch as it was in the cards because they planned it that way.

I feel for you....I really do. It's easy to tell someone to pick themselves up by their bootstraps when they are not facing what you are....hang in there.

I'm just trying to help him.

I know...and those are helpful hints.

 

[dannyboys]

The more people get angry the more likely they will vote for socialism and there are less smiles everyday in this country. Socialism is the inevitable destination. Obi wan trump is the last hope, but the evil leftist empire has fired the race card blasters and he can't outrun them.

Good luck jim.

Countries that have tried Socialism have and are failing and their populations are going back to Capitalism.
If you like the idea of going to the 'free hospital' like in Cuba, in a fucking whellbarrow instead of an ambulance move to a Socialist country.

 

[Slave2the$]

The more people get angry the more likely they will vote for socialism and there are less smiles everyday in this country. Socialism is the inevitable destination. Obi wan trump is the last hope, but the evil leftist empire has fired the race card blasters and he can't outrun them.

Good luck jim.

Countries that have tried Socialism have and are failing and their populations are going back to Capitalism.
If you like the idea of going to the 'free hospital' like in Cuba, in a fucking whellbarrow instead of an ambulance move to a Socialist country.

I'm not telling you I like socialism, I'm telling you that the people will eventually vote for socialism. I'm voting for trump because he is our last hope. The dems are already on board the socialist train and the republicans are all too weak to resist.

 

[EverCurious]

With just a minor bit of self-teaching you could easily open up a business fixing people's computers, even branch out into home automation services. There's a place up here, husband and wife team, that rake in so much money it's not even funny. Most folks don't want to go to Best Buy to repair their stuff because they have to pull it all apart and bring it in - unplugging a keyboard scares a lot of people, much less disconnecting monitors and everything else. The local place opened shop out here in my well-to-do town and made so much money off this one city (30k peeps) that they now have four stores in four different cities (basically /all/ of Alaska's major cities.) My parents and their friends used to have me fix their systems all the time; monthly at least, they get spam-virus's or want to sync up their new iPad/iPhones, want a fancy printer hooked up, a bigger hard drive, upgrade windows, or install a new graphics card, or they wanted a little more speed (pop in a ram chip, etc.,) or wanted a home network (router plug-n-play) - there was always something someone needed. Everyone moved out of state to a retirement golf community and they're all upset because the nearest repair shop is in Vegas, a 2 hour drive away - they said they'd buy my husband and I a house if we'd come down and open a business fixing that stuff, apparently they've started car pooling PC's to Vegas for repairs and it annoys them all lol

Check around in your area and see if there's any "in home repair" computer shops. I imagine with an hour or so of research online you could handle /all/ of the stuff I just listed - it's cake walk stuff these days.

 

[JimBowie1958]

Your post is funny and I was going to enthusiastically cheer you until you blamed free trade and Republicans for your jobless state. McDonald's is always hiring, get your lazy ass to work.

So the glories of Free Trade for 58 year old American software engineers like me get to look forward to is working at McDonalds?

If that is the best you Republicans can do, then the Republican party needs to die. We dont have room for such a lame ass party in a duopoly like we have here in the USA. Bye. So long. Enjoy the Ash heap of history.

And yes, Free Trade is the culprit as software development companies are indeed hiring people, 50% foreign workers (H1-Bs) and the rest mostly new kids out of college after they have been looking for a job for TWO FULL YEARS on average.

This is the kind of tone-deaf stupidity that the GOP is engaging in with Free Trade. What is the purpose of Free Trade if it is not to help the whole country, every one of us, to achieve the American dream? We should have FAIR Trade, not Free Trade if this is the GOPs idea of what Free Trade is, and I know now that it is.

All it seems to be doing is fattening the wallets of corporate CEOs and giving folks fortunate enough to still have a job cheap shit from China.