The DH and I were at the library Thursday night to catch a great program which I'll feature here later. Anyway, on the way out, I happened to notice these scary signs
of the times. I'm glad the library is helping people with job searches, but sad that it's necessary.
Already two people were laid off at the law firm I work at, while another is leaving voluntarily. I've already mentioned how another secretary's salary has been cut, while I'm working five days a week there now and being paid for four. I just heard the owners of some popular area malls are declaring bankruptcy. Where has our prosperity gone? Is the U.S. still the land of opportunity?
What's your take? Please share any good or bad signs of the times you've noticed or experienced.
Yes, Morgan these are tough times, but the U.S. is still doing far better than many of the other countries around the world. The land of opportunity still exists, but the foresight to see the opportunities that exist requires a greater wisdom then our leaders are presently demonstrating.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is being hurt. We have a couple of malls that are in bankruptcy around here, too. This situation took years to manifest. It'll take probably years for the new administration to get us back on track. But I do believe things will turn around.
ReplyDeleteFor me personally, I've had several speaking engagements cancelled this spring due to a lack of funds.
ReplyDeleteOur small town boasts a military base, so we have not seen the job losses and business closings that other cities have experienced. But there have been a few businesses close, including a large department store and a couple car dealerships...
L. Diane Wolfe
www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com
www.spunkonastick.net
www.thecircleoffriends.net
Our library has always had a huge career search center. A sign of the times for me would be seeing that center abuzz with people. We were there on Saturday last week and there was not a single person in that career center.
ReplyDeleteI think it's weird that all of this is going on. Maybe it's just the area I live in, but our local mall, Wall Mart and Target centers are always jampacked with people--even during the weekdays.
My husband's job has been really slow these last 3 years, but the bright side is that this year he's gone back to work more fully time hours sooner than in the last two years.
Is the U.S. still the land of opportunity? As long as we are still given the freedoms we have and the choice to choose our own destiny, ABSOLUTELY! A financial depression should be driving everyone to find new ways to succeed so we can evolve into stronger, more independent beings. Sadly, a lot of people would rather feel sorry for themselves and the state of the world's current financial status than they to get up off their duffs and do something about it.
That's my ten cents (inflation, sheesh!)
Jenny
http://theinnerbean.blogspot.com/
Many Schools have no money for speakers. Restaurants are closing in our area, along with specialty stores.
ReplyDeleteKeeping my fingers crossed that the closings slow and that the Fed. money the states are being given starts to kick in.
Mary
http://www.cynthiasattic.blogspot.com
http://www.booklandheights.blogspot.com
It's called the New World Order. It's happening right under our slumbering noses. The middle class is being wiped out by the super rich and when they have their way and establish the one global economy and government, a tyranny, there will be a tiny elite fraction of humanity of "have's" and a serving populace of "Have nots"
ReplyDeleteWake up America - we're being sold down the river.
Marvin D Wilson
http://tiedyedtirades.blogspot.com/
Yep, things look bleak and once we quit fighting every bad guy in the world, it will get worse. There will be a lot of out of work servicepeople. But, and this is a big but, Too many of the not working peoples are crying out for handouts when in fact this could be a golden opportunity for them. You can't find work? Create your own job. Work from home. Take what you learned while employed and teach others. Use the skills you have and make a virtual company and hire out that way. We live in a cyber world, use it to your advantage.
ReplyDeleteThat is my nickles worth (real nickle, not that fake stuff the government hands us.)
Yeah, it's definitely scarry. We took on two new clients, but the cases don't seem to be panning out like the client thought. I'm a little bit worried. My firm has only let go two people- a secretary and receptionist. As I am the most recently hired attorney, if it comes down to if I feel I would be the first to be let go.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's definitely scarry. We took on two new clients, but the cases don't seem to be panning out like the client thought. I'm a little bit worried. My firm has only let go two people- a secretary and receptionist. As I am the most recently hired attorney, if it comes down to if I feel I would be the first to be let go.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteReally wish there was an edit comments option.
ReplyDeleteI'm like Diane, living in a military town so looking around you don't see obvious signs.
I know back home though, my MIL's company might close. What sucks is it's part of the local hospital. The funding just isn't there.
Meg
http://meg-writerforlife.blogspot.com
I transferee from my original company to when we were outsourced to the largest IT company in the world (starts with an H)
ReplyDeleteEven though there was 15% profit last year all sorts of cut backs have happened. We took a 5% pay cut, they asked us to take a 10% for one month though few did, we can not carry holiday over. We are banned from travel this month. They no longer pay for our "on call" telephones. Contractors (and that is where the big money is) have been told 40hrs only a week and have been asked to take a week off each month.
As stated though America is not as bad hit as many other countries, or perhaps it is they just borrow more and print more money?
Barry
Most people haven't studied economics and find it boring, until there's a crisis. I doubt any of our elected officials in Washington could pass a college economics exam, and yet they make bad decisions every day.
ReplyDeleteWe went from the largest budget surplus (the only surplus in our lifetime) peaking in 2000, to the record deficits in 5 out of 8 of the W years. No nation can sustain that.
Now we have to get back on track. I hate the idea of bailouts for the wealthy, but we seem stuck with them at the moment.
I think the toughest news to hear is that companies who have been around 100 years or more are closing.
ReplyDeleteWhile the economy is cyclical, it seems this downturn is lasting forever.
Cheryl