So, how are you faring in this economy?

I'm doing as well as I was before the down turn. I know enough people out of work now to know that the downturn is real. I have seen a big increase in the amount of people begging. One of the things that I had not seen before but what I do see now is white people begging in black neighborhoods. Not so much in the residential areas but places like the shopping centers or the major intersections. The other thing I have noticed is that there are a lot more white women that seem to be prostituting in the black areas. The reason I say this is because there really aren't many white people in my area and the ones that come in the area shop and go so the ones that are walking around aimlessly looking at every car ssem to be trolling.

I actually think the economy is about to pick up so I will be stepping up my efforts to get a career as opposed to another job.

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Permalink Reply by Compound Egret on July 30, 2011 at 9:23am

Kifaru,

How much much do you think the length of time unemployed is affected by unemployment insurance? Again, I heard some conservative pundits talking about the "funemployed", who are collecting unemployment and working under the table or still getting a check from their folks that covers their expenses, probably 6 months ago, but I think for every 1 or 2 people like that there are 8 that are on the edge. Check out this video: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6987699n

I see a lot of structural shifts in the economy. They have been illustrated in the posts on this thread. Borders is a great/bad example. Those jobs aren't coming back because people can get books cheaper on their Kindle, used from Amazon, or for free from the library. The same thing happened to Tower Records, and many other businesses. This is the reason for that spike IMO.

Local update: The busty bailbonds lady whose cleavage was so prominent on her billboards on both sides of the freeway is gone. The motorcycle/motorsports shop that was next to it is gone as well.

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Permalink Reply by kifaru on July 30, 2011 at 10:00am

I don't buy into the "funemployed" rhetoric of so called conservative pundits. There is a certain sort of person that is going to work no matter what. There is a certain sort of person that will avoid work no matter what. The other people are somewhere in between In my opinion the majority of people are in the in between category. I know several people who have been laid off. The ones who could make it on unemployment were super selective about the jobs they were willing to take because they were making it. When you have not choice you will take what you can get.

When an economy readjusts there should be a general downward shift in pay and a relative upward shift in skills. This is what causes the economy to grow again. When you have a guy who was formerly an engineer or who has an MBA take a job as a supermarket manager he is going to add all that skill to that business that heretofore was occupied by a guy who had none of those skills. The other thing you get is a readjustment in liabilities. You get rid of the 50 yr old who you are obligated to pay into a 401K at 9% of a $45,000/yr salary. You also don't have to pay his/her increasing healthcare costs. Then you hire a guy just like him back who is a few years younger with the same skill set and who is willing take $15,000 less and who is desperate.This puts more money into the hands of people at the top who then with their saving start to slowly spend money in the economy. Longer unemployment benefits means people are less willing to look for work and less willing to take lower paid work.

Economic downturns are opportunities to concentrate more wealth at the top. One of the reasons people don't see that is that people are often fooled by the rhetoric of "professional" business managers. Middle and upper management are huge drains on corporate efficiency but because these people have to justify their existence they promote a system that keeps them employed and funds political policies to keep them employed.

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Permalink Reply by Oba Richards on July 30, 2011 at 2:28pm

Administrative work can be out source to computers and high level degree holders to monitor them. Damn right I would hire a younger person with the same skills as a older, the younger is saving whatever he makes; the older will try to squeeze whatever he can from his employer.
Big Corps are making throat cutting decisions all the time to line their pockets, the worker should do the same. Its not someone else job to keep the employee within their sustainable means. "TOYS" that can't be liquidated should not be bought.

Your job will go to the machines or over seas

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Permalink Reply by dj ceiba on July 30, 2011 at 8:26pm

in one of the neighborhoods i work, the hamburger/fries/coke is juuuust about $15. i was standing out front next door & down around the way from that hamburger joint getting a coffee to keep my 12-hour-a-day, 2-job-having ass awake & i was talking to some of the people that work there. we looked up & saw an middle aged black man driving a bentley down the street & it was stopped at the light. i made a comment to the effect that that was a brownstone sitting in front of us (all of whom pay exorbitant nyc rent) & somebody else made a comment about how he was classy. we all stopped talking & with our silence asked for clarification & he said "CUZ THE WINDOWS AREN'T BLACKED OUT!!". & we all laughed a lot.

i say that to say - not everybody's doing THAT bad. i'll bet the anorexic young lady in the passenger seat wasn't doing NEARLY as well as the cat driving it, but she seemed to be working her angle. everybody's got one & needs to work it (& come up with another one) to the fullest. the worst FAIL! i've seen lately is the US government who tried to work all their regular angles & didn't come up with shit. they started a war, played around with the interest rates, got middle america fired up about everybody but their own wasteful asses - & nothing happened. got obama looking real clownish, too. the gridlock in congress, now the "default crisis". those beasts, grown in the bowels of the imf & world bank are just starting to flex. the real face of the "new world order" is coming out & it is hell bent on starving EVERYTHING.

it's amazing that 99% of the people i know are eating everyday & living inside. when i check the media reports about every other place in the country (& the world), it's desperate to the point where food, clothes & shelter are a problem. i'm glad i'm in nyc where there's still some hustle left. if you got 15 different angles & know a few people (which i do), you'll be ok. AND at the end of the day, i'm not limited to my neighborhood. i can leave the 'hood to go downtown on the same train that millionaires & paupers ride & within a few minutes can be having a drink in the same place where i can rub elbows with any type of person all within a few blocks.

it's not the case in say, kansas city, where if you live in the poor white, or just plain black section of town you can live your whole life & never run into people that with just an exchange of ideas can make things happen in a time like this. you gotta have a car (good luck with gas these days), you gotta know where to go & you gotta have some business there or MAJOR (ie life threatening) problems can come from it.

i'll say this: since there is a crisis looming, like kif was saying "When you have a guy who was formerly an engineer or who has an MBA take a job as a supermarket manager he is going to add all that skill to that business that heretofore was occupied by a guy who had none of those skills.". in theory, that makes all industries rise up because of the frustrations of people matched in stations that don't fit their qualifications. shit, when i was working inna coffee shop, customers were getting new types of yerba mate & redbush drinks!! you coulda ATE off the sidewalk. the greatggrandkids of the mice we USED to have were scared to come in. they eventually gave me a REAL job-itwas the coffeeshop of a music school.

i told my partner & mother of our child today: plan detailed, organized steps for the future for ONE (broad) goal & relentlessly execute them.

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Permalink Reply by Compound Egret on August 9, 2011 at 10:14pm

Tweakers tried to steal one of those big blue mailboxes.

Unless they are remodeling in slow motion, a local Denny's is closed and boarded up.

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Permalink Reply by GarageBandKings on August 27, 2011 at 7:40pm

I'm glad to have a full time job, but I'm so ready to get out of it. Really wanna do something with my degree and work in an environment that isn't so stressful. It wouldn't be as bad if I had a boss that wasn't intimidated that I have a higher education level than her and that people at work like me better because I keep a positive attitude and know how to talk to people

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Permalink Reply by Rosenda on August 28, 2011 at 11:08am

Well said Djc, I am making those organized steps to change, as impatient as I feel to leave and discover.

Hi GBK glad to see you here! I've been in that work issue all my positions up through 91 when I started here. But things changed so much personally and professionally, that I'm starting over. It's taking me a long slow time finding my next move, but the job mkt being bad out here, that's okay. It's frustrating me wanting to leave but haven't found what I'm gonna leave for. I've gotta survive here and at least I can do that where I am.

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Permalink Reply by Compound Egret on September 13, 2011 at 2:06am

I feel your pain, Rosenda. You have those days where you just want to walk, but into what?

Denny's is still boarded up. I guess it is gone.

Reggae Shop has a 20-50% off sign.

Commerce is quiet. More work, same pay. Could be worse.

I'm getting rid of direct TV, cutting expenses by 58 bucks per month.

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Permalink Reply by Hypestyle on September 26, 2011 at 5:15pm

...been working part time for over 18 months now. part-time is better than nothing. no health benefits, though. Still working on going to school for communications/broadcasting. Trying to get into radio & newswriting. I still have at least 9 months of school left. Trying to maintain... I'll likely end up moving as entry level stuff seems to be in smaller towns, and I'm trying to be out of Michigan..

..in the meanwhile, anybody in the Detroit area, bands, etc., willing to work with a freelance writer, holler at me..

"If I can't change the scene around me.. I change the scene around me..."