Tuesday, August 17, 2010

The Unemployed

The rapid spread of unemployment shocked me. This is worth watching:



I remember arguing with people back in the 1990's when I was convinced the jobs being shipped overseas would one day cause social havoc. If you take away a person's means to make a living - especially a decent living with healthcare benefits - society will pay the price. This visual doesn't represent the underemployed, or the part-time employees. What would that look like?

26 comments:

California Girl said...

Hi: just happened to sign on when you posted this. There isn't any sound altho' it doesn't need any. The coasts on both sides are devastating. I thank God for my job every single day.

Trish and Rob MacGregor said...

It's appalling. Both coasts, the middle of the country, all over.

DJan said...

My job was eliminated after I retired in March 2008. In fact, the entire department was eliminated. I feel blessed that I got out when I did, and now I'm living on less but at least I'm not taking somebody's livelihood.

This is definitely a depressing video, especially when I think of the lives that it represents.

Nancy said...

California - It doesn't have sound - and like you said - it really doesn't need any. Shocking without it.

Trish & Rob - The middle is the last to go - but it's going.

Nancy said...

DJan - I know - it really is depressing, but I thought it worth watching. I agree with California Girl - we need to be grateful if we have a job, and mindful of those that don't. I'm sorry your department was eliminated. Sorry for the people who had to scramble to find other jobs, probably.

Brian Miller said...

its like a virus...scary stuff...

Judy said...

Yes, very interesting visual. The good news is that 90% of us are still working ? !

Unknown said...

I have to agree with Judy and my husband is one of the unemployed. But we still have the largest economy in the world, with China and Japan 2nd and 3rd. And signs are pointing to a slow recovery. So I remain hopeful my guy will find work soon.

alaine@éclectique said...

That is so frightening!

Jen said...

Ugh it looks like CANCER!

re'New said...

it would be interesting if the visual included the people, like me, who don't qualify as "unemployed" because we work(ed) multiple part time, or work(ed) where unemployment insurance isn't paid by the employer. The middle of the country is filled with that kind of employment. self employ that has lost income isn't counted either... when I got laid off my other part time job and my self employment income offset the 'unemployment benefits" from the job I was laid off from. Too bad that the job i was laid off from was my main income...

Anonymous said...

yes and we live in the darkest area. My hubby has the worst job in the world and it only pays slightly more than unemployment.
:-( He is an electrician. If he cant get a job, no one can. He used to have companies mailing him cards soliciting him to come work for them!!!

Reya Mellicker said...

I think the way we work in general has changed drastically during the last 15 years. So many of us now work for ourselves, or as contracters. The regular old office job, corporate job situation is very rare these days.

Nancy said...

Brian - Exactly like a virus.

Judy - I wonder if it's really 90% when you factor in those that are not counted? But you're right - most of us are still working.

Genevieve - I hope he is too! :-)

Alaine - It really is.

Jenin - This visual certainly makes it look that way.

re'New - I know exactly what you mean. I worry about the real stats on unemployment when we factor in people like yourself.

Nancy - Isn't that unbelievable? I live in Nevada - it is also black.

Reya - You are absolutely right.

Teresa said...

wow - what an eye-opener. living in what the city has deemed "the airplane capital of the world" has helped the jobs here, but there have been many, many, many laid of here as well. although retiring on disability isn't my idea of how to retire, it was good that he did get out when he did.

wow.

karen said...

Just from what I see all around me...I have a feeling this is worse than pictured. But I'll try not to go there. It's just too scary.

Nancy said...

Teresa - I think there are many that are forced to take that option, unfortunately.

Maggie - I know. I think so, too.

Rob-bear said...

Certainly looks like a virus, or a vice that's closing.

Unemployment in Canada is about eight per cent. We've done a little better than the US in this economic downturn, but not a huge amount better.

And, like you, we have a very poor understanding who is "unemployed." Up here, the "rule of thumb" is that the real unemployment rate is double what the government says. That would be 16 per cent, currently — almost one worker in five is out of work.

And we're heading back to the pre-industrial days, when people were paid for "piecework." Today it's called self-employment — and more and more people are finding they're doing it. Whether they want to, or not.

In the midst of all of this, we need to remember how to care for one another.

Lord, have mercy.

Marlene said...

I can not believe this...to actually see how its progressed...yes..its appalling and frightening...

Nancy said...

Rob-bear - Perfectly put. Your point about pre-industrial piece work was spot-on.

Marlene - Seeing it in a visual was shocking to me as well.

Linda Pendleton said...

Yes, Nancy, I saw this recently and it is scary to realize how big this problem is. And I agree with your thinking that outsourcing was/is doing so much harm to our country.

Marguerite said...

It is scary and we have the previous administration to thank for it! We are all being forced to re-invent ourselves, which in the long run, might not be a bad thing. It's adapt and change or starve!

GYPSYWOMAN said...

unfortunately, i was thrown into the ranks of the unemployed more than a year ago when my position was eliminated, along with 1/3 of our entire agency, because of funding cuts resulting in budget cuts - yesterday when i went to the unemp office, there were 75 people ahead of me - i got there at noon - and was told that there are so many coming in every day, the staff will stay each day until the last person there is seen - their office normally closes at 4:30 - my wait was 4 hours and only that short because a man overheard me say that i would have to leave and come back another day and he gave me his "ticket" which was about 30 people ahead of mine - else i would have been there till who knows when - and here, as well as in louisiana, the universities and colleges are suffering with entire departments being closed - especially in the arts -

Nancy said...

Linda - Our demise started with the outsourcing and was finished off with the banks.

Marguerite - The last administration certainly is responsible for lax regulations, lowering taxes, and starting two wars. But the Glass-Stegell Act, which was enacted during the Depression to guard against exactly what happened with the banks, was reprised during Clinton - as was NAFTA. There is enough blame for two administrations, and especially for Congress. Our problem is that lobbyists run our country. I also agree with you that we are forced to reinvent ourselves - which may not be a bad thing in the end.

Gypsy - I'm so sorry you are in the unemployment line - what a nice guy to give you his place. The great thing about our country? The people!

Nancy said...

Whoops - wrong word - 'reprised' should have been 'abolished.'

Pat said...

That's downright scary. Everyone is affected by this - either they are unemployed or KNOW someone who is....