| Topic Name: |
How bad is this job market? |
| Message Name: |
Is it really Bush? |
| Date Posted: |
08/15/2004 |
| In Reply To: |
Man, I never realized the truth! George Bush is the reason why none of you people have jobs. He somehow managed to magically make it so that his billionaire friends could earn profits without employees! Isn't that amazing?
Even more amazing is that George Bush was able to start this recession way back in 2000 while he was a state governor! I never realized texas was so big.
When I get laid off, I will be sure to blame the president, because it must be his fault. Then, I will complain about how H1-Bs and outsourcing are taking every job in the USA. Since every job is either tech support, software development, or clerical reconciliation, it must be true. Those indians are stealing our country! |
| Message: |
First off, if you stop to think about it very deeply, is Bush the sole reason why the job market is so bad? In looking over the data and comments from the past several years, some of what is happening now had its roots in the last recession under Bush the Elder and under Clinton -- though, with Clinton, the boom covered up what was going on. Remember that Clinton signed NAFTA and other simliar legislation, which made it easier for corporations to seek out cheaper labor and use it without repercussions. People always tend to blame whoever is in office whenever the economy tanks, but the president is only one person and has limited control over what happens.
It would be better to place the blame on how the system works instead of one person or a group of people. We in this country have a torn social safety net and it's getting worse under this administration, supported by the actions or the inactions of the Congress. Yeah, things are worse by the numbers with employment in Continental Europe, but at least Europe has a better social safety net. Secondly, look to the economic system we have and tell me that it isn't based a lot on consumption. As you B-school types should know, when you have an economy based on consumption, consumers have to spend in order for the economy to be humming. Consumers aren't doing that right now because of lack of money and because of fears like job insecurity. Finally, look to the fact that, over the years, the populace has gone from stakeholders in society to "consumers" who like to focus on rights and not on the common good.
Voting itself doesn't necessary make one a citizen in a society; the citizens have to care about what happens to others and work towards a better society. But, most would rather rely on politicians to do that, casting their fates to the good will of politicians. I think the U.S. is a more selfish society now than it was when I was very young, and we're worse off for it. Regarding that point, wouldn't the lot of you say that your fellow citizens/"consumers" have something to do with that? That is, when you encounter fellow citizens who wouldn't think twice about cheating you or firing you or doing something else, is it not partially their fault? Isn't is ALL our fault why things are they way they are?
Off my soapbox . . .
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