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Jingy

climber

Somewhere out there

Oct 16, 2011 - 02:53pm PT

Wouldn't it be something if the next presidential candidate were to announce their entire cabinet prior to becoming president?

Fact is America needed huge change when Obama was elected, and expectations were high after the dumbass bumbly Buch.

But when the cabinet was selected all the air went out of the sails (for me at least).

I'd like to know who these candidates plan on heading which departments once they get elected.

P.S. I think that in just 3 posts Callie has won my vote.

Blue sits at the back of the class with the dunce cap on. When asked a question why is it that the answer never really gets stated. Answers questions with questions, diversionary tactics.. It's amazing how much of an imbecile someone can look like when simple questions are asked and avoided.....

Crimpergirl

Sport climber

Boulder, Colorado!

Oct 16, 2011 - 02:55pm PT

I can't speak to how many professor jobs are available right now. I can speak to our own situation. We are hiring one professor right now. I have 72 applications for it. about 75% of those folks already have a position. At least in my field it's a good market.

Others fields too. Some other fields not so much.

Plus, many people who do get Ph.D.s never become a professor or "use" it in the job they get.

There are very few degrees that chart one's course for post-graduation work. Engineering is one. Teaching is another (not a great time - know many awesome teachers who cannot find work). Accounting possibly. Oh and nursing (though I know many nurses struggling as well). Probably forgetting some.

Hey, btw, I do want to thank you for engaging me and indulging my questions. I appreciate you'll do that kindly. :)

edit: about ten years ago, all the undergrads were majoring in Business because it was purported to be the only one that would get them a job. In the 4-5 years it takes to get a degree, things change. Many of these business major came out and couldn't find work. Or the work they found did not require a degree. It's all a gamble. I tell students to pursue what they enjoy and have passion for because there is no guarantee.

John Moosie

climber

Beautiful California

Oct 16, 2011 - 02:58pm PT

But when the cabinet was selected all the air went out of the sails (for me at least).

You wouldn't have liked McCain's choices. So what would have changed? You would have still voted for Obama, though you might have voted for Hilary in primaries and you would have realized that not much is going to change.

bluering

Trad climber

Santa Clara, CA

Oct 16, 2011 - 03:03pm PT

I hear ya, Callie. I'm just saying that people aren't 'training' for the kind of work we need.

We don't need more teachers.

Another biggie here is that many jobs people were qualified to do have left. Manufacturing.

You want poor and middle-class employment to rise? Guess what?

Crimpergirl

Sport climber

Boulder, Colorado!

Oct 16, 2011 - 03:06pm PT

Bluering - you are on the same page with OWS and tea party and folks like me in that manufacturing should be here. That it is gone is a huge problem.

Until it's corrected the gap between the haves and the have nots will continue to grow until there are no more sort-of-haves.

John Moosie

climber

Beautiful California

Oct 16, 2011 - 03:07pm PT

We don't need more teachers.

If every college student that was working towards being a teacher changed their course of study, then within 2 to 3 years there would be a glaring shortage. Teachers retire every year. The main glut right now is because america isn't supporting our education system. Which is another reason that this country could fail.

HighTraverse

Trad climber

Bay Area

Oct 16, 2011 - 03:11pm PT

This 99 or 95 stuff is utter bullshit!

9% of americans are unemployed. That means that only 91% of Americans who are want jobs have them. And don't forget: the 9% is considered a low estimate because of the way it's defined. People who "don't want jobs", aren't actively looking, including those who want to work but have given up, aren't counted. So the "bum on the street" (Utah Phillips' phrase) doesn't get counted.
The people in prison/jail are also not counted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_inequality_in_the_United_States

As of 2006, the United States had one of the highest levels of income inequality, as measured through the Gini index, among high income countries, ... being one of only a few developed countries where inequality has increased since 1980.[14]
Alan Greenspan stated before Congress in 2005[15]:
As I've often said, this is not the type of thing which a democratic society – a capitalist democratic society – can really accept without addressing.

Alan Greenspan: that noted socialist (insert sarcastic smile here). Notably NOT from one of the Big 3 business schools. MA and Phds from New York University.

Chaz

Trad climber

greater Boss Angeles area

Oct 16, 2011 - 03:13pm PT

What's wrong with income inequality?

HighDesertDJ

Trad climber

Oct 16, 2011 - 03:17pm PT

bluering scoffed

People need to seek education that has employment in demand. It's really nice to 'follow your dream' in education, but are you going to be employable?

Ya know?

The gap between the reality of the unemployed and what you imagine the problem is is pretty immense. There are lots of jobs available in certain fields or for people with certain skillsets, as Crimpie illustrates. Some industries cannot find employees fast enough while there are a lot of unemployed people that simply don't have skills that are in demand at a level that can support their previous lifestyle. These are generally not people with a "women's studies" major like you scorned earlier, but people who spent their lives in manufacturing or construction or other fields that have been in decline in the US.

In virtually any economy, people with the right skills and the right background and the right personalities always find a flexible job market full of opportunity. For whatever reason, those are the people that constantly get pointed to as the evidence that there really isn't a problem.

In reality I can't see much of a difference between this protest and the Tea Party protests that were happening in 2009 except for the lack of "Obama is Hitler" signs. They are both upset at the obvious access that the economic elite has to government and that the government bailed them out in such a big way with no discernable return on that investment. What, exactly, is making you so eager to scorn them so much, bluering?

*edit* I see that you made a comment about the lack of manufacturing jobs, but I'm still puzzled about your eagerness to jump on people who have the audacity to study minorites or women. And we definitely need more teachers.

HighTraverse

Trad climber

Bay Area

Oct 16, 2011 - 03:19pm PT

Chaz
that question misses the point.
There will always be income inequality. In most economic theories it is necessary and "good". The problem is when inequality rises AND other serious economic problems exist. Such as long term unemployment, access to a good education, access to affordable and effective healthcare.
Made even worse when the wealthiest people and corporations don't pay "their share" of taxes. Or are perceived as not paying their share. No worries in a thriving society, a significant worry when things are going poorly, as they are now.

Chaz

Trad climber

greater Boss Angeles area

Oct 16, 2011 - 03:22pm PT

I still don't understand why I should care if some one somewhere makes more than I do. Or if a bunch of people make more than I do. Why should I care?

HighTraverse

Trad climber

Bay Area

Oct 16, 2011 - 03:22pm PT

Some industries cannot find employees fast enough while there are a lot of unemployed people that simply don't have skills that are in demand at a level that can support their previous lifestyle

+5

My expertise is in automated systems for factories. Manufacturing. There are many fewer job opportunities for me now than 10 years ago. Especially in Northern California. I'm in the process of "re-tooling" but that takes time. Add to that, I'm "overqualified" for most of the jobs I've applied for.

HighDesertDJ

Trad climber

Oct 16, 2011 - 03:23pm PT

Fatty-

Which was then paid out in interest back to the banks to pay for the debt that we issued to pay for the bailouts.

QE1/QE2 and the other programs were designed to help increase liquidity in the markets and urge lending for housing and small/medium businesses. The banks have eagerly taken that money and then not budged an inch on housing/business lending. There has been no payback for those policies, just for Tarp.

HighTraverse

Trad climber

Bay Area

Oct 16, 2011 - 03:25pm PT

Or if a bunch of people make more than I do. Why should I care?

As long as you're employed, your kids are getting a good education, you've got quality healthcare, you don't have to worry about your bank account or retirement, you shouldn't care.
Unless you're also concerned about social instability. Like the 9% unemployed. Which significantly underestimates the number of people in serious financial difficulty.

Chaz

Trad climber

greater Boss Angeles area

Oct 16, 2011 - 03:27pm PT

What would cause social instability?

Is there some rational reason to be anti-social?

HighTraverse

Trad climber

Bay Area

Oct 16, 2011 - 03:28pm PT

Emporer of Yosemite (secretary of Interior)

Now we know why fattrad is all buddy buddy with Cheney, Kantor and Kevin McCarthy (Majority Whip). Money buys access. Access gets you political appointments.
Be Very Afraid (to quote fattrad himself)

HighTraverse

Trad climber

Bay Area

Oct 16, 2011 - 03:29pm PT

Chaz
surely you're playing provocateur

HighDesertDJ

Trad climber

Oct 16, 2011 - 03:32pm PT

chaz said

I still don't understand why I should care if some one somewhere makes more than I do. Or if a bunch of people make more than I do. Why should I care?

Yeah that's a cute quote spoken from a position of comfort about someone else in a position of comfort. When you are in a position of pain things start to look very differently. When Person A is eating shrimp and Person B can't afford their heart medication or heatingh oil it's not really an "oh gee I'm so mad cause someone else makes more money" situation. Your lack of empathy does not mean you have a salient point.

Fatty said

There hasn't been much lending because very few people or businesses qualify under the the more rational traditional underwriting standards. My family's bank has tons of money to lend, few qualifiers.

Which then prompted the gov't to create a safer lending environment. Which the banks have taken full advantage of and not passed any along to others. I know several small business owners who could expand their businesses right now but can't qualify. It's a system set up to advantage those who don't really need it. And then those people complain about taxes and regulations holdnig them back and how the private sector is what creates jobs. It's bullsh#t.