General Discussion

gulliver

(13,972 posts)

70. The government needs to act as employer of last resort.

Reply to TheMastersNemesis (Original post)

Sun Jan 20, 2013, 02:18 PM

Jan 2013

People who want to work and who are able-bodied should be guaranteed a job. The more people who work, the more wealth is created. Why should a fifty-something construction worker have to sit at home or work in a grocery store when we have so much infrastructure to maintain? It's completely obvious that that hurts everyone. The net wealth of the species drops, and it even hurts society's emotional mood.

The market doesn't demand full employment. It is up to us to demand it through the government. Don't we have climate change to respond to? Don't we have buildings to retrofit, bridges and roads to build? Wouldn't it be great if we had nationwide fiber optics. Wouldn't it be great if we did whatever is necessary to reduce pollution?

Keeping all cylinders firing isn't just compassion, and it isn't just having a social safety net for everyone's peace of mind. Those emotions are trying to tell us something of course, and it is something Republicans foolishly tune out. But keeping everyone producing wealth simply produces more wealth. More for everyone.

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Unemployable At 50 Fate Of Present And Future Workers [View all] TheMastersNemesis Jan 2013 OP

Perfect argument for lowering the Medicare & SS age to 50 Doctor_J Jan 2013 #1

GMTA Recursion Jan 2013 #4

A lot of 50 year olds would love to be entrepeneurs too Doctor_J Jan 2013 #9

Yes! tjwash Jan 2013 #13

Not that brilliant Doctor_J Jan 2013 #14

Look at how many retired military take up new occupations. Downwinder Jan 2013 #36

The military and it's personnel are the biggest "welfare queens". xtraxritical Jan 2013 #77

That is exactly where my husband is at. CrispyQ Jan 2013 #33

My Husband is 62 and being pushed by his employer leftieNanner Jan 2013 #139

Agreed Sherman A1 Jan 2013 #165

Thanks Sherman A1 leftieNanner Jan 2013 #185

We can hope you are right about the right. Sherman A1 Jan 2013 #207

Well, the half-term governor leftieNanner Jan 2013 #211

Would you survive if he could retire right now (with SS & Medicare)? Doctor_J Jan 2013 #179

Yes, we could leftieNanner Jan 2013 #184

They won't if there is no demand for goods and services duffyduff Jan 2013 #37

I didn't say all of them Doctor_J Jan 2013 #74

Try starting and owning a business like that now .. rtassi Jan 2013 #62

Gotta agree here. No one has the money to start any kind of business that has much of a Nay Jan 2013 #105

I sure would. blackspade Jan 2013 #115

+1 davidwparker Jan 2013 #117

Precisely Sherman A1 Jan 2013 #164

Yeah, I tried that at 50 AnnieK401 Jan 2013 #166

LOL ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2013 #171

Yeah, I think I misstated my point Doctor_J Jan 2013 #178

And that f__king Lloyd Blankfein of Goldman Sachs . . . brush Jan 2013 #27

Dem's should all be advocating this. harun Jan 2013 #56

The Dems of 2 generations ago would have been Doctor_J Jan 2013 #71

Capital idea! grahamhgreen Jan 2013 #146

Reality brutus smith Jan 2013 #2

Great! Start Medicare and SS at 50. Isn't that the point of technology? Recursion Jan 2013 #3

Employee benefits are now going backward socialindependocrat Jan 2013 #12

Gee, I think that's why unions were formed.... HuskiesHowls Jan 2013 #67

Also, the abuse of "exempt employee" status socialindependocrat Jan 2013 #86

You're telling the truth. Bette Noir Jan 2013 #150

Technology has NOTHING to do with this dire situation duffyduff Jan 2013 #41

This is my story exactly (57) Bennyboy Jan 2013 #5

I am 57, and was fired chervilant Jan 2013 #20

If you were a new hire and not working there very long do not include it on your resume lunasun Jan 2013 #25

Agree. SheilaT Jan 2013 #45

Thanks! chervilant Jan 2013 #123

If you were Doc Holliday Jan 2013 #39

Time to get creative. If his falsehoods follow you, "defamation of character?" Downwinder Jan 2013 #40

"defamation" kestrel91316 Jan 2013 #128

My "union" in my RTW state actively sabotaged me duffyduff Jan 2013 #48

I have not been looking for a new job in over ten years, but Curmudgeoness Jan 2013 #111

I'm so sorry, Bennyboy. SunSeeker Jan 2013 #22

It may seem that way, that we`re shit out of luck tapermaker Jan 2013 #51

Not everybody is inclined or capable to do that duffyduff Jan 2013 #58

I agree that the system is broke but tapermaker Jan 2013 #64

Yes, a niche business. While teaching full-time, we have built up a furniture repair mbperrin Jan 2013 #76

Can't do it. No second income stream. duffyduff Jan 2013 #142

That's a great story Duer 157099 Jan 2013 #84

Preaching to the choir . tapermaker Jan 2013 #110

I have something. THE MAKE A FISH FOUNDATION Bennyboy Jan 2013 #90

my bro is 53 shanti Jan 2013 #91

In a lot of communities (ours, for example) you can learn big rig driving at community college OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #145

Mine, too, more or less. GoCubsGo Jan 2013 #98

This message was self-deleted by its author freshwest Jan 2013 #109

If we are going to engage on moving SS age, we must push for 55 closeupready Jan 2013 #6

In the political realm, who opposed all this? Fumesucker Jan 2013 #7

Most Politician Who Run On Progressive Ideas Get Trashed By Voters As---- TheMastersNemesis Jan 2013 #8

Most of the few working class americans dotymed Jan 2013 #32

Or get trashed by their Party. :( BuelahWitch Jan 2013 #72

But people are waking up. truedelphi Jan 2013 #136

A lot like the gun debate Doctor_J Jan 2013 #10

I like Eugene V Debs position. Surely we know it. nt Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #50

Indeed. The silence roared. I started pulling SS at 63... Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #47

One of the original selling points of SS..... Wounded Bear Jan 2013 #11

Unions and employee cooperative ownership can change it... ProfessionalLeftist Jan 2013 #15

So very true. 99Forever Jan 2013 #16

Some will think your statement is extreme. It is not. russspeakeasy Jan 2013 #21

It is the world I live in. 99Forever Jan 2013 #35

Not the least bit extreme. Bennyboy Jan 2013 #93

best of luck to you and yours. russspeakeasy Jan 2013 #140

There is ALWAYS hope for the future... rosesaylavee Jan 2013 #34

Sorry to have to disagree. 99Forever Jan 2013 #46

Only you can answer that... rosesaylavee Jan 2013 #52

Well then. 99Forever Jan 2013 #57

No, that's rosesaylavee Jan 2013 #61

Platitudes don't help. 99Forever Jan 2013 #66

Not knowing you prevents me from suggesting anything personally pertinent to your situation rosesaylavee Jan 2013 #79

I understand that you are speaking... 99Forever Jan 2013 #89

There is a pogrom against over-50 workers. Flatulo Jan 2013 #188

Make Stuff AndyTiedye Jan 2013 #75

Off the top of my head, two things OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #147

Or he could also act as construction consultant or estimator nt rosesaylavee Jan 2013 #168

Excellent ideas. 99Forever Jan 2013 #189

If you are interested in consulting or estimating, rosesaylavee Jan 2013 #194

Both good ideas. 99Forever Jan 2013 #172

As my 51st birthday approaches etherealtruth Jan 2013 #44

I am 44... awoke_in_2003 Jan 2013 #55

I hear you... OneGrassRoot Jan 2013 #65

Thank you. 99Forever Jan 2013 #69

Suicides of people in this situation are very real Kennah Jan 2013 #151

I didn't believe that this happened since most of the leaders appeared to be men in their 50s Nikia Jan 2013 #17

This is exactly why I'm suspicious of employer sponsored health screening. gtar100 Jan 2013 #31

This message was self-deleted by its author rhett o rick Jan 2013 #18

Exactly! nt SunSeeker Jan 2013 #26

Ditto! 2naSalit Jan 2013 #78

Super post! Dirty Socialist Jan 2013 #85

Just Look at Apple Yavin4 Jan 2013 #158

Want to hear a horror story? Flatulo Jan 2013 #198

Sorry to hear about your friends plight. rhett o rick Jan 2013 #199

But back in the day they treated people decently, even when they didn't have to. Flatulo Jan 2013 #201

I think we're well past that, already MNBrewer Jan 2013 #19

I don't believe you that the American worker has embraced all of this mayhem. Silent lonestarnot Jan 2013 #23

I wonder if its too late to organize? Any job that can be done here can be done in China. Flatulo Jan 2013 #200

Never to late to organize! Never. And there a plenty of green jobs that cannot be outsourced. lonestarnot Jan 2013 #202

CEO's = sociopaths ...what would you expect. n/t L0oniX Jan 2013 #24

You don't know how true those words are. fasttense Jan 2013 #60

Answer: UNIONS! antigop Jan 2013 #28

This is scary rightsideout Jan 2013 #29

You are so right, Nemesis. There IS age discrimination. Honeycombe8 Jan 2013 #30

Yep. Fired illegally five years ago at age 53 duffyduff Jan 2013 #38

Of course my post applies ONLY when there are jobs to be had. Honeycombe8 Jan 2013 #132

Good and inspiration info mike dub Jan 2013 #49

That is all excellent advice. SheilaT Jan 2013 #54

I just came back to this thread to state: Le Taz Hot Jan 2013 #204

Spoken like someone not looking for an office job. Honeycombe8 Jan 2013 #209

And the first time I heard that "advice" Le Taz Hot Jan 2013 #210

Lazy people! They should work until they are 70 according AllyCat Jan 2013 #42

And Don't Forget..... cynzke Jan 2013 #43

They want to scrap Social Security so they don't have to pay their share of the FICA tax. duffyduff Jan 2013 #53

And don't forget the crushing cost of borrowing to go to college. WCGreen Jan 2013 #59

54, been looking for a decent job for a couple of years now lifesbeautifulmagic Jan 2013 #63

Boy are you right! DearHeart Jan 2013 #107

You're working for almost min. wage? Honeycombe8 Jan 2013 #133

my background is admin, acct and clerical lifesbeautifulmagic Jan 2013 #149

And the stupid part is AgingAmerican Jan 2013 #68

The government needs to act as employer of last resort. gulliver Jan 2013 #70

Excellent points! 2naSalit Jan 2013 #87

+1,000,000,000 x 1,000,000,000 - Well put and definitely coalition_unwilling Jan 2013 #119

Right on! It's a disgrace, and embraced by Third Way Democrats. MannyGoldstein Jan 2013 #73

This is what happens when neoliberal economic theories are embraced by both political parties duffyduff Jan 2013 #80

We should change the word "neoliberal" to MannyGoldstein Jan 2013 #82

+1,000,000 n/t duffyduff Jan 2013 #83

+100 nt antigop Jan 2013 #141

Business is not going to change. jtuck004 Jan 2013 #81

By Definition Of Our Politicians That Is Communism. And Amerikans Revolt Against That Idea Every -- TheMastersNemesis Jan 2013 #88

Politicians are paid to say that by business. But they say whatever their John wants them to, eh? jtuck004 Jan 2013 #95

well said Kingwithnothrone Jan 2013 #99

Our biggest problem is that resistance can be stopped with a fifty cent jtuck004 Jan 2013 #187

That's the new "plan".. SoCalDem Jan 2013 #92

I'm 54 and could retire next summer mokawanis Jan 2013 #94

^agree upi402 Jan 2013 #102

Are you certain your retirement fund is still intact? dixiegrrrrl Jan 2013 #175

I'm relieved to say that it is mokawanis Jan 2013 #183

And you better pray your state doesn't steal your pension duffyduff Jan 2013 #192

That was not so before treestar Jan 2013 #96

If they won't hire us, they should let us get Medicare at 50 LiberalEsto Jan 2013 #97

+1 area51 Jan 2013 #167

Wanted: New Paradigm moondust Jan 2013 #100

When I Was At DOL I Always Believed The Argument About Affirmative Action Was A Cover For TheMastersNemesis Jan 2013 #103

Education? moondust Jan 2013 #104

They'll make us work until 70, AND delete agism descrimination upi402 Jan 2013 #101

Why delete it when they're already practicing it? gkhouston Jan 2013 #118

At 55 I'm making BIG BANK because I'm not teaching punks FreakinDJ Jan 2013 #106

We need to revisit and enact FDR's Second Bill of Rights Snarkoleptic Jan 2013 #108

This is the answer. We must fight for this. Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2013 #113

+1 n/t duffyduff Jan 2013 #120

Needed: New Deal 2.0 LongTomH Jan 2013 #153

There's an entire generation of people with ZERO computer experience.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2013 #112

Who are you referring to, the Baby Boomers? duffyduff Jan 2013 #121

I'm talking about the Al Bundy generation. Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2013 #130

Which generation would that be? 99Forever Jan 2013 #126

United Corporate States of America, Money Trumps All, all hail the 1% dominion$$$$$$$ nt mother earth Jan 2013 #114

I have been looking for 4.5 years for a job... sunwyn Jan 2013 #116

Yep. Going on five years for me. duffyduff Jan 2013 #122

I'm exactly a year younger and was laid off 4 times in just over 8 years. Snarkoleptic Jan 2013 #131

I worked until I was 71 at my previous job. RebelOne Jan 2013 #124

So you'll be okay with Social Security & Medicare and such, right? Honeycombe8 Jan 2013 #135

Yes, I am OK. I have Medicare and Social Security, which is not too bad. RebelOne Jan 2013 #197

I am scared of the situation if I become unemployed. Tab Jan 2013 #125

I can relate earthbot1 Jan 2013 #127

Tell me about it liberal N proud Jan 2013 #129

kick for truth and rec for power. Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2013 #134

It used to be 40. They got me at 41... Rhiannon12866 Jan 2013 #137

Over 40 and they have to worry about lawsuits flamingdem Jan 2013 #144

I saw a lawyer and he told me because I live in NY, they could fire me at any time for any reason Rhiannon12866 Jan 2013 #156

This lawyer didn't tell you about age discrimination lawsuits? flamingdem Jan 2013 #159

He was the one who told me. He was a friend of my Dad's and knew the whole situation Rhiannon12866 Jan 2013 #161

I would start making calls, try the state employment people flamingdem Jan 2013 #182

That's what they do where I work. You agree not to sue or disclose the terms of your "package". kcass1954 Jan 2013 #181

As long as corporations control both political parties, we are screwed. alarimer Jan 2013 #138

Well put. We cannot allow Social Security or Medicare age to be raised as the KOCH Bros. want flamingdem Jan 2013 #143

Emphatic K&R! This is a country where 1% control 40% of the coalition_unwilling Jan 2013 #148

I was out of work for 7 months last year Kennah Jan 2013 #152

This post needs to go to the Greatest page... love_katz Jan 2013 #154

I'm holding on to my small business by the skin of my teeth mtngirl47 Jan 2013 #155

Good ol' Ebay duffyduff Jan 2013 #191

It May Not Be Discrimination. It's Automation. Yavin4 Jan 2013 #157

I have been reading a lot of this kind of argument lately duffyduff Jan 2013 #190

Everything that I did as a Paralegal from cite checking case histories, summarizing depositions,.... Yavin4 Jan 2013 #193

There never were very many jobs for paralegals. duffyduff Jan 2013 #195

Your Beef is with the American Consumer Yavin4 Jan 2013 #196

This thread is making me cry. So sad. This country is fucked up. lexw Jan 2013 #160

The American worker embraced all of this mayhem because they have been denied and/or rejected Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #162

If I remember correctly older non-college educated white males still vote republican reverend_tim Jan 2013 #163

K & R Wednesdays Jan 2013 #169

According to Republican dogma The Wizard Jan 2013 #170

Just Adding A Personal Anecdote Loubee Jan 2013 #173

Thanks for posting and Welcome to DU. I call what has happened in this coalition_unwilling Jan 2013 #177

Absolutely. LittleGirl Jan 2013 #174

As Mittfalca would say, "Why don't they just live off their investments?" valerief Jan 2013 #176

Or, "borrow from their parents"? Doctor_J Jan 2013 #180

Opposite Problem FreeJoe Jan 2013 #186

What a heartbreaking thread. BlueCheese Jan 2013 #203

The Problem Is A Major Change In The Employer Mindset On Many Levels. TheMastersNemesis Jan 2013 #205

At bottom it was Washington policies which laid the groundwork for the mess duffyduff Jan 2013 #206

I Agree With Your Post TheMastersNemesis Jan 2013 #208