In The News.........On My Mind

a local eugene news station reported on this last night, essentially saying the damage was mild. tell that to the residents of the village who have seen their homes destroyed. i wonder what they would have said if this had swept through a village of mansions. uh huh...... how terrifying for these folks. some days i look into the universe and say why do these things have to happen to the poorest, the most peaceful and vulnerable of folks? when is karma gonna bite the ass off of those who create war and greed?

i also saw something on the Wall Street Journal Report on late night television last night that made me sit up and say "what the fuck?!" apparently circuit city is laying off a percentage of its work force. (see the yahoo coverage here.) however, there's a "bright" side to this scenario. the employees who are laid off are going to be allowed to reapply for their old positions--at a lower pay. how maria b (the host) was able to report that without emotion or any sign of "what the fuck" expression on her face is beyond me. imagine your employer announces "sorry. we are going to have to lay you off. however, you can reapply for the same position. just at a lower wage."

my spouse had a customer visit the store in which he works. a man in his late 40's or early 50's. he said "i've lived in this area for 30 years and i have never had so much trouble finding work! what in the hell is going on?!" i wish i had been there. i would have given him a hug and said "i'll tell you what's going on. i'm not sure whether it's some planned conspiracy or not, but i do know that employers care more about profits than they do for their workers. there are fewer jobs as a result, meaning workers are given more responsibilities, usually for less pay. [my spouse can vouch for that one!] low wage retail jobs continue to fluorish. why? because people's wages have not kept up with the cost of living, in particular housing and health care and as a result, they can only afford to shop at the mart stores and the dollar tree. disposable income ain't what it once was, you see. uncle sam hasn't done a damn thing to return this economy to a place where ALL classes of individuals were seeing gains in their pocket books. ceo's are making 300-400 times what their workers are, compared to 30 times back in the 70's and 80's." there is likely some age discrimination going on as well. i've experienced it myself. i've applied for countless office positions and inevitably when i've revisited the employer to see who they hired, it's overwhelmingly been a female who is not over age 25 or so. i've been told i am overqualified oh so many times (which could be a polite way of saying "you are too old").

i think a lot about solutions. i may bitch and vent a lot, but i also spend an equal amount of time thinking about changes, answers, solutions. one such possibility is for those of us who are in the same or similar boat to combine our knowledge, our resources, our skills and talents and form our own business(es). a couple of years ago i put up some flyers, seeking such individuals. i only received a handfull of calls--from folks who said "can you get me a job?" none were interested in my idea--they just needed work. yesterday. despite my frustration, i could only empathize. i met a guy here in corvallis who owns an e-bay resale store. he used to work at HP and after realizing he wasn't going to find decent employment again, decided to go into biz for himself. i love stories like that! it reminds us we don't have to be victims of the slavery practice that is commonplace in today's employer/employee relationship. it gives me hope. hope that perhaps some day i will actually connect with other folks such as myself who are open to the idea of going into business together (which btw WHERE ARE YOU?! i'm into the idea of a non-profit, focused on eliminating poverty through new policies, new ways of thinking). hope that more and more people will do the same. for it would surely be an exciting kick-in-the-pants moment to see employers like circuit city advertise the following: "help wanted. will pay a living wage. willing to train. please. where are you? we are desperate!"