That said, Republicans are working overtime to insure that the 1% get all the good luck (and the government largesse). The chances that those of us in the 99% can get lucky have diminished dramatically under the influence of Republican policy (promoted by Democrats and Republicans, alike).

-Laelth

Last edited Sun Mar 30, 2014, 03:43 PM - Edit history (1)

What you're saying is certainly true.

One thing which bears mentioning is that in the context of career
opportunities, "luck" often translates into the luck of having been born with the right family ties. I know a lifelong Republican who rails against affirmative action totally indifferent to (or perhaps secretly shamed by) the family legacy which got her accepted into an elite university despite merely acceptable academics. (That coming on top of advantages available only to the affluent like private standardized test coaching.)

For a few, it's great luck, and for most it's bad luck (or something in-between).

-Laelth

Best of luck to you!



I finally gave up searching after more than 5 years of being out of work. Just turned 62 and signed up for early Social Security.

You're right about how psychologically devastating it is to be unemployed.

Damn, I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I wish I had something to offer, but I don't. If anything, I've learned there often really isn't anything that can be done in the face of a bad situation.

Real news reporting, including investigative reporting is virtually dead. Reporters today just rewrite press release, refrain from asking tough questions, and know not to rock any boats. And now there are robots writing news stories.

If I was younger and had more energy, I would be writing for some progressive website, but such is life.

I wasn't aware journalism had changed so much, though what you wrote doesn't especially surprise me either.

My trade, law, is also in huge trouble, largely owing to oversupply. (Though I'll admit that American society may benefit in the long run from a reinterpretation of lawyering.)

Even people in their 50s who saved and invested and were looking at a comfortable retirement now have nothing but Social Security and a patchwork of part time, dead end jobs to look forward to because they've had to run through everything just to survive.

Golden years, my ass.

It's a brutal time. Apart from older workers without retirement means, spiraling debt loads are hobbling a lot of my friends right out of school.

I hope that within a few decades changing technology will create new opportunities, but until then, it's RIP for all-too-many people's economic aspirations.

when a few rich aristocrats have grabbed all the wealth and left everyone else deeply in debt.

We're ripe for one here. Let's hope it's a peaceful one. Violent ones never work as advertised.

There's a lot of talk about a retirement crisis, and I've sometimes thought that if there was going to be a bona fide revolution, it would come from seniors.

The young to throw bricks and the old to supply them.

and was out for a little over a year. The four lines to pick up the checks (which had to be signed for) were over a city block long. No one even bothered to ask if you'd looked for work because none was to be had.

I never heard any conservative voices back then, they were all too ashamed to speak out since their hippie bashing hero was being outed as behaving like a typical mobster.

Even my right wing father kept his mouth shut.