Boo-hoo,

I am 56 years old, live in the US. and have had a job since I was 9. I did this by choice. I felt at an early age, that in order to fulfill my obligation to be a self-supporting organism on this planet, that I would need to use the intellect and abilities I was born with to attain the skills and education necessary to support myself and my family regardless of economic environment.

I achieved this seeking and taking the best employment available at the time. I would then increase my skillset by observing and learning the trades of those around me. I joined the US military at 18 and scored high on aptitude exams due not only to natural ability, but also because of the skills gained from previous employment. I was selected to attend Aircraft Electrician training. Afterward, I gained aircraft mechanic and sheetmetal skills taught to me by my co-workers. One would be amazed at how eager a person is to teach an interested individual his trade. While in the military, I was married, had 3 children and became certified through self study as an FAA certified aircraft mechanic.

Since that time, I held civilian jobs as Aircraft Electrician, Aircraft Mechanic, Commercial Electrician, Watchmaker, Jewelry Design & manufacturer, Hydraulics mechanic, Pneumatic systems mechanic, mobile telephone installer and Electronics technician. After losing a job at the peak of my chosen profession due to the company closing, I founded a business that filled a niche I had been aware of. The business grew to 75 employees in the next 10 years.

I sold the business at 43 and retired only to be hit by the stockmarket collapse after 9/11. Years later, I am building another business that has even greater potential.

Throughout my life I have never even considered applying for welfare or unemployment. Except for one period in my life, I have always had at least 2 jobs. When one went bad, I made the other my primary job and began searching for another to replace it.

I would like to see the present welfare and unemployment system phased out except for people with mental or physical handicaps that prevent employment.

I would like to see the welfare money saved put into government sponsored vocational and community college programs. In order to qualify, you would need to submit to routine drug testing and maintain a satisfactory grade point average. Then and only then would welfare monies be made available.

Unemployment funds would be made available only after a person could not be placed in an existing position. If no civilian position were available,a person desiring unemployment benefits would be placed in one of many jobs available through federally sponsored programs picking up trash, paving streets, cleaning vacant lots and dilapidated properties, new construction, etc.

There are jobs available everywhere. Most times, these jobs are not exactly what one is looking for, but a job nonetheless.

The federal and state governments need to remove incentives for a person to be on welfare. We should stop paying to support women with multiple welfare "kids". We should stop giving money to able-bodied men without them contributing labor.

Just my thoughts. Get off your butt and find something to do, it is all around you.

My wife and I have a friend who has been unemployed for going on two years now. I'm not sure if she is on welfare or unemployment or what. She has no desire to look for a job. Refuses to really budget and sacrifice. She lives the lap of luxury while being unemployed. I.e. hangs out at the beach when she's board, socializes with her friends. It really pisses us off while we are working, paying taxes etc. But we live in CA so that explains everything! I thought unemployment benefits run out after a year?

Hey Chewlip You don't happen to be a marine archaeologist? We have been looking for one for a while now. If You are one look up Tesla Offshore in Baton Rouge Louisiana.

Originally posted by ShadowMaster

Originally posted by Kingfanpaul, Goodluck to any of you who are here that have benefits running out soon.

My benefit only paid my mortage. I was recieving $290 per wk. Unlike other Americans I had a savings and I was not behind on any bill. The credit card companies first whammy was to raise rates- not becasue I was behind- because I wasnt. In fact, I always pay more than the min and always early. No, because others did not.

I havent lost hope- but I am almost out of money.

I'm afraid your first mistake was continuing to pay your mortgage, and your second was to continue paying your credit card bills.

You should stop paying both immediately. All of that money is basically being sent to companies that are functionally insolvent and worthless to begin with. You are throwing your money away. Better to keep it for a rainy day, which appears that day has already come. It's sad to see people continue with their "responsible duties" as a "good" citizen and pay these bills, which, in the end, it isn't going to matter.

-- justin

[edit on 21-7-2009 by CUBD1]

[edit on 21-7-2009 by CUBD1]

There are thousands that surf/lurk/read ATS

Why can't we do a job site here?

We're all over the frackin planet, why couldn't we?

Mods, can we do something like that here?

[edit on 21-7-2009 by mikerussellus]

Originally posted by mikerussellus
There are thousands that surf/lurk/read ATS

Why can't we do a job site here?

We're all over the frackin planet, why couldn't we?

Mods, can we do something like that here?

[edit on 21-7-2009 by mikerussellus]

The best thing would be a web spider that scours all the known sites,
and reports back to a central database for parsing.

Basically a sortable google for all the job sites as a composite.

Sort by country, sort by job category, etc.

Be a big project, but it could be done with PostGRE and maybe
make a good post grad group program for a University.

Someone could also do it as a business and make money off
ads like adsense with google, etc etc.

Could even sign up for alerts, etc etc.

It could be done, but it would be a big project.

My dad's still getting the extended unemployment. Just switched to the extended part, I think we have until the end of the year now. But he's applying to three jobs a week, minimum, and working a certain number of hours on the search or else he loses the benefits. And he has to take any job that pays more than unemployment. It makes sense, but he's been looking since February or earlier and he's only been called in for one interview. He's still "overqualified" for everything.

So... I get good financial aid. That's the only good part. But mom works everyday now, the usual. Whatever. Luckily when he was first laid off they bridged the healthcare plan to retirement. Otherwise we wouldn't have healthcare.

Oh, and all the jobs are temporary now, too.