Things are getting bad.

Hello OP, Im 17 living in a small town called Banbury(England). Times down here are hard to its effecting everywhere by the seems of it. 350 people applied for 18 tesco's jobs this weekend its crazy, I hope you hold up and stay strong for your family. All the best sir!

Maybe take a look at Zimbabwe. They are progressing now, after they hit rock bottom.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/5e057072dce9.jpg[/atsimg]

Originally posted by camaro68ss
I just needed to post something. I’m just sitting here shaking my head in disbelief and frustration. For those that know a little about me I’m a manager in a construction company and I have to lay off another 4 people today. It’s getting really hard out there and I can’t take it.

I’m getting tired of these economic time, I know it’s not going to get any better. It seems like I’m laying people off every month now and our sales number are dropping. I see this whole stupid debt limit mess in Washington and they just don’t get it. They need to cut 1.6 Trillion now! Not 4 trillion over 10 years. Don’t these guys understand compounding interest and debt. It’s never going to get paid off.

I can barely cope any more but I must stay strong for my family. I’m the anchor and if they see me depressed or drained it’s going to scare them. It’s so hard to come home happy anymore with all the bad news. But I want them to live a “normal life” as long as they can because we don’t know when this “normal” will be taken away from us. That’s why I like to get it all out here.

I know what’s coming, an all out economic collapse. I just thought I could emotionally make it through better than I am. I can’t imagine how I would feel if I never started preparing like I did 7 months ago. How are the rest of you on ATS holding up? I would like to make this thread a lean on me type of thread. One where we can all come together, shear our stores and help each other through them. I need an outlet and I don’t want to start scaring my family but things look bleak for the United States and its economy.

My first click of the day and what a doozy. SnF for putting what you and I are both feeling in descript with great clearity. That was like poetry for me . I am a strong dude who has been brought to his knees cause all I know is construction. I've mastered glazing and iron, roofing, framing. Today if it were'nt for my wifes mom and dad owning the place we live in. Well let's just say, I have to sit here day in and day out and be thankful for that. It's driving me out of my mind not working. With all I know, I sit here and I'm only getting older. Very depressing. Just like you I love my family or I wouldn't be here. I'm gonna go prospecting or something. Soon cause this is bull fn chitha.

I've been giving this some thought and generally feeling quite grumpy about it. The are cooing sounds coming out of the US treasury and fund management companies, telling investors not to sell. Of course they would. If they sell i.e. collect, cut and run, then who goes out of business.

If the bonds get cashed in before reaching maturity. The liquidity gets sucked out of the treasury, and get left hold pieces of paper that they printed which is nothing more than an IOU later. So OF COURSE they are going to try and make people feel happy about it. when I say people I mean the people with money. LOTS of it.

As for the rest of us. I hear and see people lamenting the down fall, and the increases, as people would.

I just caught a report of RT about "US" companies "outsourcing" jobs to India. and people lamenting the loss of US jobs to a foreign country.

But lets think about this. All the people interview were in agreement that US companies should NOT take their jobs overseas. because "There is a shrinking middle class in the US" that is a direct quote. Even though these companies are no longer just US companies, but corporations with GLOBAL presence, power and influence. Plus there is such a things as subsidiaries. So in fact it is not a US company, it is now an Indian company. just the BRAND was made in the USA. everything else is Made in China.

But tell me this, what good is a middle class, that doesn't have any money to consume. not to mention that there is a surfeit of highly skilled technical workers in India, who in all honesty surpass in skill, ethic, and motivation those people produced to the workplace in most western countries, and they'll do it for 1/2 the price or less, and work longer hours, and demand less benefits. Then why should companies, damage their bottom line to keep jobs in the US. of their dividend yield and profit margin is higher using overseas labour. Then for good business sense in difficult trading conditions. Why would any businessman not think and act the same.

This is the law that ever action has an equal on opposite reaction. Simply because the US and others have because to entitled and because the Indians now have the hunger for success that the western world enjoyed in the last 50 years.

Consider Rocky III for a moment. He is at the pinnacle of his game, get rich, smart, over complacent. falls in love with his own image. And gets his butt kicked by some guy from the gutter who wnats nothing more than to take what he has.

People in the US / Europe, has become soft. So soft that when the support of the nation state is taken away, their first reaction is to sulk and wait to be rescued. However I do consider this to be more like the final scenes of Titanic, rather than Rocky III. In that all the life boats and preservers have gone. and the quartet are playing their last song.

So IF the boys at the job come to an 11th hour agreement, and the US treasury is allowed to print more bonds. Ask yourself this. Who in their right mind is going to buy them.

a, The Chinese?? Why would they want to do that?
b, The Fed? Well maybe but that will just flood more billions of dollars on to the market, further devaluing the dollar, and making the bonds held by the Chinese already, less attractive, making them wnat to sell the ones they have already even more!
c, Europe? HAHAHAHAH yeah OK.
d, The IMF - No it's not a bail out honest!!!

So who? Face it America, it really is time for you, and us to face facts. that now, like the Indians have done, and Rocky in Rocky IV after Apollo dies, to get back up, and go back to basics. Lean, Mean and HUNGRY. It really is up to you.

Protect what you have now, and prepare to fight for what you want in the future, because it is NOT going to be given to you, or me, or anyone else. And when you are a success at it. It is even more satisfying than before.

It's not nice I know, But business isn't. it is inhuman. it's not personal. But that IS capitalism. What you are missing, are the benefits of socialism.

What we all need, is less -isms and more enterprise. Self enterprise I mean, not some 20 year old wizz kid who is going to creat 20,000+ jobs in your town during the next bubble. but real growth that you and I made made for ourselves.

Brainstorming answers on a reply please!

Yes its a sad reality we live in today
now 1 men out of 5 is unemployed (US)
i was fired already 2 time because the compagnies i worked for shut down (economic reasons)
first one 1000 job lost and the second compagny layed out 3000

Things are getting worst obviously
we have cross the point of no return
if the 9/11 false flag terror attack didnt happen the jobs wouldnt be lost..
the US would had invest those in the correct places
not in the military budget and oil compagnies ...
that cash is gone directly in the PDG's CEO's deep pockets
if 9/11 was really made by talibans .. who lives in caves in afghanistan .. why Irak again ?
look how many countries the US is now in .. investing trillions per weeks for foreign "intervention"

To help a certain ME ally !!
All that cash was spend for them ... can you guess who that is ??
The zionist regime in Israel .. who control 3/4 of the congress right now

The military budget have been boosted by the tax payers money
it has drain all the US money reserves .. even fort knox gold
tax payers dont have any money left
that why they will cut social services and other important stuff
so they can continu until their hidden plan
the USA was one of the most richest country in the world

The only one to blame is the Us Gov ..
its like they wanted to run the country directly in a deep cliff
discarding all warnings

GUESS WHAT NOW .. our Canadian dollars cost more then a US dollars
now Canadians can go shop in rebate in the US .. yes it has become grave like that
never happened before

If they dont raise the dept ceilling .. then the economy crash
and most compagny will fall like flies

Save money for food and water .. dont go waste money for nothing
and pile up water bottles

can’t imagine how I would feel if I never started preparing like I did 7 months ago.

Can you describ your preparation ?
it can give a tips to many

S&F
Need more managers like you to speak about it when they fired a group of people
you did the correct thing speaking of this

At my current place .. my manager just go fired .. so sometime its the other way around to


reply to post by conar


LOL
You got to be kidding me
and i though 100 peso = 1 dollars was way to big number for nothing

davidgrouchy wrote: Many impoverished veterans of WW2 built a shanty town not far from the white house. It was flattened by Army tanks.

Close. It was 1932 during the great depression and the WW1 vets built a shanty town (called Hoovers) on the outskirts of Washington D.C. and were physically evicted by army troops under the command of Army Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur.

gunnyg.wordpress.com...

reply to post by SieMa


Hi SieMa,

I understand your point, also being from the UK. however I would like to make 2 observations.

1, you say "Tesco jobs" like it's a bad thing, not worth while. That I disagree with. A job is a job, and in this climate its better than nothing. Many in the UK just figure they would be better of on benefits. But it is that thinking and weakness by the government in just continually paying out that is one of the reasons that everything is going down the pipes. More people taking out than there are putting in. simple budgetary control.

I worked as a barman in order to pay for my wedding on top of my day job. I enjoyed it and did the best I could at it. I ended up as Weekend supervisor!! and got a little rise out of it, and lots of free beer! When I left after going full time in my own company, and told people what I did for a living, after spending 6 months working in Singapore. They replied, Ohh we just thought you were a barman.

No I replied I'm not, but I was soo damn into it, and did the best I could, because it was necessary for me, that I fooled you all!!! MWAH HA HA HAAAA!


Menial, or physical work does not mean lowly. Only the person is lowly.

2. 5 years ago (while in Singapore (do you like the link there??)) I saw a report from China, of 1,000,000 University graduates in one city, applying for 10 jobs at a company. All in person, at 7am on the first day of applications being accepted. Could you see that in the UK?

reply to post by Ben81

LOL You got to be kidding me and i though 100 peso = 1 dollars was way to big number for nothing

Which peso?
Argentina = 4.33
Chile = 455 (OK thats bad!)
Colombia - 1755 (WHOA!!)
Mexico = 11.65 ( )
Phillipines = 42.19

I have been out of the Marine Corp. for 7 years. I lost my job and fiance about 6 months ago and we have a 9 month old boy. I was forced to break my lease and move in with my parents and lucky enough to be welcome there. I can barely support my son with unemployment, let alone support myself or prep for anything. I'm 29 years old and I should be able to take care of myself and my son and i CAN'T. The jobs are not out there and if they are they don't pay. I try everyday to think of ways to adapt an overcome this but I come up with nothing.

reply to post by camaro68ss


This is how the rest of the NOT west world feel 24/7.
New World has become a New Nightmare

reply to post by JakiusFogg

1, you say "Tesco jobs" like it's a bad thing, not worth while. That I disagree with. A job is a job, and in this climate its better than nothing. Many in the UK just figure they would be better of on benefits. But it is that thinking and weakness by the government in just continually paying out that is one of the reasons that everything is going down the pipes. More people taking out than there are putting in. simple budgetary control.

While I utterly agree a job is a job is a job.. I also struggle to understand peoples comments about this concept that "many" in the UK prefer benefits than to take any type of work or that type of work is done by migrants as your every day Brit is too good..

My experience of life is that the "many" is a negligible number as the rest want to work and will take any job they can. while all the really bad jobs around here are in fact carried out by your average Brit.. (a Port town in Southern England)

I know people who not only try to eek out a living on the boats but also work when they can in the fields.. no one I know is too proud to spread muck or gut fish and most have done both.. which places working in Tescos as a step up

Sorry if this comes across in any other way than a frustrated person trying to show the "many" often quoted is a miss conception.

I'm going to try not to comment extensively, am recovering from illness, but this thread is important and I'm glad you started it, Cam. Suggestion, since your company can no longer keep these people employed, why not go the the extra mile and do something to help them? Either corporately or on your own. For instance, organize a food drive. You'd then be networking with others who want to help and together, people would be supporting each other. So many of the social service programs have no budget, and food shelves are giving out more than they're taking in, so these employees and their families are in trouble as are so many others. Tuesday on Yahoo! News, I saw this disturbing article suggesting some companies don't even want to look at hiring the unemployed:

Job Listings Say the Unemployed Need Not Apply By Liz Goodwin National Affairs Reporter * Posts * Email * RSS By Liz Goodwin | The Lookout – Tue, Jul 26, 2011 An unemployed Nebraska man searches for jobs (AP) Hundreds of job opening listings posted on Monster.com and other jobs sites explicitly state that people who are unemployed would be less attractive applicants, with some telling the long-term unemployed to not even bother with applying. The New York Times' Catherine Rampell said she found preferences for the already employed or only recently laid off in listings for "hotel concierges, restaurant managers, teachers, I.T. specialists, business analysts, sales directors, account executives, orthopedics device salesmen, auditors and air-conditioning technicians." Even the massive University of Phoenix stated that preference, but removed the listings when the Times started asking questions. The concerted shunning of unemployed Americans by prospective employers was a common theme that cropped up in the thousands of responses that poured in when we asked Yahoo! readers to share their experiences of unemployment for our "Down But Not Out" series. Reader Susan W. said she was being treated "as if it were my fault I was unemployed, regardless of the fact that I had put out hundreds of resumes and applications." Legal experts told the Times that explicitly barring unemployed people from applying does not qualify under the statutory definition of discrimination, since unemployment is not a federally protected status like age or race. But the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently set out to establish whether employers were discriminating against certain protected groups because they are overrepresented in the ranks of the unemployed, such as African-American and older workers. (We covered that meeting here.) New Jersey recently passed a law barring employment ads that seek to rule out applications from those who are unemployed. Even if the practice of weeding out unemployed applicants doesn't fit the legal definition of discrimination, it sure feels unfair for the more than 6.3 million Americans who have been out of work for more than six months to be told they are automatically disqualified for the few openings that are out there. "I feel like I am being shunned by our entire society," Kelly Wiedemer, an unemployed information technology specialist, told the Times.

Source:Yahoo! News

So, my question for the ATS community is, what can we DO to help one another through things if they continue to worsen? Perhaps we'd be wise to start trying to put some tangible things in place, just in case, and start organizing. How? Well, that's open for thought and discussion. Am just putting the idea out there, for folks to consider. I've noticed that despite differences in religious, political or other beliefs, most people share similar VALUES, such as compassion or wanting to help others. Something to be mindful of that helps dispel fear.

Also, let me add a couple of links that may be of interest to some. Please understand that I have no personal experience with either, but they did catch my attention online. Both involve opportunities to help work on mostly organic farms and ranches throughout the world as a volunteer in exchange for food, shelter and sometimes a little cash. Lot's of folks moving off the grid here who want to tread lightly on our Earth. Looks like a great way to make contacts, network, learn and grow, in good times and bad:

HelpX

WWOOF

As always, best wishes to everyone. Keep on! ... Kub

reply to post by thoughtsfull


Hi There, I don't worry, I totally agree. indeed there are "even more" that will muck in and do a days work for a days pay. regardless of the job, Youself and my self included.

The sentiment I speak of is shown above.

"The jobs are just not there and those that are don't pay"

NOW, I am sure that the poster is a perfectly good, honest and nice person to have a beer with. and it is not his fault that he feels this way. the US, and now increasingly the UK subscribe in greater numbers the belief that if they can;t get a job that pays national average or higher, then its better to wait, and that they won't do a job or two for minimum wage.

Yes. I know that "many peeople" is very vague. I do not have proper statistic to hand, other than my won experience of having live with the largest council estate in Europe near Manchester. Where 50% of council tax payments goes on benfit payment, A place where neither adult in a family works et the kids have the "latest fashions"

I know there are many who will work, but I also know there are many other who will not, and if they want to, the pride in a job for a jobs sake has gone, and it is better to take the benefit as you'll make more than working.

The point is. that it is this situation that has exacerbated the situation economically, throughout the country. Although the comment about immigrants is a cop out

Some peope say they don't want to work 2 jobs as they won't get to spend time with the family. I understand that. However. I currently work a job 6000 miles from my family, and I don't get to see them for months at a time!!. But you have to do what you have to do, to maintain your life, and that is our choice.

reply to post by camaro68ss


Greetings OP,

I am 18 years old, recently I've graduated from high school. Sure doesn't seem like I'll be able to ever experience a very "normal" life. In terms of raising a family in a comfortable suburb. Very troubling times indeed, keep strong for your family. If the collapse does occur, they'll need you more than ever.

Anchors always sink, but they keep the ship from floating away. Hang in there OP.

Originally posted by camaro68ss
I just needed to post something. I’m just sitting here shaking my head in disbelief and frustration. For those that know a little about me I’m a manager in a construction company and I have to lay off another 4 people today. It’s getting really hard out there and I can’t take it.

I’m getting tired of these economic time, I know it’s not going to get any better. It seems like I’m laying people off every month now and our sales number are dropping. I see this whole stupid debt limit mess in Washington and they just don’t get it. They need to cut 1.6 Trillion now! Not 4 trillion over 10 years. Don’t these guys understand compounding interest and debt. It’s never going to get paid off.

I can barely cope any more but I must stay strong for my family. I’m the anchor and if they see me depressed or drained it’s going to scare them. It’s so hard to come home happy anymore with all the bad news. But I want them to live a “normal life” as long as they can because we don’t know when this “normal” will be taken away from us. That’s why I like to get it all out here.

I know what’s coming, an all out economic collapse. I just thought I could emotionally make it through better than I am. I can’t imagine how I would feel if I never started preparing like I did 7 months ago. How are the rest of you on ATS holding up? I would like to make this thread a lean on me type of thread. One where we can all come together, shear our stores and help each other through them. I need an outlet and I don’t want to start scaring my family but things look bleak for the United States and its economy.

Have you spoke to your mate at the gun shop from an older thread to see if any of his clients can offer advice? You seem in a better position than others for inside knowledge - don't you?

reply to post by camaro68ss

...I’ve been suggesting to family and friends to start bunking up, two families in one home, to save on costs. It might have been looked down on in the past but it’s what people did in the great depression....

I have been trying to do the same.

Convince some friends to help me pay off the mortgage in return for part of my farm via a "corporation" or whatever.

reply to post by Indecent


Indecent,

Question to you as one facing this at the start of their career life.

Have you considered relocating to find work? if needs be. How far would you be willing to go?

I hear the unemployment rate in the US is around 1 in 5.

In Spain currently in your demographic is is close to 1 in 2 so a lot are starting to move.

I feel personally the workforce, in the near future has to become more mobile, and willing to move where needed.

WHat do you think?

Originally posted by kro32
reply to post by camaro68ss

 

I agree with you but alot of people have had their head in the sand for too long and now are going to pay when the times get tough. The time to prepare is when times are good and now unfortunately it will be too late for alot of people.

I've gone without purchasing new cars or having kids in the event something like this would happen, hell even my computer is held together with duct tape since I won't spend money on a new one but when times do become extreme I should be ok but it was a big sacrifice.

I would like to ask those if raising families or taking vacations was worth it with what you know is coming around the corner. I've missed alot of that and sometimes regret it.

Don't regret anything. I have a 2 year old little girl that I wouldn't trade for the world. Having her everyday of my life gives me reason to not just live but live a fulfulled life! If SHTF I will use every ounce of my nurturing instincts to get me through whatever. But let me tell you that we are not planning on more children for this very reason. Until S actually hits the fan, I still have to pay the government so that we can all survive and that would be nearly impossible with more children. My advice to you is not to sacrifice LIVING right now. If it all comes crumbling down you will wish you hadn't wasted the recources and time that you had.

Originally posted by JakiusFogg
reply to post by Indecent

 

Indecent,

Question to you as one facing this at the start of their career life.

Have you considered relocating to find work? if needs be. How far would you be willing to go?

I hear the unemployment rate in the US is around 1 in 5.

In Spain currently in your demographic is is close to 1 in 2 so a lot are starting to move.

I feel personally the workforce, in the near future has to become more mobile, and willing to move where needed.

WHat do you think?

That is a very good question, and one in which I have thought about quite a bit. I have a decent amount of money, enough for a plane ticket, and then to rent for a couple months while I find a job. The only problem is notion of leaving one's family behind. I was talking to a friend of mine about this same issue, he saw leaving his mom as abandonment in a way.

As times get worse (if they do), I'm sure more pros will appear for relocation. So I guess for the time being, I'm going to remain put. Maybe even ride out the storm, many in my family are experienced woodsman. Wouldn't be too hard to live off the land with them.

Well this thread is a downer but very realistic. I like most am in the same boat. My husband hasn't worked in a year and I am the one bringing home the bacon. Our once large nest egg is gone. I scrimp and save but still come up short. When it will end I have no clue. No matter what happens, my children and their well being are all that matters.

I always believed that in 2008 we should have let the economy recalibrate. People still live with no thought of tomorrow. I know many families who are starting to realize that materialist goods are just that- objects, they mean nothing nor will they feed their family. It is sad to watch but it may be what this nation needs. The good times stopped rolling years ago it is just many people haven't realized it and with their continued high living on credit cards and taking second mortgages for those vacations and new cars. They are hurting the country.