Happy Holidays!

More of the Same

We are still fighting in Afghanistan

We are still fighting in Iraq

Guantanamo is still open

Financial institutions are still raking in the dough

Special interests and Lobbyists have completely hijacked the government

The costs for entitlement programs (Social Security and Medicare) continue to rise

The Military Industrial Complex is completely indestructible and the costs continue to escalate

The middle class is still shrinking

The national debt has reached an amount formerly considered catastrophic

The government is morally bankrupt

American corporations have bought our leaders

Congress' approval rating is still dismal

And so on....

As we reach the end of the aughts, the problems are still the same except for the common person/taxpayer, their situation has cratered - staggering unemployment, staggering defaults on debt, be it mortgage, credit card, auto or small business loan, and a staggering weight upon their shoulders as America's future seems increasingly bleak.

So, all we have to look forward to is next year. I do really feel like skipping the holidays because I really don't want to shop or be put in the position of having to shop considering the economic uncertainty that continues to swirl around us. Some are calling the Recession over but many of us are still deep in a depression in many ways. Yes, I do know that holiday spirit can work wonders, especially in times like these, so I am going to put down my typing fingers and try to find some. And I won't be back until I do.

Employment is not the Guarantee it Once Was

It seems that it is now time for me to buckle down and face the future. My world is about to radically change. It is pretty clear that the job prospects that I am currently pursuing will not be as convenient as my previous employment and will require a complete shift in lifestyle. It will mean two parents commuting to work for hours each day. I wonder if it is the right thing to do. All of that travel to sustain a life out here.

While my spouse is lucky enough to be able to take the train, I will most certainly have to drive which will undoubtedly add further stress to my commute. Though I have enjoyed living out here, I really have not established a deep sense of community so in some ways I wouldn't mind moving closer to the city where both my spouse and I would be much closer to the corporate centers that provide the type of jobs for which we are qualified. The downside is that the children have established a community for themselves and do not want to leave.

The new reality is that employment is not the guarantee it once was; there are simply not enough jobs now even for those who are qualified. While gaining employment now requires greater sacrifice than we could have imagined even a short year ago; not gaining employment is having a devastating impact on the middle class. The middle class life is becoming even more difficult to sustain because the types of "good-paying jobs" that fueled the growth of this class continue to rapidly disappear. From all accounts, it is pretty clear that the middle class is shrinking. Long Island is a middle class world and so I fear for its future.

With little job creation on the Island to look forward to - a recent survey in the Long Island Business News indicated that 75% of Long Island companies do not plan on hiring in 2010 - many more of us will probably have to uproot or travel great distances to gain employment. I will be one of those people and so it is almost certain that it will be difficult for me to continue to write with the frequency that I do now. I will see, so shall all of us.

All I Want for Christmas is a Job

My job search is heating up right when I should be focusing on the holidays. I am so completely distracted that it has suddenly occurred to me that it will be Christmas two weeks from tomorrow and I am far from ready. While I have incredible respect for each and every celebration that occurs during this time period, my family celebrates Christmas and it is to this holiday that I refer. Right now, I have no tree and no lights and I have sent no cards and I have not done any shopping. It seems to me that the Christmas spirit has been severely crimped this year, two years of Recession will do that to us, I suppose.

I have not tapped into any overt excitement even though there are only two weeks left. Have we lost our joy? Even the children are not bothering too much about it. They literally have no Christmas lists, it is incredible. But then again, children are resilient and they do respond to the times and though my children are fortunate to live in true suburban comfort, we have tried to refocus them on other pursuits besides the collection of material things. They have been showered with lots of love, attention and affection while I have been out of work so maybe we are simply reaping the benefits of that. They are simply happy to have me around and we all cherish the time because we know I will eventually be back to work.

We have experienced a serious dent to our disposable income so I'm not really in the mood to shop. And while some will experience an urge to splurge just to break up the monotony of lack, I don't feel that materialism will cheer me up. I just want to work. I am excited about the prospect of going to work. And I know for sure that I will be the happiest worker ever for my gratitude will be intact for years. These last three years have been tough for us so I won't be looking any gift horse in any mouth. I suppose that my truth is at hand, all I want for Christmas is a job. I'll be more than happy to celebrate Christmas later when I have made enough money to really and truly afford some gifts.

Let's Just Elect the Lobbyists and Skip the Charade

The word is trickling out that the Senate has reached a healthcare agreement that does not include a public option. In lieu of the public option, it is suggested that medicare be opened up to those 55 and over - they would have to pay a premium - and medicare would be increased to cover those making up to 130% (or thereabouts) of the federal poverty rate. While this option would help those who currently have no health insurance, it does nothing to help those of us covered by increasingly expensive employer plans. Without a public option to provide competition to private insurers, how will they ever have any incentive to lower prices?

Healthcare is not just about providing coverage to those who do not have it, it is also about the rest of us who are paying through the nose for it; employers and employees alike. What is truly sad is that the general consensus is that a bad bill is better than no bill? Of this, I am very afraid. If healthcare costs increase over the next 5 years at the same rate as the last 5, we are doomed. How much more of our paychecks will be lost to premiums and taxes?

Though we have known for quite some time that the special interests were winning, it is pretty clear to me now that they have won; they have completely hijacked the will of the people. After all, there has been very little legislation coming out of Congress that has been good for the average citizen for quite some time. As one letter writer to the Times Editorial page put it, "Maybe we should elect the lobbyists directly to Congress and skip the charade." (11/29/09)

Keeping the Job Hunt Rolling

Rolling, rolling, rolling, keep that job hunt rolling...

Tomorrow I continue my bid for a civil service position. It has been a long and arduous process but I'm happy to still be in the running having reached the actual interview stage. Yes, I am indeed drinking the koolaid when it comes to working in the public sector. But the public sector has fared well, despite the recession, because states and localities used federal stimulus money to plug their budgets and avert layoffs among the rank and file.

Unfortunately, the influx of federal cash won't be available next year and state and municipal tax revenues continue to decline meaning that next year there will be huge budget gaps to fill. So, those of us attempting to join the ranks of public employment at this juncture may be late to the game. I must admit that I am concerned that any new recruits will not have the same job protections as the sitting ducks and I feel that even if I do land a civil service job, I may end up being part of a new wave of layoffs unprecedented in the public sector.

Nevertheless, I am still going for it because I am at least intrigued by the position and having reversed myself on the sector entirely, I truly hope to get it. I am willing to adjust my worldview for the right opportunity and those of us who are unemployed know that we must be flexible in order to improve our odds. Despite recent positive data on the national level, the employment horizon remains bleak on Long Island. Competition is fierce and we have to play hard to win while being thankful for the chance to step onto the playing field. Tomorrow I step out onto the field. Wish me luck.

Where Did the Swine Flu Go?

I thought we were still in the middle of a swine flu pandemic, the re-emergence of an old strain - slightly mutated - that threatens the global populace. Last month, there was a shortage of the vaccine, did we get it? Is everyone happily vaccinated now? Or, has swine flu prevention just become a regular part of our lives such that swine flu fear and the accompanying fear-mongering headlines are no longer necessary. Or, has swine flu simply gone the way of avian "bird" flu or SARS? Maybe there is not enough room in the news cycle, what with all the economic collapse, healthcare reform and unwinnable wars we are surrounded with. Not to mention Tiger Wood's early morning solo car crash at the end of his driveway followed by a wife wielding a golf club and the subsequent admittance of "transgressions" on his part.

Schools and businesses have loaded up on hand sanitizer and education initiatives to help people learn, yet again, hand-washing techniques which we all should know by now is the single most effective method for preventing any type of contagion. Hasn't there been a sign in every public restroom for the past 30 years? Hopefully, it is all sinking in and people continue to be careful, for the cold weather is rapidly approaching and by extension the worst of the cold and flu season. Maybe there will be a decrease in simple colds and flu as an additional bonus from all the swine flu preventive methods we are all supposed to be practicing. Whatever the case, I'm doing all that I can do to prevent myself from getting sick. Excuse me while I go load up on some more vitamins.

Jobs Revisited Again

Well, it is not like the problem of jobs has gone anywhere, the topic has been front and center for the last two years. And for all that has been said about creating them and saving them and stimulating them, nothing has happened and the unemployment rate now stands at 10.2% as we all painfully know.

Tomorrow President Obama will hold a Job Summit at the White House. Business leaders and political dignitaries will brainstorm with the President about how to create jobs in America. All should read Paul Krugman's New York Time's editorial, The Jobs Imperative (11/30/09) for a well tempered view on the subject. Unfortunately, neither he nor his colleagues have much faith in the summit. I'll guess we'll see what the President comes up with.

In Afghan We Stand

Today President Obama announced his plans for Afghanistan, in response to General McChrystal's request for 40,000 more troops. Many military experts criticized the General's request as paltry considering that a true counterinsurgency strategy required significantly more troops. Anyway, the President basically said that we have the resurgence of the Taliban and Al Qaeda which is a tremendous security risk for America so we need a surge and we have a coalition of the willing. Except, he assured us that this would not be an open ended commitment. What does that sound like? I'm afraid that "Bush-lite" is really going to stick on this one.

Essentially, President Obama plans to send 30,000 troops within the next 6 months. Apparently NATO will send some as well, for some 43 nations are in support of our surge. NATO is expected to make an announcement later this week. The President did not refer to his strategy as a surge but that is essentially what it is, for in the summer of 2011 he plans to start drawing down troops. But what happens if things take another turn for the worse like in Iraq where our military surged and then surged again?

The cost of the surge is estimated at $30,000,000,000. The new number circulating is that the war costs $1,000,000 per soldier. Obviously this is a disingenuous number calculated by dividing the total cost of the war by the number of troops; it is the military equipment that is costly not the individual soldier. The rationale for the President's strategy is that we need to re-take some geography from the Taliban and Al Qaeda and train more Afghan security forces before we can leave. Those of us who wanted to end the war sooner than later will be disappointed. Those of us who wanted the full troop assignment (and then some) will also be disappointed.

It Would Be Nice to Move to Dubai

In the middle of last week, Dubai World, the wholly-owned investment conglomerate of the Dubai government requested a six month forbearance on its loan payments. In debt for the paltry sum of some $56,000,000,000, Dubai World's request was enough to rack investor confidence causing stock markets to tank worldwide. Investors were reminded once again that the financial peace that has been struck worldwide is still very unstable.

The way things are going here in America certainly gets one to thinking about moving out. And, the best place to move to is a place of established ruin, especially where everything is new and entry costs are significantly reduced. I'm thinking it would be nice to move to Dubai. All of the pictures of Dubai look great and I like the heat. The sheer engineering marvels that have been constructed there, the Burj Dubai, the manmade islands, the indoor ski mountain (in the middle of the desert) all seem pretty marvelous. Over the last five years, there were increasingly more fancy pictures in the real estate magazines as Dubai launched its huge pitch to attract the wealthy. Even Michael Jackson moved there for a while. But now with the overbuilding and the empire on the verge of debt's door, real estate prices have collapsed and us little people might be able to afford something there.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been a facinating outpost in the Middle East, successfully transferring oil wealth into a new Arab capitalist empire. Dubai is one of the seven emirates, nation-states, that is part of the UAE. When it's oil reserves ran low years ago, it sought to remake itself as a financial capital of the middle east in a similar vein to Hong Kong. And so it borrowed and borrowed to build this financial kingdom, much like the US and a multitude of other nations during the aughts when money was cheap and debt-fueled consumption was all the rage.

All of the institutional investors - the major banks that we have to come to know so well - assumed that Dubai World's debt was guaranteed by the government or at least by Abu Dhabi, it's oil rich neighbor. Except, the Dubai government has refused to bail out Dubai World and Abu Dhabi also refuses to guarantee its debt. Nobody wants to help Dubai because it went out on a drunken spending spree this last decade. Unsound familiar? Faced with the same situation, America did the opposite.

We may be angry about the bailouts to our banks and other major institutions because those institutions have, in turn, completely and unapologetically treated us all like garbage. And, Wall Street is "fat" again while the average person sinks into poverty. But, we should consider that if the paltry debt payments of a tiny nation-state can reek so much financial trouble, imagine how the world would have reacted if America had said no to its spendthrift institutions and allowed for even the perception of failure. I certainly don't think I could be sitting here imagining moving to Dubai. Yes, the whole financial market system stinks worldwide but it is not because of the wealth, it is because of the moral bankruptcy that has increasingly accompanied that wealth.

Happy Thanksgiving - A Week Early

Thanksgiving is an American Holiday. Families get together to enjoy a traditional meal that includes Turkey and all the trimmings or some modern variation thereof. I suppose Thanksgiving is a celebration of food ultimately for Thanksgiving is described in the history books as a feast in celebration of the Pilgrims' first harvest which would not have been possible without a major assist from the Native Americans. There is no actual table-side celebration that incorporates this history or much mention of history when we leave the football game, the kitchen or whatever we are doing to actually sit down and eat.

So what is the true meaning of Thanksgiving for us? Some will say it is a time for family and friends to celebrate together. But, Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, and other winter holidays are upcoming within the month and there is usually a meal just as large as Thanksgiving but this time accompanied by presents. Some will say it is a time to give thanks that we are fortunate to be able to partake of a large quantity of food. To this end, my family makes a donation to a food pantry to provide a Thanksgiving meal to a family in need.

In a new twist this year, my family has instituted Thanksgiving creep and we are having our meal Wednesday evening to accommodate everyone's Thursday schedule. Many of us who are married do two Thanksgivings in order to incorporate both sides of the family. For those who live in the NY Metro area, there is the Thanksgiving parade to attend and a myriad of other activies. I'm hoping we keep creeping until we reach back to September when I think it is a great time to do it. Of course I am just fussing because my household also celebrates three birthdays in Novmber so by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, we are festived out and then we have start up immediately for Christmas.

So, because I just got a little older and in order to survive this year, now that I have less energy than I had last year, I am saying Happy Thanksgiving a week early because with the influx of friends and family beginning on Monday, I'll essentially be a goner. Therefore I will not be posting next week. Thankfully, my audience is still very very small and I'm sure they can entertain themselves, feel happier even without my whining. Happy Thanksgiving - a week early!

Bowing is Customary and Necessary

There has been much furor over President Obama's visit to Asia, in particular his deep bow before the Japanese emperor. Sometimes you have to bow when you travel to Asia to thank them for continuing to buy much of our debt. What else is this diplomatic mission for anyway? We are borrowing like fiends to save the country and China and Japan own close to 50% of that debt.

Throughout this economic crisis, economists have continually compared America to Japan. Japan's lost decade and prolonged recession are held up as an example for why we needed more government stimulus; the claim is that Japan's government did not invest enough internally to prop up the country and avert a deep recession. So the logic has been that we must do the opposite and so we are plowing in trillions to save ourselves. But, we should be frightfully aware of the difference, they own nearly a quarter of our debt so they are still solvent.

China is considered the successor to our throne and not only are they weathering this global recession well, they own nearly a quarter of our debt also. We must keep in mind that neither of these countries is spending a third of their budget on their military and another third on entitlements like Social Security and Medicare. Hello! Obama had better follow cultural custom and bow, in fact, he technically needs to get down on his knees.

Only in America do we think that we are all that and a bag of chips and rightly so for up until the last few years, we were the envy of the rest of the world. However, due t0 our most recent and disastrous foreign policy, we absolutely need to fix our mystique, something that Obama has nearly accomplished in less than a year. But, people over here have forgotten why that is important, they still think that America is the center of the Universe. I'm sure the people of Rome felt that way too before it fell.

I don't think the end of the world is around the corner, history unfolds much more slowly than it seems. All of the empires that previously fell like the Ottoman, Roman & British are still thriving. They are not number one but they are quite robust. America is not falling tomorrow, it may be in decline but it will still take a while. And while we may lose #1 status, we will remain close behind and may even reclaim it. America has iron balls and vast wealth and the combination thereof may, in fact, save it.

Eeny Meeny Miny Moe: Public vs. Private Employment

Today the New York Times reported on the recent spike in applicants to the New York City Police Department. The cast offs from a shrinking private sector are trying to get their foot into the shrinking public sector. Unfortunately, due to municipal budget constraints, the NYPD is currently trying to shrink through attrition and they are hiring very few new recruits. But, the prospect of a job with a starting salary in the low forties that can pay in the nineties after five years and still carries a pension after 20 years of service looks very good when you are coming from the private sector.

A steady paycheck and job security are very enticing especially when you have been slapped around by layoffs and a diminishing paycheck. Even I am warming up to the prospect of working in the public sector. My only concern is the shrinking tax revenues and the fact that little has been done here in NY to curb spending in the public sector. Those budget cuts are inevitable but continue to be delayed through budgetary sleight of hand or the leveling of new fees and indirect taxes.

Despite the economic reality, it is political suicide in NY for politicians to push for budget cuts that involve cutting personnel; the unions do not take kindly to these types of suggestions. But, I think the economics will eventually trump the protection enjoyed by public sector workers and the new hires will suffer the brunt of any cutbanks. I fear that will be my fate should I be fortunate to get on board but right now employment in the private sector offers nothing but uncertainty as well. Eeny meeny miny moe.

Where is the Substance?

Where is the substance and when are we going to get it back? I am tired of the political drama swirling around us. Can we get down to the business of serious solutions? I am tired of the Republicans being the party of no and I'm tired of the Democrats fixing the economy with a subsidy to everyone. We have real problems to solve but instead all we get from the cable news channels these days is negativity and bickering depending on their political leaning. Cable news channels, if they ever did, no longer report the news impartially, they preach to their respective choirs. Conservatives go to Fox, Liberals go to MSNBC and the rest go to CNN which is dead last in the ratings right now.

While we are glowingly covering all the knock down drag fights between the political parties and soaking up each morsel of their infighting, nothing is being done in government except what is dictated by the lobbyists and campaign contributors. The elected officials are just pawns in the giant game of whose money speaks loudest and catering to those monies in the hopes that it secures their re-election. Apparently being an elected official is so downright fantastic that once a person is in, their sole purpose in life is to sustain their tenure.

Americans love drama but they don't realize that the drama that we are witnessing is very destructive. We arbitrarily blame incumbents for issues not of their making and elect contenders who have no real strategy to improve the status quo. We throw out Democrats for trying to help too many and elect Republicans who want to help no one but themselves. Back and forth like a yo-yo while the country continues to sink.

We are quickly throwing Republicans back into office forgetting the destruction created under eight years of Bush and yet the Democrats are only in power because of the destruction created under eight years of Bush. We show our disgust by not showing up for elections while we expend our troops and billions of dollars to guarantee the elections of other nations. We are so far off from what we can accomplish as a country, it is a shame. We need to stop treating our politics like a reality show and start demanding some substance.

Job Creation in Suffolk County Still Lagging

Finally, a second classmate from my professional certification program has found employment. Twelve more to go. In these troubling times, the employment process is very hard and very slow. She, like the first, had to meet with an extraordinary amount of people within the organization, eleven in her case, in order to gain admittance. This is a woman of extraordinary savvy with almost two decades of experience in the technology realm and she more than deserved the opportunity. But, she had to commute to Manhattan to get it after working locally for the past 15 years. (The first classmate accepted an opportunity in Nassau County.)

Even though there are signs that there is some easing in the job market, job creation in Suffolk County is still lagging. Marquee companies like CA are still laying off and others like Motorola (formerly Symbol) and Nortel Networks are hanging by a thread. The rest simply have hiring freezes in place. Even the County itself has implemented a hiring freeze. But most importantly, many worthy development projects have completely stalled; the type of projects that could bring good jobs to the region, improve tourism and create affordable housing. The County needs to step up its efforts to remove the obstacles to growth, now more than ever.

Rethinking the Work-Life Balance

Can both of the parents of two grade school children, who reside in mid-Suffolk County, commute to New York City or its environs, up to a 2 hour commute each way, when they have no network of support, neither relatives nor close friends in the vicinity who can help manage the children as early as 6:15am and as late as 8pm?

There is much to consider. Unfortunately, a non-income-generating wife is not an option for them at this time. The husband currently commutes to the city and the wife worked locally until she was laid off. Given the current economy and availability of jobs in her field, the pendulum is swinging toward a hefty commute for her as well, considering the interest she is receiving from prospective employers, in New Jersey, New York City and western Nassau County.

Yes, there are plenty of dual parent working households but a support system is necessary in order to succeed. Yes there are nannies and they seem to work well for families residing in New York City where there is proximity and public transportation to help a non-family member shuttle the children to their requisite activities.

The suburbs require a vehicle, a whole extra layer of complication when it comes to safety and insurance. Also, the cost of the nanny together with the $600 a month in transportation costs (commuter rail, subway and gas) and the negative cost of seeing the children very little during the week would eliminate much of the benefit of the additional salary.

The reality is that both parents working in the city or very close to it would require a significant move to reduce the commute and childcare costs. It would be a major disruption in the lives of the children and would it truly be worth it now that they are established members of the community? The benefit of moving would be that the children could be dropped off at school on the way to work (at a reasonable hour) and the abundant choices of after-school care could be utilized (widely available til 6pm).

The savings on childcare and transportation costs would definitely improve the family finances. However the cost of housing in or near the city may undo all of the savings. Also, could they (or anyone for that matter) sell their house for a reasonable amount in this real estate market to facilitate such an option?

Job desperation will make one attempt the impossible when it comes to work-life balance; it invariably means throwing one's life out of balance when the getting to and from work takes precedence. But without work, what about the dollars required to fund life? Well, this is my life and these are the questions that are swirling while my job clock is ticking. And nothing could save me but a miracle job in Suffolk County. Is there anybody out there? Can I get a witness?

Washington to the Rescue

With the jobless rate at alarming levels, 10.2% officially but depending upon who you consult unofficially, it is upwards of 20% when the under-employed and discouraged workers are included, the Keynesian economists and others are advocating that Washington spend more to create jobs. Recently the Obama Administration claimed that the stimulus has saved or created 640,00 jobs but unfortunately this falls far short of the numbers required.

Now that the banks are saved and the economy is stabilizing, the private sector has failed to create any jobs as expected. In fact, there has been a net loss in private sector jobs this decade so I don't know what Washington was expecting when they set out to save them. Instead, companies are continually cutting payroll to balance out their bottom line. So, if Corporate America cannot or will not create jobs, the belief is that the government should step in to remedy the situation. Besides, the Democrats have a stake in getting people back to work else their dominance of Congress and the Presidency may likely evaporate as the populace becomes more disgusted.

Meanwhile the government, in the face of declining tax revenues, has ratcheted up its ever burgeoning debt in its efforts to save the economy, save the banks, save current homeowners and encourage future ones among other stimulus efforts. Yet, despite the backlash against continued government spending, given the massive $12,000,000,000,000 debt and the $1,400,000,000,000 annual deficit, the government is being urged to spend more on job creation a la FDR's work programs during the Great Depression. Theoretically, the government could have spent more money on job creation and less on cash for clunkers and homeowner tax credits. After all, if jobs are created people will naturally have money to spend instead of enticing them with perceived "savings."

But there is more to consider when it comes to job creation. I came across a statistic recently that 58% of Americans receive some form of income from the government - public sectors workers, social security & pensions recipients, members of the military and military contractors and so on. Corporations are telling us that cutting costs is the only way to balance the books when revenue falls. If so much of our tax dollars are going back into paying ourselves, how can the government ever balance its books?

And Still They Rise

Today the stock market rallied again, 204 points to close at 10,227. I shake my head. Unemployment is 10.2%, a rate that they said we would reach next year, its already here. As the unemployment rate rises, so does the market. Layoffs make a company's bottom line look good, the type of numbers that makes Wall Street happy but steadily erodes optimism on the part of the jobseeker. I know for a fact that Verizon and AT&T are laying off thousands even though it is not big news. Also today, Sprint Nextel announced 2500 layoffs and Electronic Arts announced 1500.

The layoffs are happening at an alarming pace though they are for the moment under the radar. They aren't showing up in the news much but they are showing up in the unemployment data. In response, Congress extended unemployment benefits for a 4th time. But, in New York, the benefits will go to those who've been out since 2008. Most of us who started drawing benefits this spring have been left out of these extensions so far. I've got til the end of this year so I remain vigilant in my search. I have an interview tomorrow and the commute will be a hardship but beggars can't be choosers, can they?

Dow Rally Ignores Reality of Jobless Data

The Dow rose 204 points today closing above 10,000 again on news that jobless claims fell by 20,000 to 512,000 and some people shopped a little. How is this a good sign? Since the data takes into account only those who are active on the rolls, the fact that unemployment benefits expire for 7,000 people each day and others have simply given up the search is tragically overlooked.

With regards to giving up the search, it is tempting to give up especially with all of the hours spent upon the task falling into a black hole. So much time and effort and absolutely nothing to show for it. Nevertheless, since you have to be in it to win it, jobseekers must soldier on. Sadly, the government is expected to announce tomorrow that the official jobless rate has risen to 9.9%.

Even though we have been told countless times that the unemployment rate will continue to climb through next year topping 10%, the record rise in the Dow, 4500 points in 8 months, and the bountiful bonuses on Wall Street juxtaposes badly. For Wall Street, a small drop in initial jobless claims, even though new claims have topped 500,000 on a weekly basis for the last year, is good news. For the most of us, cognitive dissonance abounds.

Fistfuls of Candy

Five days past Halloween and the reality sinks in, the amount of candy laying around the house is treacherous. When you really think about it, the whole Halloween process is kind of strange. After teaching children the cardinal rule of not accepting candy from strangers, we dedicate a whole day, replete with costumes, occult themes and the celebration of the undead, to collecting as much candy as possible, from strangers.

The amount of candy that the children brought home was unwieldy, the festivities and "safe" activities were plentiful and most of it took place in the middle of the afternoon thanks to Halloween being on the weekend this year. It had been years since it was on the weekend and there was much deliberation about when was the best time to go out trick or treating.

We expected "trick or treaters" all day but unfortunately there were not that many on our street. We realized that most of the children had aged out and there are only a handful of Halloween-ready young ones left. Nevertheless, I love trick or treating on my street because it is my opportunity to catch up with the neighbors before we all become shut-ins for the winter.

My brother does not celebrate Halloween and I have met others who don't either. My husband thinks the whole thing is overwrought and I do to a certain extent. When we were growing up, there was not that much emphasis on Halloween, there weren't thousands of costumes to choose from or hundreds of retailers plying their Halloween wares. And tales of tainted candy and razorblades found in apples were urban legend. There simply was not that much selection of candy or sweets that were individually wrapped and what was available was expensive.

Anyhow, back to present day. The bowls of candy beckon and we are faced with the reality that we cannot eat it all else we'll rot our teeth or gain weight. So what is the point of all the candy collecting anyway when no part of it is truly good for us at all.

Another Election Day: Another Round of False Promises

Republican candidates have won in New Jersey and Virginia signaling to the GOP that the tide has turned; Americans are done with President Obama and the Democrats and the Republicans will return home to roost. Since all politics is local, I doubt Obama is really much of a factor in these races but in those where Democrats lost this evening, the Republicans will cheer these victories as a resurgence.

From the looks of it, 2010 will be daunting for many of the newly elected, especially those who are untested. In the last decade, politicians have not had to really fix much, they merely needed to promise that they would reduce taxes and cut spending to be elected. But mostly popularity was the order of the day as both taxes and spending increased monumentally. With the aura of rising prosperity, we ignored that the mountaintop that we were joyfully standing upon was a solid mass of debt and so did our governments and municipalities.

Now that the economy has crashed, we want everything fixed right away but we don't want to cut any spending even though we want lower taxes. Sadly, the most beneficial spending cut is a reduction in personnel just like every major corporation has already done to balance the bottom line. However, few of these government workers/voters recognize that they comprise a major cost center of the budget and they have no plans to vote themselves out. Any one seeking office promises the spending cuts but they are difficult to attain. I wish them all luck.

The Republican Party Should Just Split Already: Part Two

Back in my July 8 post, The Republican Party Should Just Split Already, I suggested that the Republican Party should split in two because it was fairly obvious that "the conservatism that is supposed to define the current Republican Party has different meanings to different people. Fiscal conservatives may have nothing in common with religious conservatives other than the term conservative" and it has become increasingly clear that the two groups have differing agendas. I concluded that "The Republicans should get on it with it but first they would have to decide who keeps the Republican Party name and who becomes the newly chartered Conservative Party, a fine name I believe."

Well, it looks like the Conservative Party is taking shape as witnessed by the battle in NY's 23rd district between the "Conservative" (Republican) candidate, Doug Hoffman and the "Republican" candidate, Dede Scozzafava. Sarah Palin and Dick Armey have jumped in on the side of Hoffman, soundly criticizing Scozzafava, the GOP sanctioned candidate, as not being conservative enough, and have expedited an armload of outlander cash Hoffman's way. In this fairly unremarkable district that has been solidly Republican since the 1800s, the schism within the Republican party took center stage. Scozzafava decided to drop out before tomorrow's vote due to a big slide in her poll numbers but she did something remarkable and endorsed the Democratic candidate, Bill Owens, clearly demonstrating that the schism is widening.

Since Reagan, when I first became cognitively aware of the party politics, it never seemed right to me that religious conservatives from the heartland and corporate Republicans shared the same party. Somehow they managed to keep this all cobbled together until last year when the base of the base whipped up by Palin, Joe the Plumber and the like could no longer go unnoticed by the big money folks on K Street and Wall Street. I don't know how much longer they indeed to sit on the fence and watch the gutting of the Party.

I'm sure there is plenty more to come whatever the outcome tomorrow. But the Peter Principle lurks and one of these narrow-minded hypocrites could make a serious run for President. This is, after all, America.

The Stimulus is Working, The Stimulus is Working!

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 200 points today after the government reported that "third-quarter gross domestic product rose at a seasonally adjusted 3.5% annual rate." I suppose we have to dig deeper into what constitutes "seasonally adjusted" and "annual rate." When did all of the government reporting switch to "seasonally adjusted" data. Is it like daylight savings time for numbers? We spring them forward then adjust them back?

Anyway, it was enough for Wall Street to get excited about having watched the index close down over 100 points three times this week. All of the GDP excitement was not enough to lift it back over 10,000 points though, it currently stands at 9963. I am sure it will reach there tomorrow and then drop back next week continuing the mad triple digit flip-flopping that has characterized the market lately. Investors are back to over-reacting to every smidgen of "good" news and every smidgen of "bad" news. In my opinion, some of this news wasn't worth any movement at all.

The GDP figures adds more fuel to the "recession is over" fire despite the economic crisis still unfolding on the employment and housing fronts. This can only mean one thing, the stimulus package must be working because consumers have not returned to driving the economy at their usual rate unless they are handed $4,500 to buy a new car or $8,000 to buy a first house.

Afghanistan: Graveyard of Foreign Armies

I don't like to weigh in about war because I do not like war and the rationale for war. I thought the entry into Iraq was a bad idea and the obvious contrivances foisted upon us in the run up to the war had me shouting at the television. Then George Bush threw down the gauntlet, we were either with him or against him and Rummy (Donald Rumsfeld) enthralled us with his surefire shock and awe strategy and the next minute we were watching the biggest fireworks show ever, the bombing of Baghdad.

The whole thing was supposed to be easy, the mighty pyrotechnical weaponry of the greatest and most expensive army in the world would take out Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction and deliver unto the Iraqis a freely democratic state that would also serve as an American foothold in the region. Six and half years later, we are still there. Are we?

There has not been much press on the Iraq War lately because the Iraq War, all that it is, ended up being a very expensive trillion dollar distraction, siphoning off troops and resources from the war in Afghanistan, where we were fighting the good fight against Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden, the architect of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, and their state sanctioned sponsor the Taliban. Now, Afghanistan is front and center again, for eight years later, we are still there as well.

Both the Iraq and Afghan wars are of the same ilk. We invaded sovereign nations, destabilized their dictatorial regimes, tried to impose a system of democracy that resulted in weak, ineffectual and corrupt governments and where we have whipped up brutal insurgencies. Now, if we pull out, both of these fledgling states, Iraq and Afghanistan, can easily be overrun by power-hungry anti-American factions that will reverse all of our efforts, undermine our foothold in the region and imperil the lives of the inhabitants, not to mention becoming full out breeding grounds for terrorist cells.

The only existing military logic is to hold the line against insurgency by sending in more troops and training the national armies to manage the fight themselves allowing us to withdraw. We have been training the Afghans and the Iraqis for eight years and six years respectively and their armies are still not ready to take the reins. We send our soldiers into battle after six weeks of basic training but it seems virtually impossible to bring those national armies up to speed.

We are supposed to draw down troops in Iraq next year and right now, I don't know if that is still the plan. Whatever the case General McChrystal has now asked his Commander-in-Chief for 44,000 more troops in Afghanistan. Sending more troops will be a tacit acceptance of prolonged war. We must note here that Afghanistan has been known as the "graveyard of foreign armies" for several hundred years. Historically, foreign armies, including the British and the Russians, have jeopardized their empires trying to defeat the Afghans in lengthy contests, without success.

We cannot continue to fund both of these wars as we have already gone into considerable debt funding them and if we continue, in light of the current deficits and amid our current economic collapse, we run the risk of utter financial ruin. The President has a hard choice but in the end, I think, he should not send more troops. He should let the military manage with what they have while finding a solution for America to withdraw as expeditiously as possible before we all go down in flames.

Extended Unemployed Benefits Not For All

Many are welcoming the news that Congress is actively considering extending unemployment benefits for another 13 weeks, 20 in states where the unemployment rate is greater than 8.5%. While most people, including the newly unemployed, assume that extended benefits are available for all, that is simply not the case, at least in New York state. In fact, only those who filed for benefits before October 2008 are eligible for the full load of extended benefits, currently an additional 53 weeks (once they have exhausted the initial 26 weeks of regular benefits). And, having exhausted those 53 weeks, if they do so by the end of 2009, will be eligible for the new Federal extension should it be ratified.

What most of us don't know is that eligibility for extensions is based on when one filed for and began to collect benefits. These are the rest of the basic guidelines: Persons who claimed benefits between October 2008 and February 2009 are eligible for a maximum extension of 33 weeks; Persons who claimed between February 2009 and June 2009 are eligible for only a 20 week extension; And, if you filed after June 2009, you get the basic 26 weeks and that's it.

So, for those who believe (and they do!) that many unemployed people have simply given up looking for work, happy to ride the government gravy train because they have an almost unlimited pipeline of cash, are mistaken. They also fail to realize that the average weekly benefit in New York is about $300 of the maximum of $405. Anyone able to survive on $1200 a month when the average weekly paycheck is about $850? Hmmm? Most people I know cannot afford to be unemployed and believe me are not feeling happy about collecting such a paltry sum when their lives are based on a much higher salary.

I feel for the people who lost their jobs over a year ago now and have run out of benefits deperately waiting for the government to tide them over once again. But the real truth is that right after the New Year, a whole host of people who lost their jobs this Spring, when we experienced the massive bloodbath of layoffs, will run out of benefits for good. Will the government throw them a lifeline too?

Jobsearch Revisited

I am still looking! Lately, I have been searching though area corporation's websites, site by site, because I feel the job postings on these sites may be more authentic. Fellow job searchers will certainly understand for it is getting increasingly harder to tell which postings on the major job boards (i.e. Monster, CareerBuilder, HotJobs) or aggregators (i.e Indeed, SimplyHired) are valid.

Like aging house listings, many job posts are removed and re-listed so as to appear new even though they have been out there for a while. Many of these are just fishing expeditions, have to be, because there is no other explanation for how a company can fail to find suitable candidates after many months especially when a listing is for a fairly standard position. Obviously, if they are looking for a highly skilled specialist then we can understand they are looking for a needle in a haystack. But, if they keep posting certain jobs for which we know applicants abound, then what is up with that? Not to mention that there is so much repetition as multiple headhunters/recruiters post the same listings looking for heads.

Employment recruiters must have really taken off during the boom years that even in this distressed job market, there still are so many. How can we pledge allegiance to any one recruiter with so much cutthroat competition? We all know that all recruiters are not built alike. We want to be talking to the agency that has a solid relationship with the hiring manager at a prospective employer.

But then again, a recruiter is a negative if you can apply for a job directly through an employer's website and have just as much a chance as making a connection as they do. Besides, many of these employer sites expressly state their unwillingness to work with third parties. Unless, of course, you are working with the employer-sanctioned recruiter in which case you know you have a good lead in. The bottom line is recruiters cost a company money and how many of them would be willing to pay when there are so many job seekers?

As we all know by now, the big buzzwords have been network, network, network. Well, I know a lot of people who really have been exercising that option and they are no further along than I am. The job picture is just as certain as Caterpillar's announcement today that they will be hiring and firing; re-hiring 550 previously separated workers but firing 2,500 others. Alas...

Clipping Wall Street Compensation Doesn't Help Us Much

With public sentiment rising against the egregiousness of Wall Street bonuses, the Treasury and the Federal Reserve have separately proffered plans seeking to curb executive pay in the financial sector. Both plans seek to reduce current compensation incentives that richly reward short-term profits and the selling of high risk financial instruments, the type of incentives that fueled the behavior that led to the crash in the first place. The Treasury plan is specific to the top seven recipients of taxpayer bailouts which includes Citigroup, AIG and Bank of America. They seek to reduce the pay of the top 25 executives by 50% over last year while the Federal Reserve seeks sweeping overhauls in compensation across the entire financial sector.

While this is all nice and good, these people are already rich and they will find work-arounds to keep themselves that way. Meanwhile the Dow continues to flip-flop across the 10,000 point threshold rising 132 points today after losing just as much in the previous two. This was too much of an increase for flimsy profit data especially when initial job claims rose "unexpectedly" to 531,000. It is clear that profits continue to be engineered through cost cutting and not earnings. While layoff news is no longer grabbing headlines, a quick visit to the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows mass layoffs are still high. In September 248,000 persons were laid off. That is one quarter of a million people laid off last month. And still the prospects are grim, a visit to the aptly named www.dailyjobcuts.com will have you crying.

While attempts to clip compensation on Wall Street may soothe us in the short term, it doesn't do much to help us really. What companies are doing to the rest of us in order to gain those earnings that makes Wall Street happy is far worse.

Overqualified

The New York Times online just ran a story about how a company in Indiana, having garnered 500 applicants for a $13 per hour job posting, instituted a thoughtful recruiting process to weed through the applicants. (Amid Tough Climate, a Thoughtful Recruitment Process, NY Times, 10/21/09). In what appears to be a timeline of two weeks, they were able to whittle down the list, conduct interviews and hire the person they believe was best suited for the position. This was accomplished by first eliminating the "significantly overqualified candidates right away, reasoning that they would leave when the economy improved. Among them was a former I.B.M. business analyst with 18 years experience; a former director of human resources; and someone with a master’s degree and 12 years at Deloitte & Touche, the accounting firm."

For me, the pedigree of some of these applicants hits home. This time around in this Recession, in this job market, in the face of escalating economic peril, there are simply too many well-qualified professionals out there all competing for jobs for which they are immediately overlooked precisely because they are overqualified. The fact that they have to resort to applying to jobs at a lower wage and professional level speaks to the tightness of the job market. Yet, the old thinking still prevails that those who are overqualified will leave immediately when a better paying position presents itself. I don't believe this will be the case this time around.

Eight million individuals have lost their jobs in just under two years at a pace unseen since the Great Depression. And, leading economic forecasters predict that the ranks of the unemployed will continue to rise through 2010 and hiring will not rebound til at least 2012, not to mention that we are still losing about 250,000 jobs a month. The fact is we need to swing to a positive of creating 400,000 jobs per month simply to begin to re-absorb the currently unemployed and to have jobs available for the 150,000 matriculating into the workforce every month.

Job creation statistics show growth in primarily the healthcare, government and education sectors, sectors that are primarily funded by taxpayer dollars. I am not seeing where these sectors can possibly create jobs of the magnitude required especially in the face of insufficient and now declining tax revenues and federal, state and local governments' spiraling debt burdens. In addition, new job procurers are most likely earning less than they did previously for the same or similar job.

So, I believe companies do not have to worry about job jumpers at this juncture because there are no jobs to jump to. Besides, if you have a job, your head is down working your bejesus off because you do not want to lose it. You are not thinking of jumping to another company, believe me. So for these overqualified professionals, what now? Where will they find work if they are automatically turned down for opportunities for which they are deemed overqualified yet there are no jobs being created at their level?

Civil Service, Not for Me...?

A while back, I mentioned I was taking a Suffolk County civil service test to broaden my job search options. It was for a trainee position, paying in the thirties and though I initially passed it up, I reconsidered when my prospects started to look dim. After all, statistics do show that job growth is occurring in the healthcare, education and government sectors.

Alas, there was not much information about the test and I initially surmised that since it was a trainee exam, how long could it be and how hard could it be? Well, it was long, five hours long, and it was hard, the type of hard that gives you a headache from question one. I've had my share of education and I'm telling you, it was hard.

I had done my due diligence, having driven over to Suffolk County Community College the day before to case the joint so I would know which building and where to park. Everything went according to plan until I got into the room and learned about my five hour fate. I had some snacks with me and water but the combination of stress and my low blood sugar issues (I have to eat within a certain time frame or else I start to feel ill) took its toll on me and I began to overheat and feel nauseous three hours in. Technically, it was lunchtime but there was no scheduled break for this exam.

I excused myself and went to the rest room, wet my face, drank some water and removed a layer of clothing. The test proctor asked me if I was OK and was incredibly sweet and procured me some raisins and a tangerine. Unfortunately, my body would not agree and I turned completely green. I endeavored to finish the test so I could get out of there. That's all I could think of, getting out of there and, of course, I quickly gave up on the whole notion of pursuing this avenue. Unfortunately, I tossed my cookies the second I got out, at four and a half hours in, with barely enough time to find a suitable receptacle. Thankfully, there was a well-placed garbage can.

Anyhow, after fielding inquiries from friends and family regarding my test results, I finally called Civil Service and was told that it would take three to six months. That was fine with me because I didn't want anything do with it anymore. Well, they called me today to tell me that I was one of the high scorers and they'd like me to come in for an oral examination before a panel (death squad?) of three persons. I am still thinking that this is a trainee position, that will net me, after taxes, not much more than I am receiving from unemployment, not that unemployment will last forever...

Of course, immediately upon receiving the phone call with the "good" news, I had an instant headache, as the tricky civil service policy questions came back to haunt me. Do I really want to do this job? I know people think of civil service as a godsend but me, I'm not so sure.

Republican Sickness

We are all familiar with the Republican party's flagrant opposition to the current Democratic-controlled government. This has been well documented and manifested via an almost unilateral blanket of "no" when it comes to any policy changes proposed by congressional Democrats. In fact, their almost unanimous opposition, now hijacked and irrationally perpetuated by the Fox Opinion Machine (nee News) has already led to such a deep muddling of the healthcare overhaul that I fear we will not recover from it. Is it possible that they can get even more egregious than this? Yes they can, 30 of them did:

"Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) introduced an amendment to a defense appropriations bill that would prevent the federal government from funding contractors whose employee contracts prevent workers from pursuing allegations of rape against co-workers.

The measure passed the Senate by a vote of 68 to 30, with all 30 'no' votes being cast by Republicans. Notably, 10 Senate Republicans voted for the measure, including all four female Republican senators.

Franken was inspired to push the amendment by the story of Jamie Leigh Jones, who was an employee of KBR -- at the time a subsidiary of Halliburton -- working in Baghdad's Green Zone when she was allegedly gang-raped by other KBR workers." (excerpt from rawstory.com 10/7/09).

There is no other way to describe this as downright sickness. If you are against the ruling party, come up with your own plausible solutions and, by rationally opposing, win the respect of the people you represent but more importantly, sway some of the people from the other side. But to flagrantly vote against a provision that seeks to curb and punish downright deviant behavior just to prolong an already irrational opposition is a sickness of the mind that no political party should sanction. This is the party of morality and family values? With this one, these 30 Republicans have really crossed the line from mere opposition to pure and utter lunacy (and hatred in my opinion). How else can you characterize it?

Cheering Up

I just don't seem to be having any fun lately and I'm entering winter which is my least favorite time of year. What can I do to get some pep back in my step? As this blog as devolved into a diary of sorts, it captures more of my mood which isn't too good lately. It seems I am spending more time in a negative spin zone and that can't be good for me. I do, at least, try to stop myself from time to time because I know that I should be of a greater mind and that my outlook should have some shimmer. I really need to cheer up.

Perhaps, I am just reflecting the general mood of the country which is moving beyond cynical, in my opinion. Unfortunately, there is very little to trust these days. Capitalism is front and center and it is showing its ugly side, it seems like greed, corruption and immorality are leading the charge and the acceptance of this as "business as usual" has set us on an even more destructive course of every person for him or herself. It seems that the common good has been left out of the equation lately. Hopefully, it will turn up soon.

Wall Street May Be Cheering but the Rest of Us Are Not

Now that the Dow Jones Industrial Average has regained 10,000, a feat one year in the making, Wall Street has plenty to cheer about. It is ironic that it made the mark, rising 144 points today on news that JPMorgan Chase posted a third quarter profit of $3,600,000,000, far exceeding expectations. So the bailouts worked, the financial institutions are back to serious business, raking in the cash as usual. Things are so good that Goldman Sachs, AIG and others are poised to hand out record bonuses in the billions of dollars, more than in 2007 when the economy was still apparently booming.

Unfortunately, this does not sit well for many of us, Wall Street may be cheering but the rest of us are not. Why on earth did we expect these institutions to have a heart and be grateful that we saved them? Too big to fail has created unprecedented levels of arrogance on the part of these financial institutions that they have made a mockery of us all. These institutions are not lending to us. They have increased their fees and interest rates on their credit cards. They have revoked our credit lines and so on. They are simply gouging us on every level and they are rewarding themselves for it.

I feel bad for the President but the rest of us on Main Street did not end up benefiting, absolutely nothing trickled down.

The Beatings Will Continue

I am here trying to get the vision of a stance out of my head, the one where your arms are up and crossed as you try to protect your head from a beating. That is how I feel right now as I struggle under the weight of all that is around me. Much as I have tried to hold my head up and stay positive, I am amazed that I can still feel so beaten down. Aren't positive thoughts and positive behavior supposed to make us feel better? I am busy every day, taking care of my house and my children and diligently working on my job search. I am determined to find work and I will not stray from my task. I continue to eat right and exercise because I worked so hard to lose weight and I intend to keep it off naturally. Most importantly, I endeavor to keep my wits about me and I still believe that karma will work toward my greater good even though it does not seem that way:

As I struggle to pay down my debt, all of it from an unfortunate business venture, I am riddled with notices of increased interest rates and increased payments even though I have faithfully made ample payments on time for years. Meanwhile, these financial institutions who were given billions of dollars in bailouts when their businesses failed continue to stomp on the very taxpayer who came to their rescue.

I struggle to come to terms with my new "consumer-driven" health insurance plan, a plan that does not pay for any visits beyond the sanctioned annual check ups but was chosen by my husband's company because they claim that they can no longer afford a traditional plan. Meanwhile, I watch the Congress lose sight of any legitimate reform that could actually cut costs or provide meaningful affordable coverage to those of us who truly need it.

As I struggle to find a decent job, I reflect on my ivy league education and ponder what it is worth. I try to prevent myself from staring at that huge gap in my resume where I stayed home after I had my second child. The childcare math does not add up when you hit number two because the childcare costs for two children, at least in New York, eats up a significant chunk of your paycheck. So many of us women choose not to sacrifice the welfare of our children for a few extra bucks but a difficult job market effectively discriminates against anyone who has been out for too long. Though I was fortunate to find a job last year, the economic crisis crashed my tenure so I do not appear as viable on paper when compared to those other consummate professionals out there.

The reality that we are earning less today than we did near the beginning of this decade strikes a chord right here in my household. I don't need statistics to drive this point home as I wrestle daily with the spreadsheet I use to manage my cash flow. I wish I wasn't so black and blue but my hands are not up there protecting my head for nothing. I am hoping that the black and white of these words will be cathartic and so I leave them.

What Price, Peace Prize?

On this Columbus Day, a celebration of the explorer who "discovered," America, President Obama continues to be bashed for what many view as his un-deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize. What has he really done for peace, they ask? He really has accomplished nothing they conclude. While the rest of the world views his strong overtures toward diplomacy as a positive sign of great alliances to come, to his American critics, he appears to have changed nothing. In fact, these critics took it a step further by pointing out that he failed to secure the Nobel prize for economics. Huh? There are many who are rooting for this President to fail and they will find fault with his success and rejoice when he misses. They simply do not see that if any President fails, America fails.

While many loudly cheered when his attendance at the Olympic Committee in Copenhagen failed to help Chicago win its bid for the 2016 games, they missed the point that America lost. It is easy to blame the President when things are not going well - housing and health care costs, declining employment and rising taxes along with high debt - I am staring all of these issues in the face. Unfortunately, the seeds were sown long before he was sworn in and while I know it is customary to blame whoever is in power for the ills of the day, it is easy to see how negativity can suck in even the die-hard. It does seem though that we could use a little bit more peace and acceptance right here at home. Something about that great continent that Columbus found.

Improving My Odds in the Job Market

I'm back studying again in earnest, this time to gain national certification - that which will add some alphabet soup after my name. Anything that I can do to improve my odds in the job market. Actually I did get a call from an HR department of a prominent company based in New Jersey. Unfortunately, it is a 3 hour commute each way by car (due to the inevitable traffic) and virtually impossible by train. I would definitely have to relocate to take this job but I'm far from actually crystallizing that thought.

I am still pursuing the opportunity anyway because none of us ought to rule ourselves out. The whole contact and interview process requires practice and real world scenarios are invaluable. The initial phone interview was good practice. I haven't interviewed in months and I must say, it is amazing how quickly you can fall out of interview fluency. Ultimately, if I don't stack up against the other candidates, then nothing is lost and at least I've polished my chops a little bit. If, perchance, I do become a finalist then I will make the geographical determination then.

In the meantime, I will focus on my studies. And, as I am wont to do, I will make yet another declaration about how I will be resorting to brevity while I do so. Yet, as I scroll back through my posts, I see that I revert to wordiness almost immediately. Alas, such is me.

Long Island Consumer Confidence Confounds

As reported in the Long Island Business News, The Sienna Research Institute is claiming that Consumer Confidence on Long Island rose by 9 percent in the third quarter over the previous period. This seems to conflict with recent reports that Long Island's economy is still in the toilet, that there are no signs of the recovery that is supposedly taking place in the greater economy. This I believe. But consumer confidence increasing?

The core group of respondents must either be from the financial sector or the public sector. But seriously, I am still having trouble believing how an economy driven by consumer spending can recover when so many of those consumers are unemployed. It is simple math. The population of the United States is 300,000,000 comprising about 100,000,000 households. Over 7,000,000 jobs have been lost since the recession officially began 22 months ago. 7,000,000 jobs lost affects the finances of almost as many households, allowing for those that have, sadly, lost more than one job.

We must also count the millions of households who are affected by underemployment or have fallen below the radar. So, all told that is at least 10% of households not spending like they used to. The economy has been driven by 70% consumer spending over the last 10 years. A 10% reduction in consumer spending is a huge hit, accounting for trillions of dollars of our economic engine. There are also the millions of households who are in fear of losing their jobs and they are not spending like they used to, either.

In fact, the best numbers that have come out so far are those of consumer debt reduction. People are not spending, they are paying down debt and conserving. Wages continue to be stagnant and companies continue to cut jobs, albeit at a slower pace, in order to present better quarterly numbers but that is by no means a true gauge of health. I will certainly feel better and look better when I stop eating for a while but if I stop eating for too long, I may not survive.

Given all of these developments, it is hard to see where the consumer is finding any confidence especially in high cost Long Island where, unfortunately, those costs are closing in for many. I have completely lost my confidence. I don't even want to go to the store at all. But, since I am not the biggest consumer to begin with, I am always behind in necessities and so I remain. I know we are all looking for light at the end of the tunnel and we definitely need it soon. Even I am running out of patience.

Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part Four: Codfuel.com

Last week, I ordered my first oil delivery of the season. My last delivery was back in March so I was due for a fill-up. As I have done, since discovering the site last winter, I ordered my heating oil through Codfuel.com. They service Long Island and the surrounding region. The site serves as a clearinghouse where participating heating oil distributors can post their prevailing price per gallon. These prices are much cheaper than your contract oil dealers. In fact, you can call around and check this very easily.

Go to www.Codfuel.com and look around; simply enter your zip code and you are free to peruse the list of heating oil distributors servicing your area. Many post a cash and a credit price per gallon with discounts depending on the amount of gallons you order. The more you order the cheaper it is and if you pay cash, you can save an additional 10 cents per gallon in most cases. I ordered last week because I saw the price of crude edging up with the stock market rally and I had been watching the prices for a few weeks. I wound up with $1.99 per gallon. Not bad.

As usual, my household will make this fill-up last as long as possible. When it gets cold, we turn to the fireplace in the den. We have two heating zones, upstairs and downstairs, so it never makes much sense to us to heat the whole downstairs when we can all keep warm in the den. Even though the price of oil has come down significantly since last winter, we all can still strive to save money on our heating bills; it is one of those bills that we can control. Throughout my entire existence, starting from growing up in my mother's house and now in my house with my family, the maximum thermostat setting for heat has always been 65 degrees. The same temperature as the lovely day outside that everyone was raving about today. Generally we keep it a few degrees below that and we always turn it down when we are not at home and when we go to bed.

Anyhow, I digress. The most important point about Codfuel.com is the huge savings over the contract heating oil companies. What most of us don't know is that when you sign their yearly service contract, you pay at least $1 more per gallon. Sure that contract includes your "free" annual checkup and preferential maintenance but it also requires you to accept automatic refills. If you do the math, you will see how that service contract benefits the oil company more than it benefits you. For every 1000 gallons of oil they deliver, they collect an extra $1000 dollars so all of that service isn't free, is it? If you had to call an independent oil heating system maintenance person for service, would it cost you $1000 dollars? I don't think so. So, quit your contract, save your money and use Codfuel.com. They should thank me for this.

The Results of My Labor

Yesterday, we had a surprisingly warm day, I was beside myself. Beginning with our morning soccer games, I spent the entire day outside enjoying every minute of it. I worked hard though. We got most of our two cords of wood stacked. I cleaned up the gardens, pruning, cutting and shutting down for the winter. And, we cleaned out the garage. It was a busy day, just the way I like it. It felt good to be productive and see the results of my labor.

I spend so much of my time these days searching for work, which is, unfortunately, a thankless job. Since the only measurable result of this effort is landing a job, there is little opportunity in the process to reward oneself. I could pat myself on the back for the number of resumes I've sent out or for the number of contacts I've made, but the reality is, until I land that job, my efforts are simply not enough.

While all of the employment statistics remain off the charts, no unemployed person can ever truly relax for every aspect of your being is under siege especially when your finances are strained. So, as you take each day one at a time, it is nice to accomplish the little things that can make you feel worthwhile.

Dirty Politics

Sometimes, you come across an article that sums up very well the seriousness of the current political discourse. Though many of us have been concerned about the escalating diatribes against the President, we believe that it is only a fringe group (read the Fox Crowd) that can and should be ultimately dismissed. However, there is much to consider when dirty politics begins to cross the line from ranting and raving into downright hatred. The following excerpt from Thomas Friedman's Op Ed column,"Where Did 'We Go? in the New York Times, September 29, 2009 certainly gives us all food for thought.

"I hate to write about this, but I have actually been to this play before and it is really disturbing.

I was in Israel interviewing Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin just before he was assassinated in 1995. We had a beer in his office. He needed one. I remember the ugly mood in Israel then — a mood in which extreme right-wing settlers and politicians were doing all they could to delegitimize Rabin, who was committed to trading land for peace as part of the Oslo accords. They questioned his authority. They accused him of treason. They created pictures depicting him as a Nazi SS officer, and they shouted death threats at rallies. His political opponents winked at it all.

And in so doing they created a poisonous political environment that was interpreted by one right-wing Jewish nationalist as a license to kill Rabin — he must have heard, “God will be on your side” — and so he did.

Others have already remarked on this analogy, but I want to add my voice because the parallels to Israel then and America today turn my stomach: I have no problem with any of the substantive criticism of President Obama from the right or left. But something very dangerous is happening. Criticism from the far right has begun tipping over into delegitimation and creating the same kind of climate here that existed in Israel on the eve of the Rabin assassination.

What kind of madness is it that someone would create a poll on Facebook asking respondents, “Should Obama be killed?” The choices were: “No, Maybe, Yes, and Yes if he cuts my health care...

Even if you are not worried that someone might draw from these vitriolic attacks a license to try to hurt the president, you have to be worried about what is happening to American politics more broadly."

Maybe the rest of us have to stage an intervention.

And Less Jobs for All

The job news continues to be distressing:

- Another 250,000 jobs lost in September

- A labor department report that there is a 6 to 1 ratio of job seekers to available jobs, 2,400,000 permanent full-time job openings for the 14,500,000 officially unemployed

- A new report by two Rutgers professors predicting that the job market will not truly recover for 7 years or until 2017

I have been pretty diligent with my job search and I am surrounded by many who are even more so. Unfortunately, the job listings are stagnant. Either employers are looking for a candidate so unique that he or she may simply not exist or the job boards are holding onto listings long past their expiration date. Certainly, many of the job postings that I saw at the beginning of the year when I started my search appear to re-cycle. It is virtually impossible to determine which listings are actually still 'live'. In any case, do I really have what it takes to be the lucky one of six that will score that job?

I have just graduated from a professional program that has matriculated nearly 300 well-heeled professionals thus far. My resume looks slim next to theirs since I just got back into the game. I have to overcome looking slim on paper and so far I have not been successful. Then again, only one person in my class of 13 has been hired since we started last June and that job offer did not come easy. Nevertheless, according to the statistics, there should be another hire. Right now it does not look like it will be me unless all of the miracles that have eluded me over the years suddenly decide to coalesce.

Becoming Desperately Creative

I have re-framed my job hunt as not just looking for a job per se, but looking to create income for myself, of which a job is simply one method. This way I can think outside the box and find a new key to my success. Sadly, my new philosophy is yielding nada and as I observe the world, public notoriety seems like the way to go. I am thinking of thrusting my husband out there doing one of his crazy moves or coming up with something equally egregious to rustle up some petty fame. Then, we can capitalize on that and write a book.

It doesn't take much to manufacture fame these days. Basically, the more outrageous, the greater the opportunity to monetize that five minutes of fame. The commoditization of fame continues and it is down to about five minutes, from the high of 15. Why? Because the 24 hour news cycle is voracious; subjects are devoured and spit out in between commercial breaks. A story has to be good if it is to be repeated all day. If the story does not warrant enough outrage then it is dropped. Conversely, if the story is too outrageous it is also summarily dismissed. Whatever the fine line of fame, any worthwhile proceeds must be swiftly acted upon.

Perhaps all of these factors are what is driving HarperCollins to move up publication of Sarah Palin's book from next Spring to this November; rolling out 1,500,000 copies. As sure as Tom DeLay is shaking his fanny on Dancing with the Stars, this book will sell out its first print. This is the type of base entertainment that appeals to the masses (though they might not actually read it). And, the publisher cannot take the chance that those same masses will lose the fame trail by next spring. After all, she is losing news.

Were I to deliberately write something inflammatory, enough to go viral, I might have a shot at some income. For if I don't find a job to create some income, I may truly have to become desperately creative.

Thank You Mr. Safire

Four evenings a week I assume my pose. I set up in the den, with my husband's laptop, I pick one of my crime dramas on Tivo, my husband calls them my d & d (death and dismemberment) shows, I throw some clothes in the washer as the laundry room is conveniently located right off the den and I sit down to write my post. But, before I write a single word, I do my research, scanning dozens of news sites and the like for inspiration. For me, a post is not a knock off but a writing exercise. It has always been about practice. I am hoping that through sheer diligence I can become a better writer. To that end, I frequently hit the books; dictionary, thesaurus and sometimes grammar. We simply do not learn enough grammar. Nevertheless, it was nice to know that the quest for words and meaning was well worth the effort.

William Safire reminded us of that every week in his column On Language, in the New York Times Magazine. As our foremost language dilettante and champion of the English language, he made the language more accessible. Many people may not know who he was and his death yesterday may not raise many eyebrows, but, for us who have an interest in words, his enjoyment of the language, his diligent research into the origin and structure of modern English terms and the ease in which he was able to convey this knowledge will be missed. In these days of email, texting, twittering, and instant messaging, it is easy to forget how to write properly. Thankfully, we had Mr. Safire to inspire us to construct a better sentence and/or concoct a better phrase and for this, we are truly grateful. Thank you Mr. Safire.

Reflection on a Graduation

Well, I am graduating first thing in the morning and while I should turn in early, it probably will not happen as usual. Anyhow, I'll be the proud recipient of a Certificate in Business Analysis and a Certificate in Project Management. Yeah! However, the resulting job offer that I expected to snag due to this dual achievement has not materialized yet. I still believe that I will find something but as I stare deeply into the abyss of an aging job search, it is hard not to get discouraged.

I do believe that everyone is allowed to be discouraged sometimes just as long as despair does not become our modus operandi. We should get mad and we should get angry sometimes so that we can dispel the internal stresses that are bound to build as we constantly assess our jobless situation. Then we must dust off our boots, strap on a new outlook and continue the search.

Tomorrow morning, I am to show up in professional dress looking the part. Though they call it a graduation, it is a lot more than handing us our certificates, patting us on the back and sending us on our merry way. There will be representatives from area companies and career development professionals to give us another huge helping of job search guidance. Maybe some of us will get lucky and make a beneficial contact that leads to employment.

But just in case, I will be taking a civil service test on Saturday morning. It is for a position that pays half as much but I have to create opportunity and options for myself. We are being told to think outside of the box when it comes to seeking employment these days which essentially means we must pursue every lead even if it is for less money. So, I will do it.

The State of New York: Part Two

Governor Paterson is talking budget again. Today he revealed in a public meeting with state legislators that the deficit has reached $3,000,000,000, some $900,000,000 more than was initially projected. Though he urged legislators to find spending cuts to help balance the budget, no date was set for them to return to Albany to do so. Reporters were much more concerned about Paterson's election bid rather than issues with the state deficit. Typical. I guess we have all been so deluged with budget deficit numbers and projections that this is simply not news?

Meanwhile, hundreds of MTA employees protested outside of MTA headquarters today against the MTA's decision not to accept a binding arbitration ruling that granted them an 11% raise over the next 3 years. The MTA is appealing this decision because they claim that they simply cannot afford it. In fact, New York State definitely cannot afford it. It is interesting that an arbitrator could grant such a generous raise given the financial woes of the state. But, even if the state has no money, all of the various unions still expect to get their just desserts as usual.

Today Paterson stated that he was not going to offer any suggestions for budget cuts because he did not want to hear any flack from the unions until the legislators meet again. In the most budget showdown, the unions won out and the budget actually went up several billion dollars despite the fact that tax revenues would continue to decline. Attempting to roll back what has been granted to the various unions is going to get nasty again. But, none of this will really be big news now, will it?

The Plight of the Middle Class Continues

The plight of the middle class continues:

"For average Americans, the last 10 years were a lost decade. At the end of President George W. Bush’s eight years in office, American households had less money and less economic security, and fewer of them were covered by health care than 10 years earlier, the Census Bureau reported in its annual survey. The poverty rate in 2008 rose to 13.2 percent, the highest in 11 years, while median household income fell to $50,303. Ten years earlier, adjusted for inflation, it was $51,295." (from Timothy Egan article, New York Times, 9/16/09)

The middle class has much to ponder. Statistics show that many are falling from the ranks. The lifestyle to which they have been accustomed is in jeopardy. These are the people who pay a greater percentage of their income in taxes but are generally forced to foot the bill for themselves. Unfortunately, as our fortunes wane through job losses, home equity depreciation, and purchasing erosion through loss of credit, the increased budget deficits created by current government spending and stimulus initiatives, bank bailouts and now the soon to be unleashed healthcare reform seem like dangerous ground. At the end of the day, the increased tax burden usually falls on the middle class; the rich will find loopholes and the poor just won't pay anyway.

The middle class is struggling to hold onto its ideals; the quintessential American dream. Homes, jobs and lifestyles need saving so they don't have time to band together and fight. They don't even know what would be their common ground. Middle class means different financial classifications and values depending on what region of the country you reside in. Yet, the middle class needs to start fighting back somehow, for the current economic ills of America are disproportionally affecting them. I know it, I am staring the reality in the face, daily.

Oh No He Di'n't!

It has been widely reported that the White House has requested that Governor Paterson not seek election in 2010. Who does Barack Obama (and his Administration) think they are to stretch the long arm of interference into New York politics? Oh no he di'n't! Despite the fact that this tactic is straight out of the Karl Rove playbook, the fringe conservatives are having a field day. They will use anything that they can to cement their scare tactic case against the President, as they have been recently portraying him, among other things, as a socialist dictator wanna be. Nevermind that Paterson has incredibly dismal approval ratings and the Democrats, from a party standpoint, need to secure their current majority.

Then again, you can't blame Paterson for refusing to step aside. After all, he ascended to Governor of New York after Eliot Spitzer, popular crusading Attorney General-turned-Governor, was upended by a prostitution scandal thus Paterson has not earned his post by his own merits and would like the opportunity. Sadly, he has not been able to marshal his political fortune into political fortitude. While I initially championed Paterson's ascendance, he quickly capitulated to special interests and fell from grace. New York could have used a hero but instead he squandered his political capital for votes, (read curry favor with the unions) and it all backfired anyway. This method usually works, pleasing the right people, but for this Governor desperate times called for adept political measures and he simply did not/could not deliver.

Polls show that current Attorney General Andrew Cuomo would be the favorite in a Democratic primary against Paterson. Cuomo has yet to tip his hat but it is just a matter of time before he declares. After all, if you indirectly have the White House on your side, you might as well jump into the race. It is no accident that Andrew Cuomo is following the well-worn track of star New York Attorney General to Governor routine most recently practiced successfully by Eliot Spitzer. Besides, New Yorkers know the name Cuomo, Mario Cuomo, esteemed father of Andrew, was governor of New York from 1983 to 1994 and New Yorkers like to elect who they know. I say let the Democratic Gubernatorial primary decide. If Cuomo really is the favorite, let him win on his own merit by having a fair race against Paterson.

Happy Days Are Here Again?

Happy days are here again. This is the famous refrain from the Great Depression when economic indicators pointed to a turnaround in the economy. Of course it took nearly twenty years after this declaration for the stock market to actually recoup the depression-era losses. But, since we have no patience this time around, we have seemingly fixed everything in a matter of 18 months.

I read a couple of days ago in the Times that average wages for 80% of the workforce had risen from $612 a week to $618 a week in the last few months. Let's not all jump for joy at once. Credibility for this factoid was attributed to the number-crunching of two (unnamed) government agencies. Is this a case of government spin at work? Perhaps not. A majority of the economists, optimists, people that matter and people wanting to matter have declared that this recession is over.

Though they all cite facts that the rebound will most definitely be tepid at best, the general consensus is that the economic crashing has leveled off; we are no longer falling of a cliff, we are just falling. And now that the lesser of bad news is treated as good news, as it has been since this spring, we should all be happy. Must we remind them that we, the millions of unemployed or underemployed, can't seem to overcome our cognitive dissonance?

How much more cynical are we going to get of the economic good news? I should not be so ungrateful for the $6 extra dollars a week that I would be earning if I were employed. I must always remain positive, I must always make lemonade, I must always believe that things can/will be better. Only a positive attitude can boost my spirits and keep me above the negative fray. Only I can be responsible for making the choices that ultimately led me to be unemployed in the first place.

All things being unequal, if the shoe was on the other foot, I would want to be holding on to that shoe and therefore I shouldn't begrudge an economy that appears to be moving on without me. If I get my foot back in the door, that would shift my compass, wouldn't it?

The Facts Are These

"As is now painfully evident, the economic growth of the Bush era was largely an illusion. Poverty worsened during most of the boom years and middle-class pay stagnated, as most gains flowed to the top. In a recent update of their groundbreaking series on income trends, the economists Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez found that from 2002 to 2007, the top 1 percent of households — those making more than $400,000 a year — received two-thirds of the nation’s total income gains, their largest share of the spoils since the 1920s." (from The New York Times editorial, 9/15/09)

The data is finally in; definitive proof of what we have long surmised through our own anecdotal evidence. We the middle class gained nothing over the last ten years. Instead, we were living large on cheap credit and/or home equity gold and as the editorial goes on further to say, "Because many if not most Americans gained little to nothing from the Bush “growth” years, they have found themselves especially vulnerable to the recession." Yes many of us have colossal debt and many of us have lost our jobs. Double Whammy.

Too bad it takes so long to compile the data required to validate our observations. We are the people on the ground, we know what is going on. Now, the economy is supposedly turning around and whether we believe it or not, it appears to be leaving many of us behind. Not good, I say. Not good, at all.

One Hundred Dollar Pill, Y'all

What if you were about to be released from the hospital after major surgery and complications due to a major abdominal infection and they tell you that the only antibiotic that you are responding to costs $200 a day for two pills? In fact this not so good news is prefaced by the platitude, "I hope you have good insurance." Thankfully, the insurance company did agree to cover this medicine for seven days because it was better than the alternative, paying for an additional week of hospital stay so that this medicine could be administered intravenously. This is a true story. It happened to a family member today.

Of course the real travesty here is the cost of the medicine. One hundred dollars for one pill is an outrage. There is nothing to stop pharmaceutical companies from charging whatever they want for certain drugs. Drug prices are one part of the healthcare equation, and as we know with Medicare Part D, affordable medicine is a necessity. Too bad it is costing the taxpayer a fortune because there is no provision to negotiate drug prices. We should be demanding drug price negotiation as part of this healthcare reform for it would be a key step in helping to control Medicare costs, savings from which are supposed to help defray the costs of reform in the first place.

Rational minds agree that without a public insurer to compete with private insurers, the cost of healthcare coverage will continue to escalate. Without a public option, there will be an enforced 46,000,000 more customers for the private insurers to gouge. Yeah! So, in effect the Republicans are fighting against a public option that would help to bring down coverage costs in the same way that they fought against a provision to include drug price negotiation when they and President Bush passed Medicare Part D. With the Republicans and the fringe protesters shouting so loud as to effectively cloud our judgment, we are on our way to healthcare reform that will further enrich private insurers and pharmaceutical companies.

Everybody has an expensive healthcare story, that alone should tell us all something.