I started looking for work again about two months ago. I had stopped looking for work because employers were/are taking advantage of the prolonged recession. Academically the invisible hand theory of free market economics made sense. However, the invisible hand doesn’t work in protecting the environment and during periods of high unemployment (it also doesn’t work in right-to work-states). Employers can offer less than a person skill, knowledge, and abilities are worth and the person will accept. Not me. Follow past the jump for my thoughts.
While looking for work earlier, I received some insulting job offers. My wife and I are plugging along and another income stream would be nice is the only reason I was looking. My Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) specialist recommended that I get my certifications in my area of expertise. It sounded reasonable but after finding out how much it was going to cost, I realized that I would rather spend the coin on an ice-out fishing trip. My DVOP rep said that the state had some money that could be used to pay for the certs but I would have to jump through some hoops to qualify. Okay I thought, the military gave me some great hoop jumping skills and why not. The first hoop was an agonizing hour of introduction. The class was about 30 people and hearing them talk about what had happened and what they would like to accomplish I began to have doubts. The second hoop was a two day employability class. It was a real eye opener. The class made me feel guilty.
The state had received about $13 million in a grant to provide training and enhance employability. The class I was in had 10 people who all had varying skills and immediate needs. If any of them had received the job offers I had received in the past they all would have accepted. One of the students asked the instructor about taking a job to survive and still keep looking for a better job. What do I tell the employer and don’t I owe them something? I was outraged by the question and the instructor asked me if I wanted to answer. I told the student that in better times employers and employees did have some bonds. But in today’s pay as little as possible, offer no benefits, and make outrageous demands because people are desperate for jobs, we don’t owe employers anything but our best efforts on the job. Maybe someday this will change (not in Arizona) but for now give your employer your best but if you find something better jump for it and don’t look back. My instructor basically agreed with me but wasn’t quite so harsh. Employers shouldn’t mind if you try to better your situation. Just be careful on how you answer what do you see yourself doing in five years questions. I know that there are some companies that deserve better than what I laid out. When you work for one of those companies you know and probably aren’t even thinking about leaving.
Why was I feeling guilty? I was the only person in the class that didn’t have an immediate need. I thought why not use grant money to pay for my certs. Well the people in the class made me realize that people with real needs should get the help. If I’m really serious about getting another job I should just pay for the darn certs and get serious about finding a job.
Then I had a revelation. Some of what I was seeing in class was the direct effect of the republican war on the poor. Republicans want an under educated, willing to work for peanuts, workforce because they worship at the altar of maximizing share-holder wealth. Anything that gets in the way of that goal is nanny state, socialism, and plain un-American. That if we cut taxes to corporations the free market effect will have them spending the extra money to create jobs. Wrong! It allows corporations to run ads that tells people that if the government would just get out of the way we would open that new mine and money would flow into the community like manna from heaven. Hiding the fact that ground water is going to be contaminated and looking at the mountains will take on a hazing quality because of the air pollution we’re going to generate.
I’ll get off my soap box for now and you’re welcome. For the people that read this you might feel the necessity to thank me for my service. Not required. You need to keep vigilant because the republicans are going to go after military retirements when they get done with dismantling public pensions and unions. The best thanks you can give any veteran are to vote, and to call your representatives whenever they try to mess with active duty military or veterans. The only thing republicans care about the military is we can build military gear and weapons in our districts.