Just had a pizza delivered,round table all meat marvel.my fave, the delivery person was interesting,she was 81 yrs old, very vibrant lady.
I asked her, do you like your job?,she said any work is good work,credo I have always lived by.
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Just had a pizza delivered,round table all meat marvel.my fave, the delivery person was interesting,she was 81 yrs old, very vibrant lady.
I asked her, do you like your job?,she said any work is good work,credo I have always lived by.
I can't say I agree with that statement at all. There are many many crappy jobs out there. If you can't derive some satisfaction or enjoyment from your job you're simply biding your time before you die. You only live once, so why waste your life?
Then again, I live in a country where jobs are very plentiful and realize it's not the same everywhere around the globe.
I have been out of work for two yrs, at my age I cannot find work,I make my brushes. I also recycle aluminum cans and scrap metal to suppliment my income,I enjoyed what I did for 43 yrs,Than I got offshored,any work to me is good work.NO JOB IS CRAPPY.I wish I had a job,any job.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
Sorry to hear that Bill. But I still stand by my statement. Desperate times call for desperate measures which is just harsh reality, but necessity shouldn't be confused with gratitude.
Listen to the boys from Winnipeg tell it like it is!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFRk0FfaQi0
Excellent! The Guess Who and BTO are two of my favourites (quite naturally, I'm sure lol). Thanks JB.
Your statement is wrong,my garbage man makes $9.00 an hr ,he is very gratefull to at least make that,it helps feed his family.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
Spend enough time out of work in an economically depressed area, and minimum wage will give you something to be grateful for.
Been there...
I would work at any job for any wage. even a dollor an hr,just to have a job,just to feel usefull.Quote:
Originally Posted by HNSB
Keep turning brushes the way you do and who knows, you could become the next Thater or Simpson. Maybe in the future there'll be a group buy for Pixel brushes. :)
When I read the OP, I put it in context with the 81 year old lady, I think it's a good thing she has that job. I never visited Canada & my only Canadian friends are here on SRP.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
But in America, we treat our elderly or Seniors like crap. It's been our shame for as long as I've been alive. Truly the dark , hidden embarrassment of American society.
I wish we could come up with a method of passing on the knowledge of our seniors to our youth in schools.
When I read the OP I was wondering what the heck an 81 year old woman has to work for in the first place. It is one thing that at that age you work to keep busy but a very different thing to be forced to. It is a sad commentary of the economic times we live in that this is becoming the accepted norm it seems for a lot of seniors. I don't think that in the future a comfortable retirement will be within reach for more people than it has been for previous generations. I don't think we have bottomed out yet.
Bob
While my children and grand children love and respect me; for many years I've wondered about someday 'Being Old and In the Way'!
I've seen it! I check out people who have very little patience with their elderly parents and often raise their voice in frustration!
As far as employment goes, I've worked outside of the home ever since I was 11 years old; shoveling snow from walkways, mowing lawns, hoeing gardens, pulling rye from wheat fields what ever it took to make some extra money! All the while I still had 'chores' to attend to at home!!
I had my first 'real job' when I was 15, my oldest best friend was going to college and working part time and needed an operation on his shoulder so I stepped in as a replacement 'bus boy' for him for the summer while he healed up! I made about $300 that summer and the boss let me and my friend live with them for free and our meals were provided at the restaurant at no charge!
I'm 60 years old and I 'hope' to retire when I'm 62. If I find that my retirement and such will not support me, I'd gladly deliver pizzas to help fill in the gaps!! :tu
At times, 'Any Work is Good Work'!
I hope you like the song! Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead is playing banjo on it!
Old & In The Way - Old & In The Way - YouTube
Pix. 'Don't really care who or how others might see it differently - You're on to something important. Long term unemployment is brutal on a guy. You're in a *very* large boat w/ good company. And this has nothing to do w/ 'underperforming', 'dead wood', etc.
Very talented and highly skilled guys are rotting in the field 'cause we've collectively bought a line of bull that we don't need to make anything tangible. Lines like - 'its an information economy', or 'its a service economy'. There's a reason Germany is the strongest economy in the EU. They heard the same sales pitches and explicitly rejected them - and kept on making good products that people want.
I hope you get alot of time w/ people with high regard for your skills and who fertilize your imagination as to how you can make those skills into a satisfying living.
The service sector of the German economy contributes 70% of their GDP Economy of Germany - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . They do make and also export goods too.
Bob
What alot of people do not realize is that older folks that draw SS do not get much because they worked in an era of low wages' thus what they paid into SS was not alot during their working yrs.I have read that the average payout per month is about $400.Factor in that Medicare is deducted from the 400 and is $120 so have 280 net.
I think it is wonderfull that older workers who make minimum wage ($8.50/hr) continue to work,any work is good work.
Thats one of the American ethics that today has fallen bye the wayside.
I was outta work for over a year at one point and I was on anti depressants and crap like that. I also had anti anxiety. But all of the meds literally made me feel crazy. But after the doc prescribed those for me, she sat and talked with me. She said with a man (more so than a woman) u have to get out and work. She went on to tell me that unemployed men are 80% more likely to abuse their spouses and or children. Also that work (especially labor type work) is the perfect stress reliever for men (although they don't realize it with the daily aches and pains).
It wasn't until after I was called back in that I realized that what she said was true. Not just any but all work is great work. Especially for me I stress if any of my bills get behind, even 1 month. It drives me crazy and I obsess about it (it consumes my thoughts). I can't even hone if im behind on a bill (found that out the hard way). But I've found out when I've been laid off since to go outside and find something to work on. If I don't I notice im a lot more snappy with my kids and that's unfair to them. So I don't care if im busting rocks with a sledgehammer. Im determined to be the best dad I can be. ( im so glad to be back to work now)
Without diving into detail, we could also show how US mfg has *increased* in the US in the last few decades - while the depth and breadth of industries - and the jobs have evaporated.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobH
An interesting view would be # of industries and % of population employed in mfg.
The issue is less an aggregate or total financial output - 5 min. of programmed trading in stocks & futures can outperform years of normal output - but what provides a stable and robust economy vs the frail economy vulnerable to boom & bust.
'Nothing new is going on. Calamities from monetary manipulation are as old as currencies themselves - from ancient Romans shaving coins to the 'Merchants of Venice' (banksters of their day) almost bankrupting Britain by manipulating the preference for gold over silver or vice versa.
In our present cycle, the more historically savvy responded to the '07-'08 panic by saying - they'll erase the middle class. We're just talking now about that erasure and how to survive it.
'Hope you & yours are doing better up north than our foolishness here.
Yeah robotics in factory work really is killing their jobs. I recently was involved in installing paint robotics in a Volvo truck factory that put about 40 people out of those jobs. I didn't and don't agree with it but it was my job as an electrical contractor to "give the customer what they want". That's a small number but that's just 1 of the 5 projects in the past 5 years just at that facility.
To beat it all the paint usage went from gallons to pints but the robots leave flaws that humans didn't.
It's not as simple as "they" would have us believe. Up until 1978, "quarters" of Social Security (SS) coverage were actual calendar quarters, and a person had to earn a minimum of $50 during a quarter, in order to qualify for SS coverage for that time. From 1978 and onward, SS used a formula of the ratio of the current years average wage to that of 1976, multiplied by $250. It's important to note that even if a person qualifies for the minimum coverage (40 quarters of employment, in which the employer paid FICA taxes, (or qualifying self-employment), the SS benefits one receives are based on how much that person paid-in. According to "Social Security: The Minimum Benefit Provision", in 2010 the average minimum SS payment was $639, and the average regular payment was $830.Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelfixed
Difficult, but not the figure you quoted. I will be receiving early SS benefits in a few months -- $726/month. Difficult, but doable.
There are problems with earning SS benefits.
- Some employers (state/local governments, educational institutions, etc.) have their own retirement plans, and "opt-out" of participating in Social Security. Look at what's happening, today, in Detroit (and elsewhere): they're "gutting" the pensions earned by city retirees.
- Some employers offer their own retirement/pension plans, in addition to deducting FICA payroll taxes. Depending on how much a person earned and paid in FICA payroll deductions, their SS benefits might be decreased by what's known as the Windfall Elimination Provision.
And then, there are those 401(k) plans that were the rage...
I think I saw stats that said the service sector in the US economy was about the same as in Germany but that the manufacturing percentage of GDP was slightly smaller in the US. So the two economies are roughly similar. Official unemployment figures are about 2 percentage points apart with the US being higher. I think if you took a look at most western industrialized countries we are all in similar positions to each other.Quote:
Originally Posted by pinklather
Got to agree on the erasure of the "middle class", it is a done deal and we are having to deal with it. That did not happen over night either and was a long time coming looking back on it. The need for a fat and contented middle class has been determine to be of no necessity, for whatever reason, so now you will take whatever is offered and be happy with that. There are few if any choices in the matter.
No, realistically we are not doing much better up north either because the foolishness is and was not confined solely to the US. I just got off the phone with a relative in Germany and there is plenty of talk there in the media of future generations there being poor too compared to the way it used to be. Same contributing factors, lower wages, fewer benefits, having to work longer before being able to collect a government pension compounded by increasing costs of staples not really allowing money to be put aside for retirement at the rate it once was. I am seeing something similar happening here too. If it makes anyone feel better there is plenty of company.
Bob
No matter how we piss and moan, that does not fill the spirit nor put food on the table. Find something to do. And no matter how hard we try sometimes nothing will work for a period of time. But..from my experiences, there is a time when something again does work.
Many jobs requiring knowledge and skilled jobs and semi skilled jobs are going begging around the country. Few persons nowadays can use their hands and brains to accomplish something. There are a lot of small contractors that need occasional help in their field of work. The CNC shop that occasionally does my products has about three retirees that were machinists and good at what they do work part time. A local contractor has retirees doing the supervising and light work..all part time. The paint stores, hardware's, and lumberyards have at least one retiree working full or part time. Accounting help is often needed by the small contractors and stores.
Plan now for then! Pix has the answer! Do something! If I hadn't I would have gone nuttier than I r now.
I guess that I was lucky! Worked from the time I was nine and store clerked at 12 and was a butcher at 14, etc. I learned few skills in service. I was downsized many times, moved around a lot and was able to survive. Worked in Pizza joints, Janitored, and worked a lot of "Temporary Agency" fill-in jobs while finding a "real job". The agency jobs often got me hired from the agency when the employer found I could do the job they wanted done. This has also worked for more than one person I know. Some folks like the change of venue enough they stay with the Temps'. I have gutted houses and buildings with demolition crews. I've worked on assembly lines. I've cleaned out homes for the Estate Sales or for sale. Some of the local auction houses have temp jobs for putting together the auctions. There are now local on-line auctions that need full and part time help at over min. wage. There are dealers that want stuff refurbish or cleaned on a piece by piece basis. That has brought in cash. My neighbor, after retirement, became a maintenance man for a nice golf course and gets his link time free.
I retired ten years ago to a tiny house in a small town. I had paid off my home and a fairly new vehicle bought from a car rental agency. That made the bills as monthly expenses which I could regulate by my spending's. I had accumulated a shop of tools and knew how to use them. I was lucky, as are some others, to have had a hobby that turned into an income that helped a lot after retirement. Still I am one of the very few that could live within the SS Benefits: (The new word for the shafting) as though we didn't pay in and it is now considered a Gov't gift! I paid in for 45+ years.
Again, Pix has the answer, If you can find something to do, do it! A class at the local vocational school or college. Sr's are almost free, and I was hired part time by the college to do maintenance and fill in for shop supervisors when they were indisposed. Volunteering at a facility and listening to older geezers put their history together, can be uplifting. Crossing guard at a local school can be rewarding and..it get your butt out of the house!
This is just my point of view, your location and horizons are different than mine. But...look toward, and move toward those horizons!
Good living to you all!
~Richard
Great post Richard,many great points.
I do handy man work.I live in a retirement community were the mean average age is 77,I charge $35 an hr.I will do anything I have a knowledge in such as fence repair,furniture repair,minor plumbing etc.
50% of what I do is gratis such as getting a call from an eldery lady last week to remove a dead mouse from her garage,she wanted to pay me.I said no charge dear, call me when you have some real work.
The other upside to continue working till you drop is it keeps your mind functioning.
I no alot of well heeled Retired guys,they have no need to make money,they play golf in the morning,go sit in the clubhouse all afternoon and get all drunked up,go home, watch TV the rest of the day,put on 50 lbs,and than they die.
Working keeps you young at heart.
The average SS payout is $1200 per month. The stats are widely available. If many had their way that would not exist.I'm very grateful I worked for the Federal Govt and have a pension I can live comfortably on.
Bob & Geezer Thank you both. Alot. There's at least a generation that has never seen a stock market go down until '07, never seen a house price go down, or ever wondered *if* they could find work if they really tried. That's not the world they know. The awakening is very uncomfortable and that makes guys who've seen the movie rather valuable. Sincere thanks to you both.
Tottaly untrue,my stats are for people that started drawing SS 20+ yrs ago.the elderly.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
I've been collecting SS for 18 years plus a small pension from a state back east and keep my son's books part time. All that puts me just above the max for food stamps and other gov't programs. I have, despite all the addictons of this hobby of str8's, have become a penny pincher. I've also worked various part time jobs in the past 18 years but have decided no more at my age because of the disdain many younger co-workers have for the elderly "taking away their living". But I will say this. Within the community of straight razor users I have made several friendships with younger shavers who seem to value and enjoy the inane utterings of someone old enough to be their grandfather and can give as well as take in the exchange of ideas, methods and friendly poking.
Razorfeld
I am glad that you mentioned one of the problems that happens when a system does not work as it should. When the system worked as intended people could retire and not be too financially stressed making seeking work after retirement unnecessary. When it becomes a necessity to work in retirement you are literally taking jobs away from younger people trying to establish themselves and raise a family. Add to that a seemingly constantly shrinking job market and you really see how badly the system is broken. It is just a bad situation and neither the older or younger workers faults. Really sad.
Bob
Here in VA, my mother gets disability type social security and only gets $835 a month and barely has enough to get thru the month. She also gets her rides to her Dr through medicaid. And she received $35 a month in food stamps. If she needs to buy anything over 1 tank of gas for her car or have any home/car maintenance I have to foot the bill for it and most of the time do the work. It's just flat out pathetic what they expect a person to make it on. She spent 50 years working (most of the time 2) full time jobs with a 7th grade education. Being the only bread winner for me and my brother, never made over $9.80 an hour. She worked on factories and as a regional manager of Bojangles and as the head chef/ kitchen manager at the roanoke moose lodge. She was also a security guard and she was a sewer at oak hall cap and gown. Ended up cutting off the tips of 3 fingers on a frank-o-matic making sausage links and had to have tendonitis surgery on both wrists. She finally became disabled because of severe degenerative arthritis in her back that was so severe her pain management doctor told her she shouldn't even be walking.
After all of that disability only giving her $835 a month, what a slap in the face. But it is what it is, and I am very thankful to have such a devoted mother.
Freaking social security and disability tick me off, they denied her twice before approving her application. Witch was approved on my 18th birthday, I had to work a full time job my Jr and Sr year in high school to keep a roof over our heads. I think they should take some of those $135 hammers the government "buys" and do how everybody else does not spending over 50, and use the money where it's needed.
Taking Jobs from younger people? Try to find younger people that will dig tree stumps,clean gutters,mow lawns,the list is endlessQuote:
Originally Posted by BobH
Finally, I have decided to chime in.
(1) - The main point:
Honest/moral work is good work.
Dishonest/immoral work is NOT good work.
(2) - elderly / USA
In the USA, I do not believe social security was ever intended to be primary income, just supplementary.
SS is a pyramid scheme, setup for many workers and few retired people - the pyramid is inverting.
One of my investments is 6 born kids.
They cost a lot of money for me to support.
Hopefully at least one of them will help me when I get old, if I need such help.
(3) Germany - was mentioned above.
Based on reputation, Germans are hard workers.
I had to throw that out there. I am not German.
(4) USA -
I think there is a generation of kids (USA) who do not know how to work.
They want everything their parents had instantly (microwaves, vacations, new cars, etc).
To make matters worst, there is a lot of artificial self esteem pushed on the kids.
My kid's baseball team did not win their division.
A parent was trying to set the kids up with trophies
(fortunately the coach did not go for that - they lost).
I have seen it - every kid gets a prize - we cannot all be winners every time - but the kids are taught that they are special. I say they are not special, unique YES, but not specially gifted in general.
I read in the paper that construction jobs are going unfilled.
Having been through oil field down cycles, I can see how this happens.
The industry does into a down cycle, and folks find other lines of work.
The industry has an up tick, and the industry has trouble finding workers.
Our unemployment rate is pretty high here (do not believe the official numbers, people who give up looking are not counted as unemployed). The news article I referenced above cited a push to import foreign workers to do construction - while we have able capable people that do not want the jobs.
(5) - If life were too easy:
Then many of us would become spoiled.
I have had it easy enough that I feel a bit spoiled.
My house has air conditioning.
I can pursue leisure activities.
(6) - We are here for a purpose.
Cheers,
Jody
People seem to resent frugal living... except for my mother, who used to say, "She's cheap, I'm thrifty!" (and meant it), and single old men.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razorfeld
I agree. All honest work is good work, regardless of the particulars.
Do you sell? I'll buy a brush from you.Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelfixed
For sure there is that too. OTH I have watch 35 year olds at where I used to work being made redundant. They had a family, a home and all the other bills and responsibilities too. They did not sit on their fannies moaning and dripping but found other employment. What choice did they have. This was 10 years ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelfixed
I retired early 4 years ago at 56 on a reduced company pension that luckily covers the bills and is supplemented by a government pension also drawn early this year and reduced. I have no major bills. Under these circumstances I am fortunate enough not to have to work, so far. I choose not but make no mistake, if I had to I would. All I am saying is that the system is broke. It is not the fault of anyone looking for work today no matter the age.
Bob
Having a job is better than not having one.
However, having a job that you enjoy is immensely better than one that you need to drag yourself to every day.
As to the title of this thread, "Any work is good work", I disagree, the decline of American wages has been horrific for the last 40 years. The American middle class worker is making about what they made in the 80s.
I agree with Bill. People complain about their jobs all the time. I think with this economy it is difficult to feel unlucky when we are able to provide regardless of job satisfaction. I often find myself feeling unsatisfied until I find someone who has nothing to feel unsatisfied about.
Luis
You get hungry enough, you will work for whatever it takes to feed your family.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne1963
In reply to the original post, I would be glad to be alive at 81 let alone able to even work at 81, ( as no male family member I know has lived to 80 so far " but I hope to break this trend ) the fact that she "must" work at 81 is sad rather than she works because it is something she likes.
I have done a couple of years of unemployment in a area of few options getting by with what I could get with a young family, so I sympathise with those who are in this position it is not easy. But a 1300 km move and restart changed it all for me.
As for Pixelfix looking at the beautiful pieces of art you produce I would love to see your products in stores online etc along side those of Livi on the likes of RSD especially your loom strops, which are absolute masterpieces that
A: I wish I could afford but
B: would be to scared to use in case I cut it or something stupid at this stage
But we are the masters of our own destiny's so the changes must come from within to manifest externally into our lives
Conceive, Believe, AchieveQuote:
“Come to the edge, he said.
We are afraid, they said.
Come to the edge, he said.
They came to the edge,
He pushed them and they flew.
Come to the edge, Life said.
They said: We are afraid.
Come to the edge, Life said.
They came. It pushed them...
And they flew.”
― Guilliame Apollinaire French Poet.