2012 U.S. Presidential Election

[Blademaster]

As much as I'm not a fan of Herman Uncle Ruckus (no relation) Cain, that "Blame yourself if you're unemployed." is something I can get behind. I'm unemployed and I blame myself for it every day (Luckily I have a BOE meeting soon that'll land me a job in the local school system.), and looking at how my parents respond to unemployment, it pretty much DOES equate to it being your fault that you're a jobless bum if you have the resources to get a job.

Of course, this doesn't apply to everybody. If you're a smelly hobo with broken teeth that eats out of the McDonald's dumpster, you have my sympathy because it's not that easy for you to get a job within walking distance of your cardboard box. But the chunk of unemployed people in America who complain about being jobless when they have the resources with which to GET a job of some variety but not the inclination... Well, they can honestly go get right fucked.

[Gavin Luper]

Even though when unexplained it does sound a bit horrible, I know what he is trying to say when he says "Blame yourself". While I'm not saying you should blame yourself if you can't get the kind of job you want, what he's saying is take your life into your control, rather than point the finger at everyone else for your problems, get motivated and decide "I want the things I want and I will do what I have to to get them".

I've been unemployed for a month twice this year, because of being laid off the first time and the second one because it was quite literally a man's job. Everyone who worked there with me helped me so much and was all for a woman joining, that wasn't the problem, it was that even being a strong woman I still couldn't really handle the every day strenuousness of the work, it was a very physically demanding job. Each time I found myself out of work I applied everywhere, got a lot of interviews but I also was rejected repeatedly. It started to make me almost blame the economy and shout out that its not my fault if no one hires me. But I can't just sit around whinging about the state of the world, I am in control of my own life and if I want a good job I will go out and get it. And so I took some security classes, got some certs under my belt, and continued to apply everywhere. Which resulted in me finally getting a job that pays better than any I have had so far, with health insurance, and one that I actually like as well.

This isn't luck, this is seeing what I don't like about life and being determined enough to do it. If everyone was this motivated and relentless, there would be a lot less unemployment. There ARE jobs out there, you might have to suck it up and put aside your pride to work them (I have also worked at 7/11 once because I needed a job and I refuse to sit around collecting unemployment) but there ARE options. Being 'uneducated' isn't even an excuse because I don't have a degree either, I couldn't afford to go to college.

So yes, that's what I think he means. Its the same value my dad instilled within us kids. You might have to work a shit job, have 3 or 4 roommates in a rental, but there are options out there besides being unemployed. When you really want something you'd be surprised at how inventive you can get, and still make an HONEST living.

(Also I think part of the problem is it pays more to be collecting unemployment than a lot of shit jobs pay for actually working, that doesn't strike me as encouraging people to work.)

Wow. Well said, and I agree. I'm from a working/middle class family and that's the same work ethic we had instilled in us.

As much as I'm not a fan of Herman Uncle Ruckus (no relation) Cain, that "Blame yourself if you're unemployed." is something I can get behind. I'm unemployed and I blame myself for it every day (Luckily I have a BOE meeting soon that'll land me a job in the local school system.), and looking at how my parents respond to unemployment, it pretty much DOES equate to it being your fault that you're a jobless bum if you have the resources to get a job.

Of course, this doesn't apply to everybody. If you're a smelly hobo with broken teeth that eats out of the McDonald's dumpster, you have my sympathy because it's not that easy for you to get a job within walking distance of your cardboard box. But the chunk of unemployed people in America who complain about being jobless when they have the resources with which to GET a job of some variety but not the inclination... Well, they can honestly go get right fucked.

I've also noticed/encountered lots of people with degrees who will say "I have a degree, and a Master's, and I can't even find a job!"

And after some questioning, it turns out what they actually mean is, "I have a degree, and a Master's, and I can't find a cushy job in my field. There is no way I am working in retail or hospitality or manual labour because it's hard, thankless work and it's beneath me since I'm educated. Instead I will go on the dole and whine about being unemployed."

[Dark Sage]

I have an MA in Psychology.

Despite this, I'm working as a security guard, something I've done for five years. It's not my ideal job, but I'll take it in this economy.

[Gavin Luper]

I have an MA in Psychology.

I never knew that! That's pretty cool.