Thursday, June 18, 2009

Rantings of a Disgruntled Citizen

             Today, I thought, I'd share something that's on the tips of everyone's tongues, but very few seem to do anything about it.  I'm talking about the economy.  Today's economy is a joke.  Really and truely, a complete joke.  Never before have we faced such a devastating landscape in terms of unemployment and financial disaster since the Great Depression.  How did we get here?  Well, different people will tell you different things, but probably the biggest reason we are here is people defaulting on their mortgages and filing bankruptcy.  Another problem we face is the problem of immigration, and the country's mixed reaction on letting them stay and do the work that no one else wants to do.  Well, we conveinently seem to forget or neglect (I'm not sure, because I can't speak for the ignorant supporters of immigration) that they pump money out of our economy and give it to the people in different countries.  While it may help foragers scrounging for food, clothing, and the means to survive, it does very little to help our country's economy.  In any event, this is not the question we should be asking.  We should be asking, why are we still here and what is being done about it?  The economy is hurting everyone from Joe laborer to Sue businesswoman.  Whether people make more isn't the issue -- one way or another we are all suffering.  But, the group facing the biggest problem and crisis right now is recent college graduates -- a group that spends anywhere between 2 - 4 years on higher learning to secure a job and (a decent one at that) after they graduate.  College graduates can't find work right now.  I can rant for myself all I want, but I'm okay at the moment.  But, honestly who knows how long any of us will be okay?  With the unemployment rate at 17% for young, college graduates, this is absolutely ridiculous, and no one seems to pay any attention to it.  All those in authority seem to care about is Joe Laborer.  While Joe Laborer and small business may be the backbone of our economy, without college grads and the labor they provide, it stands to reason, the economy will falter more so than anything we saw in the Great Depression.  Consider that if this trend continues, and college graduates continue not to be able to find work, then how long before young adults just quit going to college altogether?  Those in authority should be held accountable for this and it's time that the new generation of the workforce take it back.  

                 Ever since we were young, we were told that hard work equals success and to make it in this world, you must work extremely hard.  The only problem with that we all face growing competition from others just like us.  What is the point of a college degree anymore if everyone has one?  It does do what it did 20 years ago and separate an elite section of the workforce anymore.   The thing it should prove is that the holder spent 2 - 4 years of their life demonstrating to future employers that they deserve serious consideration for that job.  But, employers today don't even care really.  Experience.  Experience.  Experience.  This is the number one thing that drives whether or not you get the job not education.  Okay, great.  So, what does that mean for Suzy or John college graduate?  Well, between the binge drinking, frat parties, and 3 AM food runs during the course of college, you had better had a significant background of jobs and experience related to your field albeit internships, jobs, or co-ops, anything.  Otherwise, simply coasting through college relying on a degree isn't going to get you very far.  It is not my intention to downplay a degree.  That's not what I am doing here.  I am the proud holder of 2 degrees, and I cherish them for the education I have received and the opportunities they have brought about.  But, what I am saying is that education + experience = desired job.  Or, this is what we are told as college students.  Well, those of us who listen.  One way or another we finally listen, whether it is to those professors who care enough to tell us or when we get rejected from a potential job.  One way another we finally listen.  

              So, what does this mean for Suzy or John college graduate that has experience?  Well, rember the formula, education + experience = desired job?  Well, there is also another thing that fits into that category that seems to be beneficial to only a small section of today's college grads.  I am referring to none other than networking.  Ah, yes the either dreaded or loved word.  To network is to know people and to reach out to them in time of need.  If they know of a job, then they can help.  In some cases, they can even be in positions of authority and can hire you just because they know you, or simply point you to whomever can hire you.  I've networked.  To some extent or another we probably all have.  The only problem with that is, the people who network on a daily basis are more likely to get their desired job.  The rest of us whom network find it more difficult, because we either a.) network with the small people we know, b.) fail to get hired to those jobs we've discovered through networking, c.) use up all of our options, or d.) annoy the people we know from networking too much.  So, remember that formula?  Education + experience = desired job?  Let's now change that too Education + experience + networking = desired job.  

            Okay, so now that we've covered that, I want to spend a moment covering "desired" job versus a job to pay the bills.  In today's economy, simply getting a job is difficult.  Whether it's flipping burgers or becoming the next CEO.  They are few and far between, and the competition is getting fiercer as the number of jobs remains constant but the number of applicants rises with the population growing.  So, as a college graduate, you rely on the education you received the past four years to give you a certain skill.  On most job applications or during interviews, employers will want to know what skill set separates you from other applications.  Essentially, why should we hire and what can you do differently to excel at this job to earn us the most money?  So, the problem becomes if we as college graduates can't make a living and land the "desired" job using the acquired skill set that we paid anywhere from generally 40,000 to 100,000 dollars to get, then we have a problem.   Getting a job simply to pay the bills is something most everyone has had to do at one point or another in their lives, but what is the point of wasting 4 years of one's life acquiring a skill if you're never gonna use it?  Well, you might say, you can use it in one's individual pursuits, and while I can see that, some of us may never own our business or be put in these situations.  So, what does that group of people do?  Simply waste that money we spent acquiring it?  

               Throughout the history of the United States, there have been groups of people who have struggled with this problem.  For a while it was women.  Women are still struggling in the workforce to gain the same rights as men.  Over the years, the gap has slowly narrowed, but there is still not the same equality.  African American men have struggled to gain the same opportunities due to racist attitudes and feelings of superiority in certain businesses.  But, now as we face this milestone in World History, it only seems fitting that young adults shall face this problem.  Now, let's examine what these groups to change that.  Well, certainly, H. Newton and the Black Panthers come to mind.  If you're not familiar with them, they used guns and stood their ground to gain attention from the U.S. government to act in favor of giving African Americans better employment opportunities.  I highly recommend you look them up and study what they did to gain equality.  Female pioneers have certainly paved the way for women's rights.  The image that comes to mind is the image of Rosie the Riveeter.  This was substantial for women's rights, because during war, women assumed and proved they could handle a man's job.  So, what can the young generation do to combat this problem?  

              Taking back the economy for the present and future leaders of tomorrow is no small task.  But, I ask all of you to think about how many people you know who have just graduated college and are still unemployed.  Don't be surprised if that number skyrockets over the coming months.  We're facing real problems.  With an ingorant government, we need to take matters into our own hands just as the groups above did.  In no way am I condoning breaking the law.  But, what I am saying is that we live in a democracy.  As citizens, it is our right and authority to question the government and those in positions of leadership, when they fail to deliver opportunities to essentially survive.  Remember, food costs money.  If we can't get a job, we can't eat.  So, if this action takes drastic means to acheive that purpose, I'm okay with that.  I just don't want it to be suggested, I'm condoning breaking the law.  I'd like to make that point clear.  I challenge all of you to consider this and for all of us to unite and to make our voice heard.  If we can acheive half the publicity that the African Americans did during the Civil Rights Movement, or women did during the World Wars, then we'd be doing well.  It doesn't take one of us.  It takes all of us.  I'm gonna do my part.  Will you please join me and do your part?  

                                                  -- Scott Harrison Odom -- 

                                  -- Blog Written on Thursday, June 17, 2009 --

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