Sinking Feeling

[philipwhiteold]

For the past couple of years the economy has seemed like a bottomless rift. Thousands of jobs fall into the pit each day. Workers have been forced into long term unemployment and they are unable to receive benefits. People that are still employed are forced to increase their productivity significantly and often work for less compensation. This week jobless claims were down but the reason sited was long term unemployment. On the other hand we see the Forbes 400 list released at the same time.

It doesn't always seem fair and sometimes its not. Think of the state governments for example. They thought that the money coming in from the tech boom (extra tax dollars) would never dry up and now are penny pinching to try to break even. Right now you see an increased number of companies using temp employees to fill the gap thinking like they're in a short term situation. Everyone should realize by now this is a long term event.

Companies should be planning for the long term and preparing to rebuild. They should also be considering picking up high talent workers at this time when competition for jobs is so fierce. Capitalism is not fair and it is not designed to be fair. It does allow for the no ones of this world to become something. The best companies are the ones that are turning a profit consistently even when times are down. Good planning is an essential key.




edit... a bit too much for the fornt page so it can reside happily here. Just me rambling about how bad things suck.

[YaSO]

Capitalism is not fair and it is not designed to be fair.

I don't think that capitalism itself has a problem; I do think, however, that the way in which it's implemented in some country has number of problems. To be more specific, it is implemented so that people could not satisfy their basic needs; e.g. health care. It costs hundreds of dollars to get health care in US; that's terrible. If you are unemployed, can you get health care? I don't know how it works in detail, but probably not forever. So what happens if you have a family and you are unemployed? Keep paying for health care from credit card and what have you and your debt will accumulate. You might get a job some day, but you will end up spending much of your life paying back that debt. When you finish paying off the debt, your life is almost over. That's just horrendous and I do think that it's a problem.

Nonetheless, I still prefer to live in a capitalism world; like I said, there are number of problems that need to be addressed though.

[philipwhiteold]

I don't think its unfair either. Just pointing out that it doesn't always seem fair. I think a lot of companies are just looking at the market with the wrong view. Instead of long term reorganization and rebuilding they are looking for a quick fix.

[jerry]

Right now i feel the economy is getting ready to crash. Here are the threats that I think exist: 1) A terrorist attack is possible; 2) Avian Flu is possible; 3) conflict in the middle east between Iran and the US and Israel is possible and subsequent increases in the price of oil will reach $100 a barrel and $4-$6 a gallon of gasoline and diesel; 4) a crash of the dollar overseas is possible. In any of these circumstances the economy is going to dump.

From a business planning situation i would estimate the economy will continue to perform maybe another 5 months; i would then estimate that the economy will suffer a Net National Product growth rate of only 1-2 percent. During or beyond 2006 I belive the economy will further descend, possibly into depression levels.

The probability of a paralyzing terrorist attack right now in the US i will give 37%; the probability of bird flu and a pandemic i will give 43%; the probability of a conflict with Iran and the cutoff of oil from the middle east i will give 33%; and the possibility that the descent of the US dollar will begin and a tipping point reached 35%.

Jerry Wing MBA

[philipwhite]

Holy thread resurection Batman!!! This one was dug up from the Old forums. I think a slight dip in the economy is inevitable because of rising oil, labor, healthcare prices. I don't think it will be a food rationing depression era. Rising gas prices might just give us the kick we need to move towards alternant fuels. Hybrid cars are already becoming more popular.

[oladipoaina]

hi guys,
I think life itself is not even, or you can say fair. it's a world where only the strong, determined and persistent people stay on top. Well, the length of time to get to the top will vary depending on our unique experiences. I mean....everything has always seem to be crashing and will continue to seem that way. Talking of capitalism, personally i think there's no perfect system. some LOVE the capitalism and some dont. Not everyone can like the same things...it's just impossible.
My conclusion would be to train ourselves to overcome every situation that comes by. Not everything comes smooth in life, and if it does...then that should make you think.