Jobs vs. Disability

In June, more workers went on disability than got jobs.  What does that mean to you?  Well, the likelihood that Social Security will be bankrupt in the very near future.  Also, there isn't as much money circulating because being on disability means they aren't spending money on "luxury" items, such as automobiles, clothing, shoes, eating out, CDs or DVDs, etc.  There also isn't as much money going back into Social Security, State and Federal income taxes, and if these people lost their homes because of their decrease in income, that means less property taxes, and a glut of houses which affects neighbors, banks, realtors, cities, and counties.  With fewer people in the workforce and fewer dollars being pumped into the economy, Mr. or Ms. CEO will probably stop getting those multi-million dollar bonuses they've become accustomed to.

What the politicians aren't saying is that all of this - the lousy economy, the lack of jobs or lack of good-paying jobs, the increase of workers getting food stamps or going on disability - is all connected and is affecting EVERYTHING.  Whether workers aren't getting hired because of a lack of jobs, or more likely, ridiculous and discriminatory interviewing and/or hiring practices, it's now reaching crisis mode.

I realize that the economy and debt crisis is not necessarily completely the fault of companies' laying off workers or not hiring qualified workers because they didn't answer a question "correctly" or they wore too big of a diamond ring to the interview, but this is not just a fun little HR game anymore, it's a country-wide problem that could have long-term effects on our country and even the world.

Common Thread

I hate to use cliches and buzzwords, but looking at the "big picture" I find it so very interesting that so many companies seem to use the same business model over and over and over again.  It didn't work the first time, so why not do it again (and again, and again)?  And when that business or company stumbles, they go right back to the drawing board with the same old dog and pony show.  Perfect examples are AIG, GM and Chrysler, as well as SPS and Citicorp, and all those other companies who also took stimulus money but are still playing the same old games (if they're still in business).

I was listening to a commercial this morning about Ram Trucks, talking about what a great "value" they are.  Guess what GM and Chrysler?  You've taken enough of my money over the years, you've lied to me, you've ripped me off, you've sold me automobiles that were barely better than driving a sardine can, and you now expect me to come crawling back and invest my money in your shitty-ass company with the same slimy, corrupt management and executives and shareholders only concerned with the bottom line and their own huge bonuses?  With all due respect, please go fuck yourself.

SPS had a Vice President in charge of their I.T. Infrastructure who had the mental agility of a small soap dish and was fired ONLY because he had been assuring the other executives that backups sent off-site were being encrypted; however, when a technician who worked for the off-site backup storage company had his vehicle broken into, it was discovered that the backups were not encrypted as promised; consequently, a large number of accounts, and personally identifiable information, such as social security numbers, were compromised.  Did SPS bother to find a replacement who was able to dress him or herself and didn't require a drool bucket to be taped to their head at all times?  Oh Hell no.  They replaced him with an equally arrogant and lackadaisical jackass because he had a degree and the ability to bullshit his way through just about anything.

Citigroup recently had their systems hacked (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43421143), and announced that the initial number they threw out about how many accounts were hacked when the news first broke was significantly lower than the number of accounts that were actually hacked.  Oopsie!  A hundred thousand here, a million there, it's so hard to keep track, especially, you know, with our current lack of technology.  Honestly, the bottom line is that Citigroup has (1) very shitty I.T. people and (2) a boatload of excuses and news releases queued and ready for any situation, which means that instead of fixing the problem, they're more concerned with damage control and covering up.  And like a bad penny, there are the same slimy, corrupt management and executives and shareholders who couldn't care less about this company doing the right thing; they're only concerned with the bottom line and their huge bonuses.  These companies perpetuate ridiculous myths such as: only college-educated people can and should be in positions of authority, subordinates need to be micromanaged, and by God, do everything you can to keep your job even if that means intimidating and crushing the heads of anyone who gets in the way or who questions anything management or executives or the company does.

By all means, please do everything you can to run your company or business into the toilet - it makes socialism so much more attractive.  But maybe that's just my paranoia talking.