Jus wanted to know your thoughts on this ... i know There are other factors but i just cant shake the idea that its partially because americans over value themselves and want high paying easy jobs...
Ceo's rediculous pay scale is a big factor in my opinion also..

it seems everyone wants to blame one person like Obama or Bush.. when there are more factors than that.. did people really beleive we hired a magical president that was gonna wave a wand and fix this?

I feel like its more of a problem for those my age and younger .. it seems to me the work ethic of the older generations is more solid..

do you really even have to ask that question?

Not really i know what i beleive .. i was just curious what others thought... i thought it was a generally accepted Feeling ..

but im in conversation where someone disagrees strongly and seems to think its a non issue.. so i thought id ask

It's a very legitemate question; and one I happen to agree with him on. A very major problem in todays workforce, is the young American (age 18-30) refusing to accept jobs tha are minimum wage or that they deem "beneath" them, or for the teenagers and not adults.

Another problem, I am sorry to say, is the fact that so many companies DO hire teenagers (I mean teens as in 16 and 17 while still in high school) more often than they do adults. I know I will get a lot of razz on this topic, but it is one I stand firm on. Teenagers still in highschool should not be working during the school year, unless they can show the need to provide support for themselves or their family. During summer vacation, they should be doing odd jobs like cutting the lawn, cleaning out garages, washing cars etc. if they want extra cash. If we can get back to where the adults are hired and working, then any leftover jobs by all means be picked up by a teen if they want it. But the ADULTS need to have first grab at ALL jobs. This includes fast food and party store/gas station jobs as well.

Even my generation believes they are worth more than they are. I have known unemployed people who were, by their own declaration, too good for a minimum wage job. So they went jobless for months, living off others, until a higher paying job came along. My son is one of these individuals and I do not know where he got that idea. I had applied and got hired at Taco Bell when I was unemployed but a better job came up before I started there but I would have worked it until a better job came. So by example I had shown him differently.


I don't know where a person who has no job can determine they are too good for any job. This concept is beyond my comprehension.

Good for you if i was jobless id be at ANY place of employment if i end up at mcdonalds while i continue my search thats at least SOMETHING coming in untill i can find something better.. i cant afford not to work my daughter needs me bringin money in if its not much well survivr but something must come in

exactly!

That is how I think anyway. But it seems some do not think that way.

I see it too.

And while it's really noticeable amongst the teens and twenty year olds, my ex at 43 was the same way. And he also felt that since he was ex military, he was "owed" somehow. But he refused to work for anything less then a computer job at 25.00 an hour. For 3 years. I left finally.

rather than quoting the various posts in this thread that I find ridiculous.. I'll just offer a generic response..

If you're an "adult" and you can't out compete an 17 year old... sorry but you suck.. and there should be no laws that protect you from being outplayed by a 7yr old in high school..

why should it be put to the government to have to force a 16/17 yr old to prove some form of hardship to be able to work a part time job.. give me a break..

if you're in your mid 30's and still haven't figured out how to make a living.. I'm sorry but you shouldn't expect too much symapthy from society.. down on your luck is one thing but an entire decade of being worthless.. you had all of your 20's to figure out something to do with your existence.. if all you can manage to do is change tires, then change tires... if you're 33 and you can't outcompete a 17 yr old.. sorry dude. it sucks to be you...

Especially in todays market. at this point I would have no qualms what so ever about flippin burgers but can't because they hire high school kids instead.

When I was 16-18 and in high school, I wasn't allowed to have a job. Foster parents rules, until you graduated high school you couldn't work even a part time job. they felt that it would compromise my grades.

Many don't. I had a friend who was unemployed for a while. They kept saying there were no jobs out there, but wouldn't apply for anything minimum wage.

In Maryland, you make more money getting the maximum from unemployment than you do working 40 hrs earning minimum wage. Working is perceived as more ethical, but if you don't make as much money what is the point?

I disgree, in general, with most posts in this thread. My son is a teen looking for work, he doesnt HAVE to have an income, that is why minimum wage works for him,,but wouldnt for me. He completed his credits last year and this year gets out of school by 10 am, next year he will be 18 and on his own and I think it is an awesome idea for him to see what the real world is like and gain a work ethic before he finds himself out in the world.

As far as minimum wage, I have paid taxes since my first job at 16,that is twenty dour years of working under my belt. At this point in life, I have a house note, a car note, car insurance, utility bills, child care and there is NO way that I could afford to work for minimum wage. We work to cover our expenses and minimum wage does not do that for me because I HAVE worked for so long to get to where I am. I am glad that during time of unemployment I can have some of those taxes I paid put to good use to assist with rent and food and necessities. I am all for putting requirements such as proof of a work search or proof of getting training for a better job when applying for assistance, but I would say I totally understand when people have education and have worked in positions that got them to a certain lifestyle,,how minimum wage would never cut it. It would almost be pointless. you would be working to make money so you could go to work basically (childcare, car note, insurance and gas is about your whole check).

Yes there are problems and I am sure that many Minglers have ideas on how to fix the problem. The question is does the Government even care and if so what are they going to do to fix the mentality of most Americans about the issues of work?


What do you say to a kid that didn't get a proper education, but still somehow passed to get a high school diploma? Then when it came to college he couldn't get any money or credit together to go.

I know what most people say. Oh well -- his or her fault.

That kind of mentality is what is destroying the American economy.

So what happens to this kid? Yes he either sells drugs, works at burger king, or joins the military to be blown up by a IED in Afghanistan. If he survives the mental abuse in the military he might be able to get a GI bill to study. That is if he isn't suffering from post dramatic depression or anything.

College shouldn't cost a arm and leg. Shouldn't all children have the opportunity to get a good education? Why do we still have districts in America handing out school worksheets from 1950s that doesn't provide any true education? Why are latin kids in Miami being passed to the next grade but cannot speak any English let alone do school projects at their grade level?

Why are there schools that are not A-credited anymore, such as in Indiana for example?

Education should be entitled to everyone with the same degree of technology and information so that every child will have a chance to succeed.

Europe has figured that out a long time ago. Look at their math, science, reading, and writing scores compared to this country. Come on America! Are you truly asking why the work force isn't working?

Look into your education system, the costs to attend colleges, and how the government made sure that education will fail until now.

Obama did offer 4 billion in grant money to try to improve in education. He only did it because his daughter was suffering from school grades at the time. Thank goodness he has children at such a young age right! Now we have to see if this 4 billion dollar investment will really work or is is just money floating around.... let us say back into the pockets of rich individuals.

I just hope for the countries sake that they will finally wake up and smell the coffee. If not then you shall see how America will continue to lose ground on educational results leading to a terrible workforce.

Yes, education needs an overhaul.

No, Europe doesnt have a better educational situation, the education in britain, for example, is pretty on course with America.

and be careful about assuming what peoples motives are,,,,how did you get information on the grades of Obamas children ( I would actually love to see that).

Well as a German I can tell you that much of Europe is much better off with their children on education. Perhaps the East block countries of Europe are still catching up, but I can assure you that a European will know more about American History then most Americans know about their own country or for that matter the European country the person comes from.

Also look at world statistics on reading, writing, science, and math to see what I am talking about. This is what got Obama's attention.

I watched a meeting on Obama on how he is dissappointed about the education in America. Americas math and science score averages rank way below alot of countries. The top 10 are usually owned by European and some Asian countries. He wants to fix that and gave a 4 billion dollar grant on education. Of course schools will have to apply for it.

He mentioned how one of his daughters received tests that had nothing to do with the subjects she was learning at the time in the classroom. So this test she wasn't prepared for resulted in bad grades.

In the end Obama checked into it and saw that much of the material needs to be updated. He also suggested on a mirade of other things to perhaps boost the education in America.

It is a problem. You have young adults from India that have a better grade average than most Americans who get special visas and work at a IT job for half the price an American wants after they get their degree.

What makes it worse is that American that got his degree is most likely in debt before even having his first actual job. Now tell me what is wrong with that picture?

In America liberal educators put too much emphasis on "accepting others" and not on U.S. and world history or 8x + 2 =5x -4 (X = -2). these are real problems with American education IMO.

I hope for that matter regardless of Liberalism or Conservatism that there will be a solution created to help boost the education not only for a selected few that can afford it, but for everyone who is interested in attaining a degree to get a better job in the workforce.

If this problem doesn't resolve itself then I fear you will see a country that once was great and will watch other countries bypass on a great numerous things. I would like to see the United States as a leader and not as a follower in the next 20 years.

In time we shall see what will happen. I hope better times will come for a country that started out so good.