Money Matters - Part 14

Sally, I order a lot of library books on loan, but most of them come from out-of-the-area universities, and I have to pay postage both ways. Our regional library system caters to the under-educated. One of the pitfalls of living in the poorest area in the state.

I don't worry as much about the next generation as I used to. As long as they are the main consumers and a huge voting block, they will have influence over the government's role in distribution of wealth. The Bush inheritance tax changes are a case in point. Lots of babyboomers (not me, too late) got very low inheritance taxes as the Greatest Generation started to pass in larger numbers. These numbers change elections. Medicare and Health Care in general are going to be an even bigger concern as the youth gain the majority.

Odd but it seems the next generation is cutting themselves out... I have friends that have changed their wills ( should they have anything left in future times) as they disagree politically with their grown kiddos.

It will not matter if they are a large voting block. They will not have choices, as Europe is seeing right now. In a few years our debt will exceed 20 trillion dollars, despite any kind of deal to slow the growth of new debt. Some holes are just too deep. I have mixed feelings about that term, 'greatest generation'. Sure, they won the war and established the US as a superpower. But THEY are the ones who started us on this path and we are now paying the price. We were going to 'win the war on poverty' if we only spent X billion. We have spent orders of magnitude times X and poverty is the same or even worse. Their ideas made this country dependent on government for everything and personal responsibility went out the window. This is why we are in the mess we are.

I googled "greatest generation" and am so happy to know I am not part of it!

Problem is that there is no other country that has solved this problem either. We're looking at a world economy. As a product of the Sputnik years myself, I still put my hopes, and have encouraged my children's hopes in innovation from this country. Many disasters don't happen as predicted because there are just too many unforseen events. Having known lots of Europeans and Asian natives who either live in the area, or having had lots of au pairs, I'd say the difference in mindset is quite noticable

There sure are. Germany and the Netherlands, and a number of Asian countries are nowhere near the US and southern Europe in terms of debt.

How about Australia? Thinking of moving there, LOL

Me too. Or New Zealand.

Oh, NZ for sure. I want to move to Hobbiton.

Three year low hit by US manufacturing. But I thought things were getting better!

it is amazing what comes to light after any major election.

Sure is. A very bad jobs report tomorrow would not surprise me at all. Of course they will blame it entirely on Sandy.

Another report out yesterday showed youth employment is now lowest since WW2.

IRS issued 160 pages of new regs yesterday just to explain ONE new tax in '13 from the healthcare law. Gotta love their efficiency.

UGH


Went to store to buy hazelnuts, they had none in bulk so had to buy prepackaged, $4.99/ a bag, no express lanes open(had to ring myself I HATE that, don't work for your store I shouldn't have to ring myself up!!!) after scanning the bag it asks me to put it on the scale...well what the heck? it's prebagged not bulk! Last bag weighed over the 1 lb so they charged me more for that bag, called the girl over and complained...if they are prepackaged at the factory and marked 16oz and the sign says 4.99 a BAG, how can you charge me more $....well needless to say I left without my hazelnuts, went to a different store who had bulk at 4.49/lb

You should have gotten that bag for free because it rang up as more than the shelf price!

I agree with Yankee. That's just bad customer service.

I never use the self checkouts either. Do something to earn my business!

I think those self-checkouts are for introverts like me who would prefer to get in and out of a store without having to talk to anyone. I love them.

Do you ever talk to the machine?? ;)

Sometimes I curse at it when it doesn't work right.

we always use them at costco - much faster than waiting in the check out cashier line.

The few times I have opted for it, someone always has a problem and you have to wait for someone to come and troubleshoot it, so it ends up not saving much.

I just really wish they would give you a discount to do it yourself

Most of the stores here have 4 of the self-checkout stations clustered together with one store employee stationed nearby. When you have a problem you just give them the nod and they come over to help. Most of the time it is still much faster for me to do it this way.

The law in California was changed so that now if you are buying alcohol at the store you cannot use the self-checkout lane.

More Twilight Zone - CLERKS behind the port strike in LA, which is coating the economy one billion per day, turned down an offer of 190K in wages and benefits with a no-layoff guarantee. Why is this greed not called out? CLERKS! Now Fed mediators will supposedly get involved. Bizarro.

Here's a thought: skip the Chinese-made goods (and wrapping paper!) as Christmas gifts, and give gift certificates from local American-owned hair salons, barber shops, oil change shops, gyms, house-cleaning services, mom 'n pop restaurants... you get the drift.

Love that idea, Darius!!

Bizarro is right!!

Yes darius, good ideas! Wrap the gifts in American - printed comics, the old fashioned way too. It still just baffles me that with the cost of fuel, its cheaper to ship this crap across the pacific than make it here.

Gardensox, I am with you on self checkouts. Including cussing at it when it malfunctions or is just stupid.
One of the friendly young ladies at the store is now a self-checkout monitor clerk. She hates it, much less chance to say hi to customers.
Jen thats still freaky about the hazelnuts. I can't ever remember having to put a prebagged item on the scale.
Last week, bought 3 lbs of greens for a dollar. This week, the sign was left up, hence overcharged, hence got this 3 lbs free.

Good thing as Whitewheat hot dog rolls pack of eight= $3. Hot dog rolls??? say what??

CLERKS- insane.
And that low youth employment last time led to '(horrors!) rock n roll! What now?? egads!

My hair stylist is Chinese.

In my town the Taco chain closed overnight because they couldn't find people to work there. I know cause they called to make sure DD wasn't home from college yet. I really like this little franchise and they have been great to my DD working there, and stay in touch with her as friends, talk Spanish to her, etc. Seems to me these entry level jobs are going unfilled all over town because they can't find young people even in the high school who are willing to work.

Similarly, DH is trying to hire an electrical engineer fresh out of college, but he can't find any yet from the many applicants who have achieved the basic college level skills, so the job is unfilled.

To generalize, I wonder if the jobs problem for the many college educated young people means they aren't finding the college level jobs unless they have achieved the practical skills or are willing to pay their dues by working overtime, things that used to be assumed for new hires.

Not surprised at the first one because American kids are spoiled. Very surprised at the second. What engineering schools are nearby? Would not have that problem in this area.

I heard what I almost thought were crazy stories about my kids co workers.

Schools included Wentworth which has a new engineering school and U of Hartford, and I don't know what others he's interviewed. Part of the problem is that the human resources department is doing the recruiting, and they don't seem to post in the better schools.. They would have been almost free to my DS because of scholarship offers. Glad he didn't go there. So far we think U mass Lowell is a place with amazing vision.

no one from NU or MIT? Doesn't not sound like they are looking very hard.

Citi Group - to slash 11,000 jobs. I dont care as of today I am Hired by Key Floral Inc. not through a staffing agencey.

YAY!

Have I mentioned on here that I can not find any peppermint candy canes that are made in the US?
Driving me crazy!!! Had to order organic ones made in Canada