Another One Bites The Dust

Yesterday, I was the first to learn that another friend of mine will be laid off after Thanksgiving. Like me, she wasn't that surprised or disappointed.  She had been earning a paycheck, but wasn't challenged.  She has the tools and connections to land back on her feet in no time.  Time will tell if I do, but so far, so good.

I've lost track as to how many that is this year, but we're working on dozens if you count the colleagues at NPR West whose programs were canceled, the friends that can't find work, not even a menial job at a convenient store - and those whose companies just couldn't stay afloat.

Many of them have found some work, some are even following their dreams.  A news friend is singing opera and pursuing a theater career.  If you're going to be poor might as well be happy.  Another friend has become her own boss. 

But yet another is staring at the computer screen doing nothing.  Another has to move out of her warehouse space and figure out if she wants to leave town or not.

I'm not sure who to believe: the usual trustworthy Warren Buffet who says that yes we will create jobs because that's what we do or the prescient professor, Nouriel Rubini (he predicted the banking fiasco, but so did I) who says that we've got another year or so of job losses.

Rubini and others are calling for more investment and job creation by the federal government, the 21st century version of digging ditches, 'shovel-ready' projects like fixing bridges and roads and building stuff. Thing is that I don't really see myself digging ditches, although I want to learn to weld. I can't see my friend who will get the axe after Thankgsiving digging or welding.