Jobs for Life? Try Enlisting

I found this FASCINATING: Jobs for Life: If It Works in Germany...

First, because there is a terminate clause. If it isn't working, Siemens can pull the plug in 2013 which seems inevitable because there was no discussion of wage dealings. They do this and suddenly the unions decide they want tons of concessions!

Second, we have this in the United States: it's called the all volunteer military.

I've been around the military my entire life.

This is for all intents and purposes a catch-all welfare program. I've spoken to many soldiers that agreed with me. They had little in terms of employable skills or just needed direction. Mind you, this is not to say that all would have trouble finding employment. There are plenty that are perfectly employable BEFORE they got in. They joined out of patriotism, civic service, or other good reasons., but plenty did it because they perceived little other options.

I can see people suggesting, but this is a private company versus the government. True, but if you look at what is being offered: lifetime employment, other than government service, what private company is doing that anymore?

And more to the point is doing it on such scale? We have nearly 3 million Americans on active or reserve status for all armed forces. This means approximately 1 in 10 Americans and their families rely on military benefits etc.

You can debate the need and uses of the military until the cows come home, but I doubt you want to see the impact of "laying off" that many folks into the economy.

Granted, many will have very employer-friendly skills and be prepared to take on the work necessary in the civilian world, but at the same time, could we take on the needs of those soldiers including housing, medical care, and other long term benefits?

Again, lifetime employment, if you want it.

Slow Death or Rebirth for Myspace?

Are we really watching the slow inevitable death of Myspace? With the integration with Facebook complete and the push towards what appears to be a mobile only function , isn't it time to call this one? One report says that Myspace is making $200 million less this year. They are functionally giving up on Myspace Music , which was always their bread and butter. Without the music tie in, why would people BOTHER with Myspace? I'm talking about it because my wife's band has used every medium known to mankind to promote themselves online and Myspace has been nothing but dead weight from the very beginning. Only bands and their most ardent fans go there. The rest are on Facebook. There is talk of selling Myspace, but who in their right mind would consider it? This will have some interesting implications for bands down the road. Many use Myspace as their de facto website, just pushing their domain name onto the customizable site. Now apparently, Reverbnation , a North Carolin

Being a Parent

While back, I wrote a post on Father's day about being a father and how being a parent is a job. I wistfully look back as I look forward to another school year quickly approaching and the evidence of my "work" is becoming less and less my handiwork. Our youngest has just moved on to middle school. Josh has moved into high school and the oldest has graduated from high school and about "start" her life. We've had a tacit arrangement with the kids. We do NOT want boomerang kids coming back to haunt us. So they have always been told, they are staying with us until they are REALLY ready to go out and that includes the joke that college has become. Sadly, despite the fact that I have spent a good chunk of my career working in higher education, I know that it is a folly to think that sending a child off to college is preparing them for much other than to have a lifetime of loans. Thankfully, Amanda has gotten the message. She has a plan to go to local c

Check out my appearance on the The Toddcast Podcast

Click and watch the podcast recording of my appearance on the Toddcast Podcast Such a fun time!

Todd Lyden

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