My brother in law was laid off

[mariema]

My brother in law was laid off / fired from his job this past
week. He is an engineer at a medium size company that develops
electronic testing equipment. I don’t know exactly why he was
let go, something about corporate restructuring. He is in his
mid 50’s and is about as conservative as a man can be. 

This is a person who was forever spouting off about how
glorious the free market is and painstakingly explained that
all the jobs being outsourced to India and other countries are
just the results of the global economy adjusting to the
realities of a changing labor force.

When a friend of mine was laid off from her IT job in 2003, my
BIL said it was her own fault for not keeping herself
“marketable” by continuing education and retraining. And I can
remember distinctly when he proclaimed there should be no
worker protections against abuse by employers, that there
should be no legislated minimum wage and all unions should be
abolished. Over the years I have argued with him about these
and other issues. My favorite argument was when he insisted
that Bush was a successful businessman and knows what it’s
like to have to meet a payroll and worry about getting health
insurance for his employees. That Bush had to make his own
way, earn his own fortune and that Mommy and Poppy Bush didn’t
hand him anything on a silver platter!

Now, I feel sorry for my BIL and his family, I know how hard
it is going to be for a man his age to find a job. Contrary to
what he was saying a couple weeks ago, the economy is not
looking so good for folks in his situation. So, as I say, I
can't help but feel for the guy.

But I am just writhing with the urge to blurt out something
like: “Aren’t you just amazingly gratified at how wonderfully
the free market works?” or maybe “Isn’t it marvelous that the
economy is adjusting so well to the realities of the changing
labor force?”

I can’t do that, of course. Not because I am so
self-disciplined that I can refrain from being such a
smart-ass. Or because I am such a good person that I would
never be so cruel. But because my husband did a “preemptive”
intervention and has made me promise I won’t do it. Ohh, but I
want to sooo much! It is agony, I tell you! It is almost more
than I can bear.

[leftofthedial]

1. technology companies seem not to be hiring anyone over 45.

[Kerrytravelers]

2. Well, nothing says you can't have a little smirk on your face.

Sometimes, that's all that is needed.



We have a married couple on Mr. kt's side who is a religious nut. They naturally don't believe in health care for everyone. Well, she doesn't work and he lost his job. They don't have health care. And now, they really need it. Quite frankly, I don't feel the least bit sorry for them because of all the name calling and smearing they've done in the past. Poor people just deserve to be poor- except when it's them. They know enough to keep their traps shut in front of us now, I'll give them that. At some point, you can't feel sorry for these asshats. It sounds vicious, cold and cruel, but perhaps it takes reality hitting some of these idiots in the face for them to wake the fuck up and join humanity.

[GardeningGal]

3. I'd want to say something too.

But I hope I'd convince myself to take the high road.

[Bossy Monkey]

4. Suspect you'd get more replies if you edited the subject line as follows:

"My RW, free-market-worshipping brother-in-law was laid off"

Just a guess.

I would say, "Welcome to DU!" but you've been here as long as I have so I'll substitute, "Post more!":hi:

[skygazer]

5. Hard not to rub it in for sure

You wonder if people like that even relate their past stupidities to what's happening to them right now. Probably they feel that their case is different. :eyes:

At any rate, though it is agony, I suppose it makes you a better person than them. I suppose...

[Deja Q]

6. Rub it in... but not too much.

What's left to say? He's fallen victim to the same fate too many Americans have. He should at least be aware of it.

[judaspriestess]

7. maybe you can ask him this way:

How are you feeling????

[Crazy Dave]

8. I wouldn't and couldn't say a "told you so"

Watching somebody else be miserable has never helped me feel any better either. This could be a good thing for the gentleman. Most of us live our lives without ever having to step into another person's shoes and live the life they live. If he's smart and humbles himself and doesn't blame everyone else for losing his job, he might do good and have a different outlook on life and you my friend might have a whole new brother-in-law that you can agree with and like even more :)

Quote I read yesterday:
"An optimist is someone who tells you to cheer up when everything is going his way"

[mariema]

11. love the quote

and I can only hope that he has a change of outlook but after over 20 years of "discussing" politics with him, I really doubt it.

I have to admit, he is fairly good natured. A couple times, after going round and round during one of our debates, we have looked up and found that everyone else in the family has cleared out. We both burst out laughing and he said, "well, we cleared the room again".

[Crazy Dave]

15. You know what?

I forgot to say, "Welcome to DU mariema" in my first post.

It's a tradition on here :hi:

[lildreamer316]

9. I share your pain...

..at not being able to say anything. Just reading made me want to say "SEE???" + numerous other unmentionable things.
Good luck...I don't think I would be able to resist, but I think I could wait a few weeks.

[Boojatta]

10. re Unions

"And I can remember distinctly when he proclaimed ... all unions should be abolished."
If he meant abolished by law, then wouldn't that violate the right to freedom of association?

[Haole Girl]

12. You know in the long run...

...it wouldn't make you feel any better.

You can be a smart ass, here, instead.

BTW, welcome to DU! :hi:

[mariema]

13. Yeah, that is exactly why I posted,

so I wouldn't explode from all my pent up smart-assedness!

DU, savior of family harmony!

[LSK]

14. i can see how you are tempted, but wait

Wait to see how long it takes for him to get a job.

[ThomCat]

16. This might be the ideal time to talk about

some liberal ideals. Now that he needs help he might understand our positions better.