Don’t blame yourself. It's not you, it's just that the economy sucks.

[raccoon]

It’s easy to blame yourself, in our society. American mythology has it that this is the land of opportunity and we Americans are supposed to be the masters of our fates and the captains of our souls.

There are plenty of clueless people out there, many of them people who haven’t had to look for a job since Clinton was in the White House (or earlier), who believe if someone is unemployed it’s their own fault. They aren’t looking; or they haven’t tried hard enough.

There may be some unemployed people out there like that, but IME, they are definitely in the minority.

Fact is, the economy sucks, the job market sucks, and it’s not about you or me.

I was looking for a job in 1982, IMO, the worse depression since 1932 (until now). There was NOTHING out there. I was signed up with a bunch of temporary agencies then, and even they had very little work.

So, if you’re unemployed, don’t feel like it’s your fault, like you must be worthless because no one has hired you. I’ve felt like that when I was unemployed. No, it’s not your fault.

Back in the early ‘80’s, I didn’t find a job until spring of 1983—when the economy got better.

:grouphug:

[MadHound]

1. Don't forget that recessions and depressions effect different areas of the country in different ways

I remember the early eighties, I was out there with you trying to find work. While I did find enough to keep body and soul together, the recession really never lifted in Missouri until the mid-late eighties. We lost a lot of small and mid size manufacturing jobs in the state, shoe factories, TV plants, etc., not to mention the devastating attack on small farms. It just crippled our state economy.