ECON What Happens When The Competent Opt Out?

Dennis Olson

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
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The young today want “Twitter jobs.” That is, jobs where they sit around all day scrolling on their phones, and make a six figure paycheck. No one ever expects them to actually PRODUCE.

At the tire store this morning, I was talking to the old guy staffing the desk about the unwillingness of the young to do work. Actually he brought it up because I was complaining about “why should I have to make an appointment to get my tires rotated?” Anyway he said he hired this one young guy. Worked two hours his first day. Went to lunch. Never came back. That’s the problem. Today’s youth simply won't work.
 
Tristan

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB

The Second Coming​


By William Butler Yeats

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?


Just a wee bit of writing that appears to have been a bit prophetic, even if it wasn't divinely inspired...
 
Old Greek

Old Greek

Veteran Member
I bailed at 41 years old (major corporation) in 1994. Was a plant Manager. Started my own small remodeling company and never looked back. Took SS at 62 and continue to work near full time to this day. Now 70, I tell folks I retired from the rat race at 41. Enjoying what you do is not work!
 
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ShadowMan

ShadowMan

Designated Grumpy Old Fart
The last job I had in the navy was as a Sick Call Supervisor in the main clinic in Quantico, Va. We had these TWO dipstick junior nurses as co-department heads :sheep::sheep:that couldn't find their arses with both hands nailed to them. It was a total Charlie Foxtrot every time they were around. When it was coming up time for me to retire I was told that "You will have to pay for your retirement ceremony and party out of your own pocket!" It was a "new" command directive.

So I just quietly put in my papers and a little later put in for Leave, which they signed off on both. But they didn't read the fine print. Two weeks after I left on TERMINAL RETIREMENT LEAVE and was halfway across the country in the middle of a final self move they asked one of the senior Corpsman in the department when I was getting back from leave. He laughed and laughed and laughed. After he stopped laughing and the the two nurses were standing there looking puzzled he told them "The Chief RETIRED and is not coming back.....EVER!!"

"But he didn't have a retirement ceremony?"

"He doesn't have to."

"Yes he does!!"

"Well, he's retired now and halfway across the country....good luck with that!"

When they called the Detailer regarding my replacement they were told that my billet would be gapped at least two to three years and they had no recourse because THEY HAD APPROVED BOTH MY RETIREMENT AND TERMINAL LEAVE PAPERWORK!! :rofl:
:prfl:
 
West

West

Senior
Over the years of being a independent individual, have had many people rudely tell me that I didn't know what I was doing. Either hinting it or flat out saying it.

And over the years I've quickly agreed with them and black listed them as customers.

And usually they come back and ask nicely for my services. Half the time I take them back, other times I simply say I'm just to busy.

I actually like the honesty and try to prove myself to the honest ones. People who simply rub me wrong way or preach/talk too much...I'm too busy, so sorry, call someone else.
 
Kathy in FL

Kathy in FL

Administrator
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GeneSD said:
After twenty-five years I was let go for someone who said the right thing but didn't have the technical background. So now they still pay him but outsource when they need technical support, so it costs twice as much. I am grateful that I got out when I did at the end of last year.
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Gene ... it sounds like you were "Bob." Bet other people are now sad you are gone.
 
GeneSD

GeneSD

Retired December 31 2022
Kathy in FL said:
Gene ... it sounds like you were "Bob." Bet other people are now sad you are gone.
Click to expand...
They are but are afraid to say anything, I was one of the few people who asked others how they are doing and can I help them with anything. Naturally, everyone came to me with their issues/problems and I would at times bring those to management. Management did not like that, and would always ask me why the people would not just come to them and I would relay back that the employees had a belief that management didn't care or would not listen to them. In some ways, I am relieved that I am retired and don't have to deal with individuals in management that only care about themselves.
 
TerriHaute

TerriHaute

Hoosier Gardener
I chose to opt-out of the big pharma corporate life at the earliest possible exit point for retirement at that company where I could still get a pension, age 55, for all the reasons given in the OP. I have never regretted it, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. When DH and I got married 21 years ago, we worked diligently to get ourselves completely out of debt and have remained that way. It was what allowed me to take the early retirement and DH retired early too.
 
D

DHR43

Since 2001
I left 3 years ago holding down 2 full-time jobs; Quality Manager and Project Manager/Launch Manager. Out of control situation.

Found out a couple of weeks back over lunch with boss (who sold company but is still tight with current ownership) that company had 3 straight years of losses, ending a few months ago.

Looks like it didn't work out too well for the company when he, me, the Maintenance Manager all left.
 
Tristan

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Carl2 said:
E.M. Forster foresaw what is probably ahead in his story "The Machine Stops" published in 1909 - "The Machine Stops". Most of humanity becomes totally technology dependent and when maintenance breaks down, they perish. However, free people remain who had escaped the system.
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A copy is available at archive.org for those interested...

And regarding the original question "What happens when the competent opt out?", the answer is the World reverts to norm.

Or, as so ably put by the Dean of Science Fiction, Robert Anson Heinlein:

“Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.​

​

This is known as "bad luck.” ​


I wonder what RAH would have observed upon seeing the depth of corruption which has been exposed today, should he have been living in this time.

Although he was perhaps a bit prescient - he referred to this time as "The Crazy Years" in his future history...

(Nailed it!)
 
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vector7

vector7

Dot Collector
Joe Biden: We’re ready to continue the historic work we’ve accomplished these last two years.

Let’s finish the job.
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1666169538499719169
View: https://twitter.com/tampa_npa/status/1666169538499719169?s=20

Fx9svlWXoAIWPT6

Fx9rI7bXgAEcnkL

https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1666166343614230528/photo/1
 
West

West

Senior
vector7 said:
Joe Biden: We’re ready to continue the historic work we’ve accomplished these last two years.

Let’s finish the job.
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1666169538499719169
View: https://twitter.com/tampa_npa/status/1666169538499719169?s=20

Fx9svlWXoAIWPT6

Fx9rI7bXgAEcnkL

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1666166343614230528
View: https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1666166343614230528/photo/1
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One correction, unleaded gas, granted 10% corn was a $buck a gallon in Oklahoma average $1.50 in the city, during Trumps presidency.
 
E

earthbud

Contributing Member
I bailed on my last job working for someone else back in early 2009 as the economy was imploding. I started an online Ebay business and it was more successful than I would have imagined.

I'm now 70 and just bought a fixer-upper on 4 acres for a song. So I have plenty to do, but I still dabble in the telecom industry for a little extra bling. I went on SS a couple of years early at 64. No regrets.
 
G

gunnersmom

Veteran Member
I lost my job in October when the bosses decided to sell the whole operation. I was offered my job for the new boss, but the drive was way too far to make it work. I am well read, an excellent writer, great at bookkeeping and quickbooks. I've had jobs as office manager and even in sales. Never late for work Always went the extra mile. I'm intelligent, have learned not to overstep any boundary, and I'm even pretty. I have a good, sensible head on my shoulders. I learn quickly. But after sending out at least a hundred + resumes, I cannot get a job. I'm sure it's my age, but it's so weird to experience when all I read is how companies are just longing for settled, mature employees. THAT'S ME! I'm in my mid 60s, sharp, literate, and can't catch a break. So I really do get tired of hearing how awful and demanding and unreliable the young ones are. I include my past two employers as references and they are rarely even contacted.
I've actually taken the last two weeks off from even TRYING to get a job, and I've enjoyed my class reunion and a wonderful anniversary. I just don't understand why I cannot get a job, even a part time one. Something to keep my mind sharp!
 
G

gunnersmom

Veteran Member
earthbud said:
I bailed on my last job working for someone else back in early 2009 as the economy was imploding. I started an online Ebay business and it was more successful than I would have imagined.

I'm now 70 and just bought a fixer-upper on 4 acres for a song. So I have plenty to do, but I still dabble in the telecom industry for a little extra bling. I went on SS a couple of years early at 64. No regrets.
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Just wondering what type of products you sold on ebay?
 
Shadow

Shadow

Swift, Silent,...Sleepy
Gunnersmom maybe show up in person. Hand them your resume. Let them see you and hear you.

If they do not seem interested ask them if they know anybody who is hiring. People who tell you no are often very helpful at that stage. I have always gotten leads after being turned down.

Shadow
 
MinnesotaSmith

MinnesotaSmith

Membership Revoked
ShadowMan said:
"Well, he's retired now and halfway across the country....good luck with that!"

When they called the Detailer regarding my replacement they were told that my billet would be gapped at least two to three years and they had no recourse because THEY HAD APPROVED BOTH MY RETIREMENT AND TERMINAL LEAVE PAPERWORK!!
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What does that mean?
 
S

summer-texan

Contributing Member
nomifyle said:
Thank God I started my SS at 62 and I'm no longer in the workplace. If I was I'd get fired or lose my every loving mind. My last job was home depot and I left in December '08. Before that I'd always worked in an office, and good grief what a nightmare that must be by now.
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I'm 65 and retired 13 years ago in 2011. me parents in fl needed help. my dad at 89 needed alot of taken care of. after a visit i didn't know how me mother did it. they were from a different time, married 60+ years. a quick summary, wake up dad and help him get dressed, including super tight socks for circulation. very time consuming to get on. my dad came to the kitchen table at 8. where's breakfast. at 1pm, where's lunch. at 5pm, where's supper. all dishes were cleaned after each meal. mom cleaned, shopped, clothes shopped, cooked. pill time. snack time. get dad undressed and in bed for him. after mom took her pills went to bed and redid everything the next day.
they needed help and luckily i had enough in an investment account, an injury that qualified me for SS disability. took a $ hit but i owe nothing.
when i started as a computer programmer in 83, i always had my own office. then my own cubicle with those walls. i could put up pics and notes. then the walls came down. then a bunch of long tables with a 2.5 to 3 feet of mine. THEN all the indians came in from india.
I friggin had enough!!!!!! sorry but i can't stand the indians. didn't understand them. they didn't like the americans.
done. done done. let them take 5 times longer and screw things up.
arrrg.
 
E

earthbud

Contributing Member
gunnersmom said:
Just wondering what type of products you sold on ebay?
Click to expand...
I sold business phone systems, and most of the add-ons like voicemail, software cards, and trunk cards. I also did board level repairs on some of the equipment I sold.

I worked in the telecom industry for 40+ years and this is what I was most familiar with. Much of what I sold has now faded away and is being quickly replaced by online/cloud-based systems.
 
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