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Post by judes on Sept 12, 2010 13:20:48 GMT -6
Wow Max Keiser is hitting on all cylinders in this radio clip. He has some very interesting things to saw in this piece about an hour but worth the listen if you have time. There are a few points I don't agree with but the general message is on target and doesn't leave a good feeling about the state of the economy or where our government is headed. www.archive.org/details/MaxKeiserRadio-TruthAboutMarketsLondon-11-09-2010After a while these dour messages can wear on you as it leaves a feeling of despair and helplessness when there really isn't much an individual can do to change it. I've had to take a break from politics and economics lately to hold onto my sanity and forcibly remind myself to live and grab onto whatever little bit of joy I can here and now in this moment.
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Post by whoswho on Sept 13, 2010 10:16:06 GMT -6
How have you been, judes? Are things levelling out for you, as far as the jobs situation and your economic wellbeing? I think of you from time to time, hope things are better for you now.
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Post by judes on Sept 13, 2010 17:24:33 GMT -6
Hi whoswho! I have been doing pretty good. Thanks for the thoughts, I hope you are doing ok as well. Unbelievably I am still holding on to a dwindling job, still under the stress of constant downsizing and slowly moving operations out of the country going on several years now. The very small part that is still left in our facility is there only due to a union agreement that is in deep negotiation and at a stand still right now, so we won't know the out come for a little while yet. I do not think it has much life left as we have been constantly told and I thought we would be completely shut by now. It's definitely not a pleasant situation to work in, very stressful, but I am thankful to still have a job in this economy for now anyway, and since my pension was wiped out in bankruptcy of the company and 401k depleted greatly as a result, every day of work helps financially. I just had to take a break from economics and politics for a while because it starts to wear on you, and like I said above you forget to live and enjoy what you can. Also, you start to feel like you are repeating yourself to no avail and nothing seems to ever change, and then it starts to feel futile. I just needed to recharge I suppose but I do stop in to read regularly and will participate here and there when I can add something. I'm just waiting for the shoes to fall off completely I suppose ........
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Post by whoswho on Sept 14, 2010 8:32:30 GMT -6
It IS indeed a terrible stress for you, and I hope you can (do your best to) try to protect your physical and emotional health, for the duration.
I'll tell ya, Judes, it wasn't until years after I was downsized, that I was able to appreciate just how much stress I was really under.
I think I just went kind of numb to it all, as a coping mechanism to help me survive. Going from day to day, not really knowing what the end of things will be, and also wondering how much of your own money it's going to take, before you can get stabilized.... you try not to dwell on it, but of course, you do.
I really think it takes a toll on heath. I read somewhere that people who are downsized in their middle years end up more often having heart problems, and yes, i wouldn't doubt it one bit.
I don't think anyone can understand, who doesn't PERSONALLY walk in those shoes. The only reason they tell ya, "oh, you have to move on with your life"?.... is because they don't want to have to deal with the unpleasantness of hearing about it.
My two cents.
Hang in there sweetheart, God will take care of you!
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Post by jeffolie on Sept 14, 2010 12:57:05 GMT -6
Judes,
My heart goes out to you too.
Best wishes,
Jeff
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Post by judes on Sept 14, 2010 17:47:12 GMT -6
Thanks Whoswho and Jeffolie for the kind thoughts, I really appreciate it. In spite of all that me and my husband have been through (his pension also got turned over to the pbgc) I still feel very fortunate to have what I do have, compared to so many people in much worse shape than we are. Best wishes to you all too. Thanks
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Post by whoswho on Sept 15, 2010 7:03:01 GMT -6
Got a letter in the mail a while back from my old company... hinting that our pension plan was underfunded, and might eventually be turned over to the PBGC. It's almost unthinkable that one could work for a company of sterling reputation for 23 years... and end up in this situation.
Strange new world!
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Post by judes on Sept 16, 2010 18:06:42 GMT -6
Yes it is a strange new world. What is most infuriating is these companies merge and are acquired and gutted of all value, then workers pensions are wiped out, for all workers except the executives that is as they have separate pension plans that are completely protected and untouched in bankruptcy under the name of SERPS or supplemental executive retirement plan. Nice huh, what is good for the rest of the work force and being shoved down everyone else's throats is not good for the ceo's apparently. Any way I digress, what I was going to say is you should see if your old pension plan is available to withdraw as a lump sum. Depending on your plan it may be, and if so you might want to do so before it gets turned over to the pbgc. Just a thought. Good luck with everything.
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