Where Did Our Jobs Go?

This NYT article is not the best I've ever read, but the comments that follow are thought-provoking and will get you thinking about what kind of future our children face and how we should prepare them. There are no easy answers, that's for sure.

The Price of Financial Ignorance

Amazingly, some of the people who are losing everything in this economic downturn still don't understand that living beyond their means is what did them in. This woman's sad story reveals no remorse on her part; if she ever earns a decent living again, she'll probably blow it again.

When Less is More

The author of this article believes that people need to downsize, that the average American home got too big. The town she she cites in the article, with its tiny houses, was actually a move up for the young WWII vets who moved from city apartments to these homes after the war.

Will our children have to downsize because of the economic changes of the 21st century? If so, is that a bad thing or a good thing? Whatever your perpective, consider that it's a distinct possibility.

The Skill Most Needed

It's a skill that's rarely, if ever, taught in college, but it's one of the most valuable skills our children can have. What is it? Find out here.

What Happened to Our Jobs?

Former Intel CEO Andy Grove explains what happened to our jobs and how we can get them back....if we work fast.

8 Million Jobs Evaporate

What does it mean when they say 8 million jobs are gone forever? It means that we're in a time of rapid change, and young people need to be ready to change careers whenever necessary. The days of 40 years at one company are over.

Not Enough Pay and Prestige?

Still out of work two years after college graduation yet this young man turned down a $40k/year job because he didn't think it good enough for him. Wages are stagnating in most industries. Someday he's going to kick himself for that decision.

Defunding Public Education

Could cutting funds for public schools become the catalyst for better preparing our children for the 21st century? This writer thinks so. He does make some interesting points.

Available But Not Employable?

You know economic times have changed when a company reviews 3600 job applications and can only find 47 qualified workers (at $13-$15 per hour wages).

Suing Dad for College Costs

A young woman got her dad to sign a contract promising he'd pay for her college education. But he hasn't paid all of it, so she's suing him for breach of contract.

The family situation is sad, for sure. But college costs are so high these days that suing for damages in this case means suing for big money. Considering she majored in art, one has to wonder whether it was worth spending the money in the first place.

Staving Off Deflationary Quicksand

They're saying another stimulus is needed, never mind that the last few haven't worked. We're saddling our children with more debt. How will we explain this to them someday?

Savings are Essential

Here in the U.S., our personal savings rate continues to decline after a brief rally last year. What a shame. It's so important to know how to save a good portion of your earnings; if you lose your job, it can be essential to your survival.

Are you teaching your children to save? In the rapidly changing economy of the 21st century, it's a survival skill!

Read Those Labels for Country of Origin

If this doesn't convince you that we and our children need to learn to be more self-sufficient instead of relying on imported food, I don't know what will.

Creativity vs. CCC

Is making things with your own two hands coming back in style? This article makes it sound that way. The appeal of creating something sturdy and handmade is understandable now that we're used to finding only CCC* wherever we shop.

*Cheap Chinese Crap

The Most Important Element is Missing

"No job = No house."

This writer gets it. The housing market and indeed our entire economy cannot thrive if people don't have jobs. So where are the jobs?