Unrestrained Capitalism

Oh these poor people.

I've been through this twice before, once with the rapid expansion of the computer industry in the 1980's and  again when the FCC loosened the restrictions on the radio industry, allowing one company to own a large percentage of a market, instead of just one or two stations in a city. Unrestrained capitalism allows greed to be the driving force in a corporation's existence. Greed becomes the master and everything else is secondary. Especially the health and welfare of human beings.

 Before the regulations were loosened, companies would strive to do the right thing and take care of their employees. Happy workers were productive workers - as they used to say. Benefits were plentiful and employees and their families were taken care of, in the hopes that they would dedicate their lives to doing their best work and reaching a common goal of being the "best in the business". Camaraderie was common in the workplace. Today, you see more hand-wringing than pats on the back. Nowadays, it isn't about being the best - it is about being the biggest and taking away business from every other competitor out there. Size is the only thing that matters. It doesn't matter that all of the corporation's available resources go to acquiring more and more business (in this case, bidding on more and more government contracts), leaving less and less funding for the still-dedicated employees. It doesn't matter that quality goes out the window as expansion continues. As long as profits go up and up and up, you can screw everything else.

These people who have worked for the same company for 20 or 30 years will see the light soon. In a few months, the team spirit and the fire in their eyes will die, as these fine dedicated folks realize that they are only cogs in their masters' machine. When they start complaining about their reduced benefits that have been changed to be "more in line with the marketplace", they will be told that they should "be thankful that you have a job and any benefits at all - hey, you're lucky." Having worked at one place or in one industry for their entire lives, they don't see things from my perspective. They don't yet know what lies ahead and are doing what they can to keep their chins up. I hear them say "It is rough now, but it'll get better." No - I'm here to tell you that it won't. As the corporation grows, consolidation will happen. They might lose their jobs to contractors. Their livelihoods and futures will be outsourced. They won't be able to care for their homes and children and grandchildren. The unrelenting pace they are now required to work will take an enormous toll on their mental and physical health. They won't understand why so many of their co-workers are getting sick. Soon the champions and cheerleaders will put down  their pom-poms because their fingernails have been worked down to the quick. It'll take everything they have just to keep their heads down and do the work in front of them. And even though they've done their very, very best it will NEVER be enough.

The greedy profit machine is a very hungry beast that must continually consume or it will die.

God bless America.

So, How's the New Job Coming Along?

Fine, I guess. I'm damned glad to have work. I'm exhausted all the time but here are the good things about this job:

1. NO PHONES!
2. NO MULTI-TASKING!
3. My hours are 10 to 6:30.
4. I can wear headphones and listen to music all day.
5. I can take lunch whenever I want.
6. The dress code is pretty casual - no jeans and sneakers, but almost anything else is OK.
7. I don't work with egomaniacs.
8. I don't have to worry about a capricious boss who might fire me at the drop of a hat.

Here's what I don't like about the job:

1. I can be bored out of my scull by the mundane point-and-click computer work and tedious copying of envelopes.
2. I don't seem to have much in common with my co-workers (but really, don't think I ever have, in any job).
3. I don't have a desk to call my own for the entire day. I have to move around.
4. The chairs are unbelievably uncomfortable.
5. Did I mention that I can be bored out of my mind?

I am thrilled, though, to have something to do during the day and to be making some money - finally! And, I must thank Brenda for letting me borrow her car EVERY SINGLE DAY. I don't know how I've been so blessed to have such a generous friend but I am very, very grateful!!