Does anybody go beyond the pondering of the employment situation lately, or where it is going? Everybody wonders about what the future holds for the American economy. People, except for a very few eternal optimists, feel skeptical in regard to achieving a secure, affordable position in society at present. The questions that come to mind is that if I get employment, how long will it last? If not, how long will I have to hit the pavement, and with how many people will I have to compete until I finally find work? These are questions that a great deal of people face today, especially the upcoming college graduates. How much education does an individual need now to obtain a decent standard of living? It seems that a mere bachelor’s degree doesn’t make a person any more employable that having a trade or other skill. The educated need to get additional training and obtain strong connections. These two factors are of significant importance for the future. There are jobs out there in America, but they are more difficult find because of the dismal recession we are in right now.

Americans need to understand that blaming the employment shortage on the global economy won’t do any good. Moreover, hoping that our caring, supportive government will remedy this shortage of employment won’t solve the problem either. Is there a solution to this macro_level dilemma? I speculate that America needs to go beyond internalizing the present_day employment shortage. We need to regain some hope, and help each other out during the present crisis. This is a serious domestic problem that should be addressed by everyone whether they are employed or not. President Bush probably looks forward to his upcoming state of the union address more than I do. He will undoubtedly give us a song and dance act regarding more jobs in America. What seems evident however, is that our country is on the brink of another depression like that of 1929. I feel that generating more minimum wage jobs just won’t be enough for us. Don’t you think we are overdue for another New Deal?

Eric V. Osterle

Junior

Sociology