Man, I'm having a hard time reconciling your opinions about the local anti-business climate with your love-fest for Obama. Two sides of the same coin as far as I can tell.
Simple. I don't see Obama as being anti-business. Just like I didn't think Clinton was anti-business either. I fail to see how growing the economic base is bad for business. Job creation. New industries. Innovation. Good stuff. As for Portland, getting anything done in this town takes 20 years because it has to go through 8 zillion committees. That's not a democrat or republican issue. I'm not sure where the confusion is. -Pop
because if you create a lot of shit jobs and shit companies, the dot-bomb bubble bursts. "job creation" is stupid if its just to create jobs.
While its bad for Portland's economy to lose Columbia Sportswear, if ever there was a shit outdoor apparel company it's them. I've had more then a few items explode at the seams. A few years back they bought out my favorite running shoe company Montrail. They kept the Montrail name and the same basic line of shoes but instituted the Columbia cheaper/crappier way and have clearly tailed off in quality. just had to get that off my chest STOMP
Sorry to hear about that ABM. The economy is terrible right now. I feel fortunate enough to have a job, but it's so slow at my workplace that who knows if they'll be able to keep everybody around until it finally starts picking up. Portland may be a bad move right now. The only thing that they got going on right now is the Blazers.
Sorry to hear that, ABM. Why don't you use your personal connection with Kevin Pritchard, and get a job with the Blazers!!! Seriously, keep your head up. Do you have some savings that will carry you for awhile? If so, take a deep breath. Relax. Go for long walks. Write a book. Do some traveling. Life is short, and you've got to enjoy it. A lost job can be the beginning of something even better!
Thanks, TH. (can I still call you TH? ) Yesterday, I had a very encouraging call with an inside connection with the Kroger Co. Kroger, if you don't know, owns Fred Meyer. I used to be in grocery management many, many moons ago. I've worked in print management the last 18+ years. To be honest, though, I'm ready to get out of printing (other than some art print marketing I'm working on on the side.). This timing is perfect. So then, it appears that I might have a strong possibility to enter Kroger's 19-week management program, then potentially get placed as an Assistant Manager in a store out here. My goal, then, would to be transferred back to a Freddy's in Portland sometime within the next 2 to 3 years. I really loved the grocery business. Due to it's repeat business nature, it's a very personable business that alllows for personal relationships beyond the normal, "Thanks, and have a good day" retail experience. In fact, I believe I can attribute some of the people skills that I've aquired back to those many relationships I had developed while working the business. So, again, I feel somewhat encourgaged today. If I do get on in February, it will allow me a couple of months to relax and enjoy the Holidays and also get caught up on a few projects I've been procrastinating completing.......all this, while knowing I have a job in the waiting. Pretty good deal if you ask me. Thanks for the kind words. Hopefully, we can hook-up someday.
ABM, best of luck with Kroger! If that doesn't work out, my employer has a bunch of openings in Georgia for client service, tech support, relationship management and general management-type jobs. Most are in Alpharetta or Norcross but some are in Augusta. Go to www.adp.com , click on 'Careers' and make your way to the Job Search screen.
My dad just found out he lost his job today as well. He has been working at Freightliner for 25 years. The last day is June 2010, two years before he's eligible for retirement. I blame this solely on Republicans.
That definitely sucks man. My dad also works at Freightliner and has been doing so for about 35 years. He is pretty torn up about it since it basically has been his life.
Then you have an oversimplistic perception of reality and the economy, specifically. I, too, am unemployed. I gave notice like a month ago and have been chilling a couple of weeks. I allegedly have a job offer coming in from a day-long interview I did Thursday, but until/unless it comes, I'm gonna be kind of on pins and needles. Back to ABM: you'll land on your feet, man! Keep a positive attitude and keep talking to people. Ed O.
Agreed. A more concise analysis of the meltdown will place the blame squarely on the shoulders of those overzealous Mods at over BBF.com.
Unless you have evidence (which I may well) that Republicans own an Evil machine that causes all the pain and suffering in the world. Then it is perfectly rational to blame this, and a lot of other stuff, on the Republicans.
I'm willing to bet that the CEO's at Daimler are Republicans. They wanted cheaper labor and tax breaks and moving the company to Mexico will do just that. The tax breaks for having an income of over $250,000 wasn't enough, so they decided to outsource. Typical Republican garbage. I'm sure the mods from BBF were somehow involved as well. I blame them for the worlds economic problems in general.
