The American Renaissance

Baja Canada del Sur: Comedy and Comment in the Age of Occupation

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Location: Little Rock, Arkansas

found done in needlepoint on Mel's Front Porch: I Pledge Alligence to the Constitution of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it guarantees, One Nation, Undeniable, with Liberty, Truth, and Justice for All.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

A Late Labor Day Moment



~~call this

How I've felt about every temporary job I've ever had...

And the maitre 'd said, "Bitter, party of one?"

Don't worry y'all, you know I'm playing. I love ya, America.

9 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love that poster! but in my case I think more of how I felt when Kerry threw in the towel so early in Ohio. My heart attempted to fly out the window, only to crack apart upon slamming into a wall of armored glass. I would vote for Edwards again in a minute, though. ps, I never read that book, mel (Bitter, Party of One), but you said "don't worry", so I'll just figure parties come in all qtys. D.K.

11:44 PM  
Blogger meldonna said...

Deke...

My feelings on 2004 and Ohio?

AAAAAAAAAAARGH!

If that sounded like Charlie Brown when Lucy yanked the football back once again, what can I say?

Forgive me for being so cynical about the labor market in the US now, but at fortysomething, I've spent the last ten years or so on a "temp-to-hire" basis at more jobs than I care to count. They like your experience, but are more than glad to walk you to the door once they get past the emergency they created themselves by downsizing. I am despairing that there is such a thing as a permanent job anymore, much less retirement. I'd think it was just me, but when you are a temp and you watch Corporate lay off ten- or twenty-year people around you? It is hard not to be cynical. And impossible to believe there is such a thing as "job security".

Don't mind me...as they say, my head hurts, my feet stink, and I don't love Jesus. I'm not sure if that's Jimmy Buffet or Warren Zevon. Or maybe it was David Alan Coe...

p.s. check out www.despair.com After a lifetime of putting up with corporate cheerleading, it's nice to see these posters.

12:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

mel, my experience with temp help was from the other side. in the mostly small businesses i was involved with, we used temps on a strict short-term basis for one-time projects. it seems things have changed since then if temps are being used to fill permanent positions (I assume without benefits) caused by downsizing. I don't think that was ever the intention of the temp concept. Your cynicism re: the US labor market appears quite justified. I'm sure it's been going on for some time, but I lost track of all that when I started my own biz. Worked 12-hr days for 21-ys, but did allow husband & myself an early retirement last yr (what a generous boss, huh). Take heart, it can be done! D.K.

1:13 AM  
Blogger Dada said...

Oh geez, mel, there goes my whole morning. I've been scrolling through the whole (great) collection at despair.com. Thanks!

And I agree with you re work. "Free trade" is the opening up of the US labor market to global labor competition where wages will always tend toward "0".

I'm so glad homo Sapiens gained civility, built civilization and abolished slavery.

And while Deke was offering encouragement--as despair.com so amply points out--let's not get too rosy about everything. (grin)

4:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

mel, here's another little lim this AM:

Let the impeachment trials commence!
Very soon it will make perfect sense:
To contruct a stout ramp
To a Detention Camp
For the traffic will be superdense.

*****

mel & dada, i was gonna look at "despair" last night, but it was so late, i didn't want to encourage bad dreams. think i'll head over there this morn; it's a bright day, sunny enough to overcome pure despair (i hope). tho' when i think about it too hard, i see homo sap's did NOT develop any of those stellar achievements dada mentions (civility, civilization, a free work force) out of the goodness of their hearts, but only because it served their needs to do so. so now i'm wondering, does civilization itself no longer fulfill homo-sap needs? oh crap, maybe i've used up my despair quota for the day. D.K.

8:50 AM  
Blogger azgoddess said...

me, i try and look on the bright side..

like what we learned from the whole 2004 thing

one i learned

you can't trust a millionare...

people..he was in bed with the 'ruling class' cuz he is the ruling class...

3:12 PM  
Blogger azgoddess said...

ok - he as in mr.kerry and any one who runs that has millions of dollars

now that's not to say that there will not be poor people working their way up the ladder - who are corrupt

but trust me on this -- there IS a good-old-boys club in washington...

3:14 PM  
Blogger meldonna said...

Deke, back in the nineties, temp-to-perm was actually not such a bad thing; from the employee's side, three or four months working through a temp agency for a company gave you a chance to get to know your co-workers, and an opportunity to showcase your skills to a potential permanent employer far better than the hourlong interview. An advantage many employers realized as well. The trend in the past few years, however, has been to extend the temp period; sometimes, and too often, indefinately. Like many full-time staff, it is definately a challenge to maintain a positive attitude with the prospects of lifetime employment all but a thing of the past. Especially as one approaches her mid-forties. I keep my smile on my face at work, but it is difficult to see "motivational" posters and whatnot without a bit of inner anger. Thus, I blog!

And good for you stepping out into your own business! I'd be happier to see many more Mom and Pops and a lot less WalMarts in America.

~~~~~

Glad you enjoyed the website, Dada. Despite it's name, it actually made me feel much better, as opposed to typical motivational marketing, which actually kills my will to live. I passed a co-worker once looking at a new offering at one office I worked at and heard her mumble "now what the hell is this?"

"Your raise," I replied under my breath. Her peals of laughter were enough to make it a better day for both of us!

Buffett had the right of it when he said if we couldn't laugh we would all go insane.

Speaking of laughs, getting ready to watch the latest installment of Dancing With The Stars -- forgive me for tuning in to ABC, but I don't have cable and options are limited. Besides, I'm looking forward to seeing Tucker and his ugly little red bowtie get Voted Off the Island.

7:43 PM  
Blogger meldonna said...

az -- I also try to stay on the positive side, despite my ugly sense of humor. Just don't like a corporation spending a lot of money blowing wind up my skirt while cutting staff and benefits. Call it my inner Howard Beale coming out.

And I don't trust millionaires, either.

~~~~~~

I like the picture your latest limerick paints, Deke. Myself, I've always had a fond dream of sending the entire admin to the workfarm down in Angola, LA. All things considered, there's some poetic justice there.

7:51 PM  

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