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> a part-time position at one of two package-shipping stations > people are living longer and having fewer children—and some retirement-age folks have little c
by erklik 4y ago
> a part-time position at one of two package-shipping stations
> people are living longer and having fewer children—and some retirement-age folks have little choice but to work because of inflation and a weak stock market.
... This is a dystopian story wrapped up in a weird, feel good narrative. First of all, the big position described as an example is a part-time one and at a package-shipping station. Sure, that's work that needs to be done, but it's not going to do anything for a young person looking to afford rent near a urban center, or even buy a house. Of course, the older folks can work there. They don't have to pay rent anymore. They've got their house. Usually near city centers.
Let's say that most jobs are not the sort above, i.e. full-time and paying somewhat average. If those are being taken by older folks who are coming out of retirement because "inflation and a weak stock market" ... well, that certainly tells you all you need to know about this. What is this? We, as a society, have created a world where younger folks aren't incentivised to put in any hard work because it gets them nothing while older folks who are meant to be retired are now forced to work even more.
> There is no official measure of discrimination claims on the basis of being too young because federal law protects only workers over 40
I don't see the need for one to exist honestly but this is the prefect example of the world being slanted against young folks.
- bsenftner 4y agoThe world is slanted against individuals.
- hkt 4y agoNot quite: the world is slanted against people whose lives depend on their labour, rather than their capital.
- willcipriano 4y agoThe greatest minority is the individual.
- badpun 4y ago> people are living longer and having fewer children—and some retirement-age folks have little choice but to work because of inflation and a weak stock market. How out of touch one has to be to be calling the result of the latest mega bull-run on US stocks "a weak stock market"? If you want to see a real "weak stock market", check out Warsaw Stock Exchange, where stocks trade at 50% of their 2007 value - whereas, the US market is at 270% of its 2007 value, so basically doing 5x better.
- jimnotgym 4y agoWhat if you retired in 2008 and bought an annuity? The stock market would have really hurt you then
- RicoElectrico 4y agoAh, yes, the good old "banana exchange" [1] To be fair, it's ridiculous how much of the WIG20 index is partly state-owned, hence not preoccupied at all with the fiduciary duty. [1] https://gieldomania.pl/bananowa-gielda-dlaczego-mowimy-tak-na-gpw/ https://gieldomania.pl/bananowa-gielda-dlaczego-mowimy-tak-n...
- albatross13 4y agoThe stock market is fake and manipulated, and propped up by an empty fiat currency that has one leg left: the military might of the USA. How fast is your precious stock market gonna plummet once the world starts abandoning the USD as its reserve currency?
- chiefalchemist 4y ago> We, as a society, have created a world where younger folks aren't incentivised to put in any hard work because it gets them nothing while older folks who are meant to be retired are now forced to work even more. Agreed. But to be fair. There are three Wes here. We #1 who made it happen. That is, government (both right and left), big business, special interests, the media, etc. We #2 who watched and allowed it to happen. We #3 who made attempts to push back but were marginalized as Luddites, xenophobic, etc. Mind you some of this energy has been misguided but that should detract from the underlying cause of the frustrations. Unfortunately, it has. The current situation isn't sustainable. Unfortunately, We #1 has refused to acknowledge the depth and breadth of the situation. Whether that intentional or negligence, it doesn't matter. The situation is heating up. Dangerously. p.s. Slightly off topic, this is why I'm *always* suspect of jobs reports. "X jobs were created..." Ok? But of what quality? $15 p/h or $40 p/h. It it was the latter, I'm sure they would let us know.
- JohnFen 4y ago> Of course, the older folks can work there. They don't have to pay rent anymore. While 80% of retirees in the US own their own home (and let's not pretend that 20% is a small number), slightly more than half of those homeowners haven't paid off their mortgage. So, most retirees in the US still have to either pay rent or make mortgage payments.
- simplotek 4y ago> (...) slightly more than half of those homeowners haven't paid off their mortgage. A mortgage is far cheaper than rent. Even though that hypothetical cohort still has debts to pay, their cost of living is far more affordable than renting an equivalent place on the same spot. Also, due to the ongoing rural-urban migration and gentrification, a house bought a couple of decades ago in the outskirts tends to be far more central and with far more benefits than those in the market right now with an equivalent cost.
- JohnFen 4y ago> A mortgage is far cheaper than rent. I don't know the general stats of this at all. But of the people I personally know, their mortgage payments tend to be on par with what renting a comparable house would cost. The financial advantage to buying vs renting isn't a smaller monthly bill, it's that you're building equity if you're buying.
- citizenpaul 4y agoSo this person is "tired" of workers that won't commit to his part time work? What kind of sickness does a person have to expect commitment when they to commit. Ah yes psychopaths. Why is WSJ spinning this as some sort of upbeat champion story. Rather than the bleak distopia it clearly illustrated? Oh yeah, psychopaths.