A middle aged white (Polish/Scottish Canadian) guy who almost gave up 5 years ago--because I saw working in manufacturing as a job (and I worked at a lot of them--to learn a lot)--but not a future. Those 3 degrees and countless class hours I worked my butt off for (but I had a lot of fun growing up also), became worthless for a future of employment. When I started learning and working--people were making good money--and spending it in their community for others value added products and services.
That all changed. I did not realize in 1978 (I was 15 then) China was one third of the worlds population, and made a decision to give private businesws (semi private) a try. I am sure the goal of the Chineese is to build their military--because the workers get paid squat, but that did not matter to the elite progressives from established industrial nations around the world. They saw a way to make a lot of money, while distributing our wealth making capabilities to developing nations. It took about to the late 80's when business started going over--and we did not notice much. 10 years later, around 1998, everybody in manufacturing started to wonder "How to they expect our society to sustain ourselves?" We did not know that was the plan then. Now--ten years after that--we have a 10% unemployment--with no way to make money. I just don't see a good imediate (within 10 years) future.
But---I did something that we are not taught to do. I spent much of my life just moving forward with what I did--and I got good at it--so I decided to try not to depend on somebody else for a pay check, and to invest in me for a change.
It is working well so far--and now I am ashamed that I had thoughts of just giving up, may be going on welfare when times get real tough (like now, in manufacturing--and now other industries). I made a little part to sell for kids racing scooters (go-peds--I am sure some of you have seen them--another great story of a business out of his garage--they once had 100 employees), and that got my foot in the door of a little recreation industry. I then made a deal with a parts distributer to modify the engines for greater performance, and I had a good little part time business (while still still for somebody else) and we have been working together for the last 6 years. So here I am, working 45hr a week as a employee, and doing my little hobby business at home for some income supplement. Then--the market changed about 2.5 years ago. A couple of remote control car companies came out with a larger model, using the same engine I have been building for about 3 years--and my marketing guy who was all over it. My business started growing, and my employeer was nice enough to let me go part time for a while so I could put more time into my business. I got so busy, I was able to quit my job, and I have been working for myself ever since.
I morfed---like a paralized catapillar into a butter fly. When I started taking home about 4 or 5 times what I used to make--I almost thought it was unfair--but then I remember all the years I put in, and the fact that I live in the USA, so that thought sis not last long.
You folks have to understasnd. When you work all your life to build some skills, and you can break away from slave employment to do your own thing (at this point--you don't feel so hot)--if you find some success at it, you will feel something that you have never felt before. Freedom. I have never felt so much freedom in my life--and I grew up in the country area--riding and racing dirt bikes (a pretty good feeling of freedom in it's own right).
I am telling you folks--Your human spirit is worth you dictating how you apply it. You might not even know you have any--but if you do something for yourself, you will not deny how inportant it is for every human to have that same or more opportunity that I found as a misfit. That is what we are now missing in the USA. When is the last time you heard the phrase "America, the land of opportunity"?
Remember--last week China gave small and med sized business a tax break so they can grow. That is not happening here in the USA. We are forced to spend borrowed money, to later be paid by taxes or international ownership of the USA.
I feel very sad, that you folks have a hard time feeling opportunity and freedom. It is awesome, and that is what we are giving up.
That is who I am--in a bigger nut shell.
