So President Barack Obama had his State of the Union (or as I prefer State of the Disillusioned) address yesterday where he talks about his plans for the coming year. Everything was a typical Presidential address and nothing I heard that was new. However one comment he made did make me chuckle:
That’s why I’ve been asking CEOs to give more long-term unemployed workers a fair shot at new jobs, a new chance to support their families. And in fact, this week many will come to the White House to make that commitment real.
Sure CEO’s have the power to set direction but I found it funny as most CEO’s (especially in the larger sized companies that would garner a White House invite) are probably out of touch with hiring decisions anyway. And do we really need to have them fly to the White House to get their buy-in? More sad is that he has three years left in his term and already they are calling him a lame duck President. Ouch. Congress (both sides of the aisle) needs to quit waiting for the next best thing to get things done.
I certainly don’t envy the guy one bit. It’s had to be a true leader when you have too many people to have to answer to and approve every single step you take. At least, he had Biden there behind him to make some of the most interesting faces I’ve ever seen.
Biden was acting like it was his coming out party and everyone was there to see him.
I think it was a good speech and still like the President.
I liked it too but it could have been shorter.
They could all be shorter
Amen to that, and they could use less doublespeak in them as well.
I think they learn that in political science class
I liked the speech. Hey he even gave John Boehner a shout out.
Of course it was a political speech so there is always plenty wrong with it if it last more than 5 minutes. You are right about clueless CEOs. I’ve meet a few.
Typically a SOTU address gives you a bump up in the polls. See how he does.
But he is not running for office. Polls should not matter (except for a potential successor that has ties to him)
Amen Bearman. I didn’t watch it because he says the same things over and over and over and over and over and over…and that’s apparently what he did last night.
Have a fabulous day. 🙂
Just like all those before him. Thanks Sandee
What concerns me most is he makes statements like with or without the support of congress… That’s no longer a democracy and the vast majority don’t seemed concerned about that. Shame on you America…
Normally I would be with you but it seems this Congress (again both sides) doesn’t want to get things done.
Asking CEO’s to engage in their hiring process, is like asking the President to get his legislative branch to be productive. Both are a fairy tale!
Besides, when it comes to state of the union, its my state that -is- in a fine state! [wink] From fabulous to failed! http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/01/states-of-our-union-are-not-all-strong-102547.html#.Uum3pbQz07A
Theres your next comedic subject sir!
That’s only because no one lives there but rich people Of course you don’t have drug crime and other crime and good health haha
Well, hold the phone Mabel…. Bearman says I’m rich! He didn’t factor in the cost of living inflates my income to make me look wealthy. He doesn’t know Mabel, my 1972 retro home, with powder blue bath tiles, olive green kitchen tiles w/ butterfly inscribed laminate countertops and a paneled basement with flourescent lights costs a mere $300K to be in proximity to Boston. If you had to pay that kind of money for THIS piece of 70’s architecture built in a purple haze, you’d want your derriere lubed before you bent over… oh wait, I did and it still hurt! [winces]
I wont even mention I pay $2100-$2500 annually simply to heat my home. So when I have to go to Home Depot and buy a $14 dollar light bulb, it better come with a politicians aspincter says what to screw it into! [bows]
Yeah, I’m rich alright… [cough]
If you can afford to live in a $300,000 house and pay that much for heat. you are rich. NOw you may not have much left over but cmon haha
HA-HA-HA… no! If a person living in metro Boston made, say, a flat salary of $100k and they moved to Atlanta, they could take a salary reduction to about $67k and have the same purchasing power as the Boston person because energy costs are 38% lower, home values are 51% lower etc. and the list goes on. My $300K house would only be worth $150K in Atlanta. My home heating cost would drop to about $800-1200 bucks. I may have a larger salary number, but my purchasing power is most likely not much better than yours. I don’t really have more money, because it cost be about 38-40% more for everything I buy here.
So, getting back to my original point… which I’m not sure I know what it was now… erm… oh yeah, New Hampshire may have a really high median wage and look affluent because of it, but that money doesn’t buy me more than it buys you at a lower wage. If I made the money I make here where you live and owned a house at the price point I do here, where you are, then yes, I’m rolling in dough. I’m not though. I’m dough-ish, but thats just my middle age sag developing! [grin]
… and looking at the comic above now, I realize how off topic I went here. [blinks] How’d I even get ON it?
I can’t believe those CEOs who make tens of millions of dollars a year are out of touch with the common folk.
Sometimes they touch them. Then there are lawsuits.
A friend of mine was out of work for a year and a half. He made a six figure salary.
During a job interview he was asked
“Why is it taking you this long to get back to work?”
He replied…
“No one has been hiring at my level.” (he was turned down for many positions where he was “Overly qualified” meaning he’ll leave the second a better job comes along.)
The interviewer said…
“I find that hard to believe.”
My friend asked…
“Let me ask you this. In the past year and a half that I’ve been out of work; how many positions at my level did your company fill?”
The interviewer answered…
“Well… None.”
My friend replied…
“Well, there you go!”
He didn’t get that job either.
What is sad is that even at a lower level they won’t hire someone because of overqualified. The higher level jobs aren’t there so it isn’t like your friend would run out the door.
and that is exactly the point Bearman’s cartoon is addressing. I may also say that people who are given the position of hiring people, sometimes let that power get to their head. They suddenly think they are the CEO and hold applicants to standards they themselves couldnt achieve or even have the hope of achieving. Those who are in positions to hire people need to ensure they have a reality check of what is going on in the economy, and especially in their own industry. I hope your friend finds a job soon Bill Murphy!
Thanks Susi, he did. This was about eight years ago. And I like what you said about power going to people’s head. Same person was told by a recruiter to stop wearing his “Nice” watch to interviews. The recruiter suggested that it might make the hiring Manager feel inferior and would not want you as future competition in the company. It’s all mind games I guess. 😉
My aunt removed some of her qualifications from her resume and was hired right away. She had been “over qualified” for almost 8 months.
And then there are those who don’t hold someone to a standard such as how they manage others.
Exactly! He couldn’t even get a minimum wage job at the time.
Sad to say, I think CEO’s aren’t as clueless as one might think. At the very least;, they have more on the ball than the Messiah @ Pennsylvania Avenue.
Some yes…some no. Think of all the ones that are brought in and are sent packing in 5 months.
With huge severance packages. Maybe some of the stupid ones aren’t as stupid as we think.
I wish I was that stupid
It’s hard enough to keep up with his investments and golden parachute package!
Again….if only I could jump in that
Just think about how long the last president has been unemployed!
I would love to be a one term senator.
Without any cool pyrotechnics or pregame show, I tuned out of the State of the Union. I kinda figured there wouldn’t be anything new in it.
Maybe they should start putting in a halftime show
Where he said “many will come to the White House to make that commitment real.” makes it sound like many long term unemployed are coming to the White House. Maybe the President has Government jobs for them
Presidents always have those to hand out.
If he leans back just a bit more, maybe he will fall through the window. 🙂
Those expensive chairs are indestructible
I’m disillusioned with politics. All of ’em crooks! I think I watched Fast ‘N Loud that evening.
That’s usually how a politician speaks. Fast N Loud
I was a committeeman for a local political party for a few years.. but I came to the conclusion. that politics brings out the worst in people…especially the politicians. I think because it deals with money and power.
Which means with a conscience you need to go back in!!
I’ve been thinking of going back to school so I could get a better job but, frankly, I’m scared!
What major?
I didn’t watch the speech. Does that make me better or worse off?
Neither
Is Obama still in?
Yes but it is sad that someone only 1 year from inauguration is considered a lame duck.
I’ll have my people get with their people.
You have people? I’m jealous