Americans' fear of losing their jobs grows • Hacker News Board

Re: Americans' fear of losing their jobs grows

#21

Post by Miner49er » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 4:31 PM UTC

Ididntdothis wrote: post #16

VonGuard wrote: post #5

The United States is weird in that you are defined, here, by your job or profession. TV shows put your job title under your name when you appear on them. People's first question is always "What do you do?" at parties and at events. In other countries, this isn't always the case. When I'm in Europe, people ask where you're from, what's for dinner, and what's happening? The question of your job is rarely asked up front…

" It's how Americans define themselves, which, in the end, generally comes down to how the US doesn't value human life, only the potential earnings thereof." I agree with your observations but this conclusion goes way too far.

Maybe from that one data point. But in general, it's very clear that the U.S. favors GDP over human life. There's plenty of data and examples to prove it. The price of medication, the cost of healthcare, homelessness, the people we kill in the Middle East, etc.

Re: Americans' fear of losing their jobs grows

#22

Post by povertyworld » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 4:31 PM UTC

Miner49er wrote: post #6

botwriter wrote: post #3

[flagged]

A recession will eventually happen, it happens about every 10 years. The mainstream media isn't talking about it to get rid of Trump. EDIT: not sure why I'm being downvoted, but I'm guessing it's because I messed up the average length of the cycle. I guess it's probably closer to 5 years: https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/071315/what-average...

Regardless of one's opinion on Trump, the media basically switched from Russian conspiracy theories to recession paranoia in the span of about a week. That week being the time of Mueller's presentation to congress.

Re: Americans' fear of losing their jobs grows

#23

Post by tombert » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 4:31 PM UTC

Ididntdothis wrote: post #16

VonGuard wrote: post #5

The United States is weird in that you are defined, here, by your job or profession. TV shows put your job title under your name when you appear on them. People's first question is always "What do you do?" at parties and at events. In other countries, this isn't always the case. When I'm in Europe, people ask where you're from, what's for dinner, and what's happening? The question of your job is rarely asked up front…

" It's how Americans define themselves, which, in the end, generally comes down to how the US doesn't value human life, only the potential earnings thereof." I agree with your observations but this conclusion goes way too far.

I was about to write the same thing.

Maybe I'm just being defensive as an American, but I feel like the reason that we tend to define ourselves by what we do tends to be that we put a lot of emphasis on taking pride in our work.

I would agree that this is probably done too much, since I was being drilled on what I want to do for a living even in grade school, but I don't know that the conclusion of "omg Americans don't value human life" logically follows. The only conclusion that I think can be reasonably drawn is "Americans sure seem to put a lot of value on work".

Re: Americans' fear of losing their jobs grows

#24

Post by dexen » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 4:31 PM UTC

Miner49er wrote: post #6

botwriter wrote: post #3

[flagged]

A recession will eventually happen, it happens about every 10 years. The mainstream media isn't talking about it to get rid of Trump. EDIT: not sure why I'm being downvoted, but I'm guessing it's because I messed up the average length of the cycle. I guess it's probably closer to 5 years: https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/071315/what-average...

>The mainstream media isn't talking about it to get rid of Trump.

That has became a bit of a meme ever since Bill Maher pointed out recession would both prevent Trump's reelection and also judged it as preferable over Trump.

"Well, you should wish for a recession,” Maher said, interrupting Nichols. “'Cause that will definitely get him [Trump] unelected." [1]

He followed it up with more of the same in a later episode [2].

--

[1] https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/hbos-maher-prefers-r...

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joxYLYD5eoQ

Re: Americans' fear of losing their jobs grows

#25

Post by spamizbad » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 4:31 PM UTC

40acres wrote: post #9

spamizbad wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is the US economy so fragile that it can be thought-crimed into a recession? This fear has nothing to do with any politician or political party and everything to do with the trauma from ‘08

All economies are subject to this because markets are based on trust and faith. If enough doubt is generated then the markets will reflect that in a downturn.

Isn't there a pretty big gulf between losing faith in a market and thinking there's a recession around the corner? A breakdown in trust in a market would more closely resemble an economic collapse rather than a a few quarters of contraction, wouldn't it?

Re: Americans' fear of losing their jobs grows

#26

Post by nowandlater » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 4:32 PM UTC

VonGuard wrote: post #5

The United States is weird in that you are defined, here, by your job or profession. TV shows put your job title under your name when you appear on them. People's first question is always "What do you do?" at parties and at events. In other countries, this isn't always the case. When I'm in Europe, people ask where you're from, what's for dinner, and what's happening? The question of your job is rarely asked up front…

I might add that this might be specific to the kind of circles you run in. Either way, this conclusion is far too absolute and a hasty generalization.

Re: Americans' fear of losing their jobs grows

#27

Post by badrequest » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 4:32 PM UTC

Ididntdothis wrote: post #16

VonGuard wrote: post #5

The United States is weird in that you are defined, here, by your job or profession. TV shows put your job title under your name when you appear on them. People's first question is always "What do you do?" at parties and at events. In other countries, this isn't always the case. When I'm in Europe, people ask where you're from, what's for dinner, and what's happening? The question of your job is rarely asked up front…

" It's how Americans define themselves, which, in the end, generally comes down to how the US doesn't value human life, only the potential earnings thereof." I agree with your observations but this conclusion goes way too far.

a hit dog'll holler

Re: Americans' fear of losing their jobs grows

#28

Post by Circuits » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 4:33 PM UTC

Is this any wonder with how incredibly expensive things are getting? In a year, in my state, I make 2x as much as the average single person and I am struggling to save money. These other single persons must be living in complete squalor. Most of my extra money goes to student loans but even without them I wouldn't exactly be raking in the $. I would probably only be saving around 18k per year. I have no debt outside of student loan debt and I live with roommates. I honestly don't understand how they are surviving.

Re: Americans' fear of losing their jobs grows

#29

Post by matz1 » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 4:34 PM UTC

That's why we need universal basic income

Re: Americans' fear of losing their jobs grows

#30

Post by jp555 » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 4:35 PM UTC

40acres wrote: post #9

spamizbad wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is the US economy so fragile that it can be thought-crimed into a recession? This fear has nothing to do with any politician or political party and everything to do with the trauma from ‘08

All economies are subject to this because markets are based on trust and faith. If enough doubt is generated then the markets will reflect that in a downturn.

I think you're underestimating the amount of randomness at play in complex interconnected systems like markets.