Who’s Time Is It Any Way?

WHO’S TIME IS IT ANY WAY?
By: Paul Goree Ó 2010 Las Vegas Nevada June 5, 2010

I review past entries I have posted, and I have a clearer vision of the original posting: Introduction of The American Amero. What appears so clear to me, are the current events that could result to “the means to the end of the free world”. The ordeal began in 2008. At that time, the means/tool was the market crash, AIG and the closure of banks through out the nation. In 2009 the means/tool was home foreclosures, rising unemployment, job shrinkage. This year 2010, the means/tool is high unemployment, budget cuts, reduced social welfare, and IMMIGRATION.

I sense a discrepancy between what it is to be employed during a period of high unemployment. And what it is to SURVIVE during a period of high unemployment. Surviving is taking on odd jobs, working for wages lower than prior employment history, working in an industry that is undesired, but necessary to handle day to day expenses. Reduced to part-time employment or working for free (hard times call for innovative and negotiations outside the box of conventionalism). How any individual copes with these factors of life, is a subjective matter. I have heard some say they could never work in a fast food establishment, and listened as they were criticized by others for being so arrogant. When some people would love to have the opportunity to have that same job. However, I question the criticism? What is the benefit of having a displaced, unhappy worker, working in an environment that, might assault their intelligence and esteem daily. I wouldn’t want to work with a person of this nature. Their discontent would bring down the work environment moral. And their discontent is justified!!!

I also would not pass judgment on them, for how each of us develop our work ethic and experience is different. I have also encountered people who feel they are being taken advantage of by their employer, because of low wages, terms of employment, or etc. They have a right to feel that way, but to push their agenda upon others is wrong. How I cognate my TIME, ENERGY, WORK and LIFE is my own affair. Of course if I collectively desire to place my interest in the hands of an organization or another person, then I should have the right to do so. But to criticize an individual for working, regardless of the terms they accept, is wrong. Especially if they did not request assistance.

What an individual gains for employment (besides money) is subjective. I recall working as a contract supervisor for the last American shipping company: SEA-LAND Industries (1996). Although I was compensated well, my joy came from interacting with the union employees of the ILWU. No amount of money could compensate for that encouraging experience. Likewise, it was that experience that taught me variance of work ethic and being taking advantage of by an employer. All of the union workers I encounter at the Port of Tacoma, had exceptional work ethic, and I appreciate the opportunity I had to experience and learn from them. Especially now that I am unemployed and question the future of the American work force. So I decided to examine this issue closer.

According to Webster Dictionary, LABOR is 1a: expenditure of physical or mental effort, especially when difficult or compulsory. 1b: human activity that provides the goods or services in an economy. (2): The services performed by workers for wages as distinguished from those rendered by entrepreneurs for profits.

WORK is defined as 1: activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something. A: sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an objective or result. B: the labor, task, or duty that is one’s accustomed means of livelihood. C: a specific task, duty , function, or assignment often being a part or phase of some larger activity. 2a: energy expended by natural phenomena b: the result of such energy c: the transference of energy that is produced by the motion of the point of application of a force and is measured by multiplying the force and the displacement of it’s point of application in the line of action. 3: something that results from a particular manner or method of working, operating, or devising.

EMPLOYMENT is defined as, activity in which one engages or is employed: Employ, 1a: to make use of (someone or something inactive) b: to use (as time) advantageously. C1: to use or engage the services of . (2): to provide with a job that pays wages or a salary. “ (2): TO DEVOTE TO OR DIRECT TOWARDS A PARTICULAR ACTIVITY OR PERSON . Self Employed, earning income directly from one’s own business, trade, or profession rather than as a specified salary or wages from an employer.

INDUSTRIOUSNESS is defined as, 1 obsolete: Skillful, Ingenious 2: constantly, regularly, or habitually active or occupied: DILIGENT

And finally TIME is defined as, 1a: the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues: b: a no spatial continuum that is measured in terms of events which succeed one another from past through present to future. C: LEISURE 2: the point or period when something occurs: 3a: an appointed, fixed or customary moment or hour for something to happen, begin, or end. B: an opportune or suitable moment—often used in the phrase about time. 4a: a historical period, 5a: Lifetime 5b: a period of APPRENTICESHIP C: a term of military service D: a PRISON sentence, 6: SEASON , 7a : rate of speed: 7b: the grouping of beats of music, 8a: a moment, hour, day or year as indicated by a clock or calendar, b: any of various systems of reckoning time, 9a: one of a series of recurring instances or repeated actions b: plural (1): added or accumulated quantities or instances (2): equal fractional parts of which an indicated number equal a comparatively greater quantity. C: turn, 10: finite as contrasted with infinite duration, 11: A person’s experience during a specified period or on a particular occasion 12a: the hours or days required to be occupied by one’s work.

In regards to unemployment/employment and the attainment of basic life necessities ( I proudly reference Maslow’s Theory of Hierarchy of needs) I have to question “Who’s Time Is It Any Way?” If I barter to attain Maslow’s basic level of need: SHELTER. That is my time and effort being bartered and until some stable employment resurrect America, isn’t it my Freedom of choice to do so? I think if the economy does not rebound soon, that society will be forced into bartering type of transactions. Yet the bartering ideology is non-conventional to the status quo “employment system and monetary system”. Could you image, baby sitting in exchange for rent? Transportation in exchange for being a designated driver for Veterans or SSI/SSD clients who need to get to appointments? What about substitute teaching in exchange for one full college semester tuition? I believe it could work! So during this period of unstable employment, I am interested in comments from others who are SURVIVING during this high unemployment period. Collectively our individual stories, provide encouragement, knowledge and support.