A Job is not a Charity

Jobs jobs jobs.  That seems to be all anyone is talking about in Washington.  Probably because most of their jobs are on the line, but that's just the cynic in me talking.  Lets face it if jobs were to somehow sprinkle down from the heavens (Washington) I'm sure spending trillions of dollars on whatever we've spent all that money on seemed like a good idea at the time, but the plain truth is jobs don't just magically appear.

You know, or should know that sitting on your ass and saying "gimmie a job" is going to work about as well as a sandpaper condom.  We should all know from dealing with children "gimmie" only works so long as someone puts up with it.  You can firmly plant your but and throw a tantrum, but really it will do you no good if the adults are not going to put up with it. 

Every one should be well aware that it is not the Government that ever makes jobs enough for economic prosperity.  It is the farmer, the small business owner, or just the guy in the basement with a good idea.  Sometimes they'll get it right, and we have many many companies like Bain Capitol, Apple, IBM, Microsoft, Blackhawk, Ranger Up, all are companies that had really small and humble beginnings, and all have grown to be truly massive in scope and scale compared to where they started. 

Along the way companies might actually spawn other companies.  Prosperity is entirely dependent on ideas, and those with the moxy and know how to get the job done regardless of the obstacles.  When talking about jobs we can not escape the simple fact that we can't "create" as much as we need because we as a nation have stopped rewarding as a society the "go-getter" and have instead the "good enough for gub'ment work" attitude.  People show up to work and as long as they have a base understanding of the standards required of their job, will do the bare minimum. 

These employees are a drag on companies large and small, but are less noticeable when they are in large companies, say Cosco or Sam's Club, because there are so many other people to pick up the slack.  In a small company they are like an anchor thrown out of a boat.  The smaller the company, the more high speed the other employees are, the more the noticeable the drag is.  Sadly even addressing a deficiency in motivation opens up employers to all manner of pointless lawsuits.  Did you know it's actually considered harassment in some states to tell an employee to try to be more cheerful when greeting a customer.  Is it any wonder the art of customer service is deader than dog s**t?

You do not have a "Right" to a job.  If you walk into an employer's office and say "you owe me a job" they'll laugh before they call security to escort you out.  So, why do we act like that when talking about what Washington is going to "do" for us?  If we are honest we will have to admit that Washington and its current sense of perpetual entitlement, is merely reflective of the electorate.  We feel that we're somehow owed everything.  The one lesson the Army taught me (the hard way) is that the world really is based on merit.  Doing a good job even when people are not looking may, believe it or not will get noticed.  You reputation is something you simply can not buy, and it will always proceed you like a bow wave of a ship. 

We need to stop treating Jobs, good, bad, or ugly, as some form of social charity.  They're not, that's what churches are for.  Every day on a job you are there to earn  your wage an potentially advancement.  You are there to earn money not only for yourself, but also for your company.  If your company does well, you by extension do well.  It is time to stop asking with you hand out for a job.  Here's an idea, if you can't find a job, get a few of your closest friends together and come up with an idea, put up some capitol and make jobs.  Stop asking your leaders or others what they're  going to do about it, what are you  going to do about it? 

"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

-President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
 Inaugural Address
 January 20th, 1961