Communities need to build 50+ hobby centers, in order to adapt to the new paradigm.

[CK_John]

Corporations don't even try to hide it any more, people outnumber jobs and will not catchup for at least a generation. If your 50 your out or not hired, nothing personal just business.

So we need to lower Social Security to age 50 and find ways to let people transition. Hobby centers where people can setup a woodworking shop, jewelry making, glass blowing, painting, etc.

Nothing fancy just open space, high ceiling, plenty of electric juice, and parking (sounds just like a Walmart store).

Think about it,

[RKP5637]

1. Good idea. This country really needs to think about what a job is. Today

it's haphazard. Jobs will go away even more in the future due to increasing population and increasing worker productivity. Our entire job scenario is obsolete for the 21st century. In fact, most of our paradigms are obsolete for the 21st century. Many of TPTB know this, but can you imagine the political suicide in this insane political environment by stating this in public.

[Zalatix]

16. That's why they're trying to kill people off with social programs cuts.

[RKP5637]

17. And if they can add Medicare to that then they will sit back and

say problem solved.

[Zalatix]

28. Worse than that.. have you seen the rising price of food lately?

The Plutocrats are creating artificial shortages and raising the price of food deliveries. Their anti-environmental policies are contributing a great deal to this, too. It's a slow-burning wick leading to one HELL of a powder keg. Right now prices are going up; in your lifetime you'll see actual food shortages. Guess who won't be seeing food shortages? The Plutocracy.

When that hits, Medicare and Social Security will be utterly meaningless. So will wages and all that.

Tinfoil hat conspiracies today (in the eyes of others), and "I told you so" in a few decades.

[RKP5637]

29. That is exactly where we're heading, and many Americans stick their

heads in the sand and are absolutely clueless as to what is going on. I'm stunned by the ignorance of so many in this country.

Just how the F do they think they're going to survive as this continues. Here we see the food prices going up and up. I've also noticed the prices at Home Depot and Lowe's, for example, keep going up and up too. And the funny thing is people shop at Walmart thinking they're saving money. Walmart is a ripoff for prices in many areas, they just don't pay attention when they shop.

[Auggie]

2. I'm 55, and my freelance business is going great ...

(insert Bronx Cheer here)

[Patiod]

14. Age 50+ is "bad" in an employee, but a-okay in a consultant

People who wouldn't hire me are happy to engage me temporarily, given all my expertise.

What sucks is the insurance situation, and lack of any company retirement contribution.

[Auggie]

19. Tell me about it ...

Health insurance is our second biggest monthly expense after the mortgage. I got some profit sharing from staff jobs earlier in my career and contributed a decent amount of money to IRAs, but it won't be enough to retire on. I'll be working into my 70s if people still hire me. Who'll have time for a hobby?

[datasuspect]

3. plenty of blank big box retail greyfields with no tenants.

hmmm.

[TheWraith]

4. Actually, employment for older Americans is at a record high.

If you're above 55, you're vastly less likely to be unemployed than if, say, you're under 35.

[CK_John]

7. If you have a job you lucky. But... the longest unemployed seems to be 40+.

[HiPointDem]

21. can you link that? this seems to indicate otherwise.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 1,929,000 unemployed older workers in April 2012, the latest month for which data is available. That is more than double the 839,000 unemployed older workers at the start of the recession in December 2007.

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/gao-6-fold-increase-americans-55-or-older-unemployed-6-months-or-longer

[TheWraith]

25. Here you go.

The proportion of individuals who continue to work after age 55 reached a record high this year. Some 40.2 percent of Americans age 55 and older participated in the labor force in 2010, a number than has increased steadily since 1993 when just 29.4 percent of older Americans worked, according to an Employee Benefit Research Institute analysis of Census Bureau data.

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/planning-to-retire/2011/02/17/older-worker-employment-reaches-record-high

Yes, some older people are unemployed, but as a percentage it's vastly lower. Unemployment for those 55 and over is just 6.5 percent, way below the national average. Whereas for those 20 to 24 it's 13 percent, and 25 to 34 it's 8.2 percent. It was even more pronounced a year or so ago, when over 55 was 6.7 percent while 25 to 34 was 9.3.

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t10.htm

[lumberjack_jeff]

5. No reason to limit to 50+

Kids no longer learn to do things with their hands, and can learn from mentors.

Maker spaces serve several excellent social functions.

[Posteritatis]

27. Yep. Stuff like this is a Good Thing regardless of age.

Definitely understand the OP's sentiment, though.

[LiberalEsto]

6. I'm 60, unemployed almost 4 years

and haven't been able to find much freelance writing work.

Sorry, but I don't need a "hobby center." I need a part time job or money to go back to college.

[CK_John]

9. Notice SS at 50. I don't believe more education is going to get you a job.

It's like the era of buggy maker vs auto makers. There is more people than jobs.

[RKP5637]

18. This is a very good analogy. Also, I agree, more education is not

going to get one a job. I know lots of people with multiple degrees doing sh** jobs or no job at all. There just are too many more people than jobs.

[mrmpa]

8. Back in '96 I ran for City Council........

one of my economic ideas, was to take empty industrial sites and warehouses and allow artisans to rent the space to "create". My one thought was since we have a vibrant cultural identity, the artisans and owners would produce products associated with their culture.

My other economic plan was for the city to sell empty lots at a reduced price, supply water to these lots and allow urban & community gardens and farms to be created.

I was not elected, and these 2 plans are now being aired for views at the local level.

I guess I was just ahead of my time.

[CK_John]

10. Bring them up again at town/village meetings. nt

[HiPointDem]

22. +1. my idea is to have localities put all the money they waste on consultants who tell them to

put up planters to make their downtowns more "attractive to investors" into start-up businesses run by the locality for the benefit of the locals. They have the empty buildings, they have the labor, they even have the business expertise.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

11. That's the plan for our garage

it's crammed full with tools we've inherited. We're going to clean it out this summer, and once it's organized the ones who know how to use the tools will teach the others, and we'll have all kinds of room to do it in.

Sorry, no parking tho, you'll have to use the bus.

[cali]

12. more silly fantasy.

[HiPointDem]

23. what's so fantastic about it?

[4th law of robotics]

13. I'm not sure about all that

but increasing the minimum wage, lowering the cost of living (cheaper utilities and transportation), adjusting the tax rate, and so on would all be helpful. Maybe increasing the number of vacation days or shortening the standard work week would help too.

From the community standpoint putting in large community gardens in the areas where nothing is being built would be nice. Give people some exercise and greenspace (both of which increase overall health and lower costs) as well as letting people supplement their grocery bill with some free produce would be a benefit to everyone.

[snooper2]

15. Shit why stop there...just make it 40

Everybody has to work for 20 years of their life and that's it...

Everyone get's full retirement regardless of your contribution to society, let's say $25 an hour for rest of your life. Full medical, a $15,000 credit towards a new car at 40 as well.

Also, we need to make all college free, free for all so nobody ever has to worry about student loan debt. Food needs to be all organic and local as well, with price controls. Free range chickens for everyone!

[magical thyme]

20. Nixon wanted to give every adult a base income

from the get-go, to ensure a basic, decent living standard and level of demand.

Then go to work for the luxuries and extras, unless you just prefer lots of free time.

There is a lot to be said for that model.

[CK_John]

24. The NYPD/NYFD use to be 20yr and out with 1/2 pay, The military had a 20 and out.

Even GM use to have a 30yr and age 55 and out with a good pension. Business knows this. We have a problem.

The change in technology and more productivity per person means more people than jobs and your solution is?????????????