trading on Ebay is a "full time job" (Sen. Ensign)

[nostamj]

John Ensign is on the Senate floor explaining that the job situation is GREAT...

wanna know why???

because THOUSANDS of people are working FULL-TIME, trading on eBay!!

yes friends, trading on eBay is the engine for job growth in the USA

(and you all thought it was all those great new manufacturing jobs in fast food)

it's all too much sometimes...

the WH line: everybody is self-employed, there's no job loss

[BlueEyedSon]

1. LMFAO

[Dr.Phool]

3. Would be funny

If there weren't so many twits out there who believe this stuff.

I know a certain Republican congressman I want to outsource in November. To me.:spank:

:kick:

[nostamj]

2. watching these R weasels is sickening

they'll turn billions over to the rich but are content to let the unemployed go hungry because

we have to practice some 'fiscal discipline'

[KoKo]

4. Sheesh! Folks having to sell their possessions at Auction just to stay

afloat. Ensign should get another life. He's obviously deranged. :nuke:

[nostamj]

5. and get this...........

nickles just said "unemployed people need to get to work"

if you're unemployed and haven't started your own business, well, you're just a LEECH on the country!

[salin]

7. well sen nickles... maybe if you would

effectively stimulate the economy instead of horde taxpayers dollars to give to the few who don't need them... there would be more jobs for unemployed people to get.

Nostamj... keep cataloging these statements... they will make for great info in campaigns to demonstrate the reality of these republicans. Remember how being 'disconnected' hurt bushsr? These guys make him look completely plugged in.

[JDPhD]

6. Actually, I know some people who DO trade on eBay for a living.

They shop sales at the local outlets and malls, and then they sell the items on eBay for a profit. They actually do quite well at this--enough to live on. So, yes, for some people this IS a full-time job. To so easily dismiss such a possibility shows your ignorance of our modern economy, not the Senator's.

[nostamj]

8. please............

of course *some* people are doing this

but for a US Senator to suggest that trading on ebay is the solution to the loss of over 2 MILLION jobs (so far) is ridiculous.

and nickles suggestion that ALL unemployed people simply need to start their own businesses show real IGNORANCE.

[salin]

9. to frame it - as a demonstration of a strong job producing economy?

Securing health insurance as an individual is very expensive (was self-employed and worked this route for a number of years).. if one has to also insure family members - the costs escalate. Compared to many of the jobs lost in the past three years, this would seem to be a lot less stable. If I were the GOP - I don't think I would be holding this up as examples of new jobs in the "new new economy".

[nostamj]

12. i'm trying to set up my own business

but health coverage? my god, they want $450 a month!

this repug "everybody that's not starting their own business has to blame themselves for their unemployment is ridiculous"

[Hammie]

17. Yep

Do you think that cost goes away when it is provided by a company? It sure doesn't, the company pays it. FYI $450 is cheap. The group rate where I work is closer to $800.

[salin]

20. the difference is that the larger

the employer is - the more bargaining/negotiating can go on for better costs (as if these days there are any 'bargains' regarding health care).

But to this thread's point - being self employed means not just earning enough to pay the bills -but to also cover expenses - such as large ticket (pricetag) health care that may have been lost in benefits.

$800 for a single person? That IS steep.

[displacedtexan]

10. Are you still here?

?

[KoKo]

11. I wondered the same thing, but there are so many "here," lately, it's not

surprising that there isn't enough time to find them all. :D

[OneTwentyoNine]

24. I have mod warnings for saying less to members than that guy...

So far though he gets a pass,take a look at most of his posts...

David

[oasis]

13. How much do your friends make? average monthly net?

[JDPhD]

15. Yes. They actually quit their other jobs because it was going so well.

[Katarina]

14. They shop sales at the local outlets and malls?!?

And pray tell, how is an unemployed person supposed to do that? Just buying groceries is a struggle so I don't think weekend jaunts around the neighborhood yard sales looking for EBay possibilities is something the jobless person is doing. I know people that buy and sell on EBay as well. You have to have money to get started and the majority I know at least one person in the household has another job.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[OneTwentyoNine]

22. No they don't........

They don't run down to the mall hoping to find something for $10.00 bucks that they can sell on E-Bay for $13.00. If they do their an idiot. The majority that sell on E-Bay full time are buying from wholesalers,closeouts,discontinues etc...

People aren't that stupid,if something cost $10 and the local mall then they won't pay $13 plus shipping on E-Bay. I've been buying and selling on E-Bay for over three years. Most full time sellers also have a spouse that has a good paying job or are retired and making some extra cash.

To claim that this is a way out of losing a $15.00 hour job is ludicrous.

David

[Kamika]

25. Lol youre kidding

The backbone of our once great country used to be manufacturing jobs..

These jobs enabled people who never got the chance to get a higher education jobs that let them in to the middle class.


These jobs are all but gone now.. and you want to equal that to selling stuff on eBay?


EDIT: Darn you're banned

[Malva Zebrina]

18. I just made my very first purchase on e-bay

and was pleased. I live in a rural area so shopping can take almost all day. I thought it was a pretty good way to do things. I got my item half price from what it was advertised elsewhere. It arrived in the mail, all wrapped properly. I communicated with the seller, becuase I was a little anxious about it. No problem.

It is like a huge garage sale, imo.

[jackstraw45]

19. If this is the Republican talking point on 3 million lost jobs...

Then I think the Chimp is in trouble.

[hatrack]

21. "Dr. Mankiw? You're fired! We found your replacement!!"

.

[OneTwentyoNine]

23. Laid off people selling to Laid off people--now there's the answer!!

Ensign is an idiot. Your laid off,no money.. yet you have the cash to purchase items to hopefully sell to other laid-off workers or someone else in this near depression economy.

Yeah,we don't need to worry about jobs shipping out,no min wage increases. Nah,just haul ass over to E-Bay and make a fortune. I guess no one ever said you had to be smart to be a US Senator.

David

[rhino47]

26. I sell on ebay and do quite well actually.

I do work what is considered full time on ebay .Though that is if I chose to.My earnings on ebay is 2x my districts average income.I know of alot of local ebay houses that do equally well.I do commission sales ,buy and resell.Sadly though I have set up people to sell on ebay as a last resort.People who had their unemployment run out or a neighbor whose husband left her and kids with no money.Thankfully shes able now to stay at home with her kids and make a viable living off ebay.She sells used kids cloths and toys on ebay.Sure she has to go to garage sales and auctions but with only a high school education in a very economically depressed area she feels shes doing rather well.My mother a admin rn quit her job .She is lucky enough my stepfather has insurance so shes able to earn more on ebay .All said and done I`ve cleared more then 121,000 this year.I also run charity auctions for my childs school and the good shepard center (they are a food bank and free medical center here in western pa)
It took me 3 years to build up to the point of where I am today .I can`t however see this as a long term viable solution for economic growth.