Let's hire each other

[LiberalEsto]

If the fucking corporations refuse to hire us, what can we do?

Sit around waiting until they decide to use some of their stockpiles of money to start hiring, after they get their next tax cuts and a repuke Senate, House and president? Screw that.

There were times when people would hire the neighbor's kids to mow the lawn, wash the windows, etc. Women used to take in washing or cut their neighbors' hair for a little extra money. Someone down the street would fix your car. Another neighbor would do your taxes. That's what my neighborhood was like in the early 60s. One woman who worked as a seamstress took on little sewing jobs to make extra money. My mom sometimes did ironing for others. My dad did people's taxes. Girls started babysitting as soon as they turned 11 or 12. As a teen, I made a little money by washing dishes for neighbors who hosted huge holiday dinners.

It wouldn't solve the massive economic crisis we've been forced into by the corporations, but perhaps those who have a few extra bucks could start spreading them around by giving work to those who need it. I don't mean that people should exploit other people - pay them fairly or don't hire them.

If we got used to the idea of giving each other small jobs, they might lead to bigger and better things. At least I hope they would.

Comments?

[county worker]

1. I thought of getting group together that have different skills.

Skills like construction, accounting, cooking catering, child care, You fill out the paper work to become a corporation. You advertise at grocery stores etc. You get references. You undercut those who are working. You pool the income. Keep expenses low by using your own tools and vehicles.

You pay everyone a salary based on how much money they brought into the corporation.

[LiberalAndProud]

2. I think that some sort of alternative economy is almost inevitable.

My thoughts on this are still nebulous, but as everything in our society is being privatized, it seems that ad hoc communities will have to step up and fill the societal gap. I'm just not certain how to expedite, facilitate or organize such a thing.

[daggahead]

3. I like the idea.

I've often pondered the idea of what is to replace the big corporations now that they all make their shit in China.

Our old, idled factories can be ripe ground for a new economic revolution.

[OneGrassRoot]

4. I've posted about worker-owned co-ops as an alternative...

several times before, as well as alternate ways of spurring our local economies, and benefiting the local communities.

I'm working on something else along this line to post in a few days.

Bottom line: I absolutely believe we can -- and must -- do this ourselves.

:hi:

[Dreamer Tatum]

5. Go hire yourself. nt

[Lionessa]

6. Most of what you mention are found locally by local biz owners, who are not the problem.

What you suggest would kill daycares, usually locally owned, landscape operators, usually locally owned, alterations shops, usually locally owned. Right idea, but targeting the wrong skills/professions.

[Imajika]

7. And how much would you pay people to do these things...

"There were times when people would hire the neighbor's kids to mow the lawn, wash the windows, etc. Women used to take in washing or cut their neighbors' hair for a little extra money. Someone down the street would fix your car. Another neighbor would do your taxes. That's what my neighborhood was like in the early 60s. One woman who worked as a seamstress took on little sewing jobs to make extra money. My mom sometimes did ironing for others. My dad did people's taxes. Girls started babysitting as soon as they turned 11 or 12. As a teen, I made a little money by washing dishes for neighbors who hosted huge holiday dinners."

....minimum wage? What if they got injured doing your dishes or made mistakes? Would you have the proper insurance? Do you plan to violate child labor laws? Would these children have work permits? In the 60's people wouldn't dream of suing you for petty little things, but now they would.

"It wouldn't solve the massive economic crisis we've been forced into by the corporations, but perhaps those who have a few extra bucks could start spreading them around by giving work to those who need it. I don't mean that people should exploit other people - pay them fairly or don't hire them."

Who judges what is fair pay if your doing it off the books like this? Your now in a black market economy subject to little or no regulation.

At the end of the day, you can't go back and do it the way things were done in the old days. We're a different society now. There is no common sense anymore, people are litigious and looking for someone to sue, etc.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

15. People come to my house & wanna borrow beer & cig money.

I am not responsible for the state of the economy. These guys should be helping their 80 year old aunt, but they don't. They spend it on 40 oz malt liquor and cigs. One of them has a wife with a steady job.

I'm finishing the fencing around my house with an electric gate because I'm tired of people coming on my property to beg for money, or ask me about my used car they have no intention of buying, or even to spread gossip.

:banghead:

[man4allcats]

8. This kind of cooperative thinking was popular around 40 or 50 years ago.

There was this group of young people back then called, let's see now, what was it again?

Oh yes! I remember now!

Dirty Hippies!


It's time we finally put the Revolution in motion, folks. Laugh if you want, but co-ops and similar efforts could work. We should have done it back then when there was momentum, but a lot of people who called themselves flower children sold out. What we're living with now is the cost of that sellout. Our only hope for any kind of decent life now is to band together in small working groups and walk away from the fascist world of the corporatocracy. Anyone waiting for help from them will wait in vain. Our survival is up to us and us alone. There is no one else.

At least that's this old hippie's viewpoint. :hippie:

[LiberalEsto]

11. I was one of those too once upon a time

I don't think the hippies sold out, as much as they were seduced and co-opted by corporate America. Suddenly they were being lured into buying bigger, better stereo systems, costlier concert tickets, more expensive albums, then tapes, then CDs. The bell-bottom jeans and sandals gave way to trendier fashions that cost more money. People had kids, and realized they needed a more stable living situation.

There were also numerous vultures who ripped off others and took gross advantage of people's willingness to share and give. This disillusioned quite a few hippies.

If we don't start learning to share and help one another and work together, we are fucking SUNK.

[JFN1]

9. Love it!

What an awesome application of true patiotism. We are all in this together - we need to begin living it, as well as declaring it, and this seems to be a great way to kick start it!!

:yourock:

[jwirr]

10. My family has a bunch of health care workers in it. We have talked about

starting a foster care situation for severely disabled persons where we all work. The only problem with that is the uncertainty of the government programs that pay for the care. This cannot be done without a good source of funding.

[LiberalEsto]

12. Look into grants.and start applying

If you don't know how to do grant applications, there are probably unemployed or underemployed people in you community who know how to to that. Good luck!

[felix_numinous]

13. +1000 Declare Independence

now you're talking!!!

[Politicalboi]

14. Why not create our own religions

So we can get tax breaks and donations.