Managing large groups of people is perhaps one of the most challenging jobs Ive ever had. Ive noticed soemthing that disturbs me. Alot of people we bring in have no desire to succeed at anything in fact alot of times it seems like they fuck shit up just so they dont have to do it.

I gave it some thought. Without sufficient opportunity for reward there is no motivation to succeed. Obvious. To me anyway.

Applied on a large scale the same thing could effect the nation as a whole. People have to believe that there is some reason to try. Without that its just slavery. And makes my job a living hell.

Yet they call anyone who disagrees with their economic philosophy as a "Socialist."  Hilarious.

Here are two must hear/see:

1.  Colbert interviews the *REAL* U.S. Socialist Candidate:
http://tinyurl.com/5kgn3q

2.  Audio Commentary on the Latest Use of "Socialist."
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96263173

that an extra few percent will rob people of all motivation?

Im saying todays youth has no real desire to succeed. Even the ones fresh out of college. They have accepted the fact that they are losers. Some are pissed, some are cynical, some are high. But accross the board they all have lowered expectations.

Many of them also believe the world owes them something, an idea they get from their parents in high school. Some parents give their children anything/everything they want without requiring anything in return. when the kids get out of high school, they expect the same thing from everyone else. When they don't get it, they can't understand why.

First, may I ask what profession/industry you are in? Second, did you personally interview these employees? If you did, I am going to have to assume that you uncovered this so called negative attitude, or lack of motivation, and made the decision to not hire them. Third, if you clearly spelled out the expectations, as well the total compensation model, including the potential to earn more, and manage to it, I can't see how you would have a problem.

Now granted today's kids coming out of college are different than previous generations. The days of working for one company for 30 years is long gone. Kids are not only challenged by the financial gain, but also how much more they can learn, as well as enjoying the work. One study I read is that today's college grad will work for up 7 companies in their careers.

I actually think the level of competition in college and the workforce is higher than in previous generations.

If you're referring to my post, I was a substitute school teacher for several years and saw this attitude first hand in the students. I also have several friends who are administrators who have experienced the "my child can do no wrong" attitude from parents.

But I do agree with today's kids having a sense of entitlement.

In general, from television, children today are sold things from the very time they are barely out of the crib. Parents feel guilt that they don't have enough time for their children, and will shower them with these toys. Meanwhile, there are dozens of games to distract them from the real world. It doesn't instill with children any idea of seeking success in the real world. Their offspring being so trained, it's not socialist mediocrity that parents often find themselves having to support their offspring well into their mid-20s or later. Nothing in their lives instills them a mentality on how to succeed in the real world. They think small, in terms of how to win a certain game, but thinking about their entire lives and how to succeed in them is too large and stressful for them. But all that's seen is a cool detachment.

Meanwhile, those offspring are alienated. The only weak identity they have are the marketing niches they occupy.

What I've given is a paradigm for middle-class white children, because I'm acquainted with it. There are different scenarios in other classes and races.

There's a good example from my own family, where two cousins were born at the same time to young, unmarried, mothers, and they were raised at the beginning in the grandparent's household with the mothers working sporadically. One child ended up going to one of the most prestigious colleges in the country and out of college started in a lucrative career. The other one became a high school dropout, fathered a child out of wedlock, and hasn't held a job for more than three months.

The big difference was in the way they were raised after they were toddlers. And it was hardly a matter of "socialist mediocrity." One mother showered her son with gifts sold on kids commercials, out of affection and guilt, I think. She forgave his failure in school and kept him living comfortable. The other one married well, home schooled her child, expected and demanded accomplishment, strictly limited the buying of material things, and demanded that her daughter work from 16 on. One threw her son to the commercial media, the other resisted it.

The two were responses to a capitalist system, not a socialistic one. The parents had been trained by the commercial media the same way the kids were: for the gaining of material things without regard for work. It's exactly the opposite result from capitalism that is supposed to occur.  

-- Modified on 10/30/2008 11:00:15 AM

HR prescreens them. Qualified apps come to me for final approval. I dont interview them unless its a key spot.

What Im getting at is corporate is always on my ass to cut payroll. right. But we have to keep productivity up. As well as quality. It just seems more and more everyday a no win.

I know the speil "Its my job to motivate my employees. blah blah blah." IMO its my job to bullshit people long neough to get them in and out and still make a buck.

which just makes the whole concept of socialism a recipe for mediocrity. It is much easier for the slackers to drag the motivated workers down than it is for the motivated workers to inspire the deadbeats.

Without tangible rewards even the most dedicated worker will eventually say "fuck it". Government handouts onle exacerbate the problem.

Considering the fact that we seem to agree on this subject, what makes you think Obama has the answer? His massive entitlements will make your job even more difficult than it already is. People will be rewarded for simply being born and punished for exerting extra effort. What's the point?

I would rather have a root canal than work in the service industry. I have to assume your turnover is double digits. I used to work in hi-tech sales for a F100 company. Sales tended to be immune to budget cuts, except for the usual end of the year travel restrictions. As long as we exceeded quotas everything was fine. If not, then it was the firing line.

draining trillions of dollars.

Job creation. Global warmimg. Foriegn policy. Cheap Money. New markets and Industries. Energy. Racism. Thier might be more. The majority of his first term is going to be spent fixing shit anyway.

At least we will be out of Irag except for special ops. Its time for that. War was necessary but now sedition has a part to play.

The govt has to pay the slackers and heres why.

1. There is no draft
2. It keeps them from being  susceptible  to  commie propaganda  
3. Its less costly than building lots of jails
4. It makes them support capitalism

1. The draft might not be such a bad idea
2. Who would need communist propaganda, when you would already have communism?
3. We already have lots of jails. Let the druggies out, put the criminals in.
4. How would it make them support capitalism when it's socialism that would be supporting them?

Talk About Flip Floppin'!

-- Modified on 10/30/2008 12:35:40 PM

I don't understand #4. People on welfare vote for both capitalist parties now.

If they thought they could vote for anyone even more socialistic than the dems they would. With our two party system they just don't have the choice.

People on welfare will vote for whoever promises them the biggest handout. Then they will claim that anyone who doesn't is either not "compassionate" or "racist".

communists and I will have to vote for one of them. There is no god.

To take the easiest path is biologically efficient. If I could convince folks to give me , lets say $150k per year because I am unable to work, I would do it. On the other hand , I can get $7.5k for that reason with no problem. But I like what I like and I need $150k to be happy and I have the skills to get $150k. Some people are satisfied with less. But people can be convinced that they need more and those doing the convincing might take a dim view of me and my $150K. So its best that the capitalist politicians give the slackers hope and $7.5k to keep them from getting desperate and coming after me.  Democrats are very good at that sort of thing.

The problems in America are not about a failure to take care of those who need a social safety net. The problems in America are not between the unemployed or low wage worker on the one hand and the middle class on the other (this class warfare is orchestrated by politicians at the beck and call of the real owners of this country, to focus you away from the real problem and onto a boogeyman); the problems in America are between the 1% who own 25% of the wealth and control our business, banks and markets on the one hand, and the rest of us on the other, There is an answer to the problem - our financial system should be public, not private. And markets should be reasonably regulated in the public interests. These issues were debated by our founding fathers. These are not new problems. The answers are not "unconstitutional", nor are they "socialist". And correcting our problems will not result in "mediocrity" what ever that is. Tried Microsoft Vista lately? that's what you get when too much wealth and power concentrates in too few hands within a given market. And vista is pretty dang mediocre.

-- Modified on 10/30/2008 2:54:31 PM

BTW  I use a Mac but I earn most of my living from Microsoft products. Mediocrity has its value.

The people that own your company want their profit, and they want to employ fewer people and pay them less to get it. If anything ever made my point, there it is. The 1%, the people who own this country are taking more and more and allowing the rest of us fewer and fewer scraps.

-- Modified on 10/30/2008 3:04:07 PM

Your welcome.

-- Modified on 10/30/2008 8:59:30 PM